Drama king Estrada leads
CLS to championship over Notre Dame
Senior GK shines in PK star turn, Gators earn 1st state title
By Mike Garofola
HOFFMAN ESTATES -- In soccer, there's no agony quite like losing a penalty kick shootout.
For the players, managers and fans, it's a torturous experience that puts your destiny at the mercy of as few as six total shots or as many as it takes from 12 yards away.
After 80 minutes of regulation play, then 20 minutes of extra time, that's the way high school soccer picks a winner.
It's a time for heroes
And that's where Oscar Estrada enters -- and how.
For the second-consecutive day, Estrada sat on the Crystal Lake South bench and watched 100 minutes of soccer before called into action by manager Brian Allen to take his place between the sticks to help win a Class AA finals game -- this time however, it was for the state championship.
When Estrada turned away a third round attempt, and Jack Wruck converted his spot-kick, the heroics of both created a 4-1 PK advantage over nationally ranked Notre Dame (Peoria) and sparked wild celebrations for the Crystal Lake South crew, who claimed the first state title in program history.
"At the start of the year you always make a list of goals you go after," Allen said. "This year I really felt, with us having such a senior-laden roster, it was realistic for us to think we could get on a run in the postseason and maybe play our way into the final weekend of the season.
"But when you make it this far, and your guys are playing with so much heart, desire and for each other, you really feel like if everyone steps up just a little bit more, the chance to win it all becomes more than a dream.
"Now, it has become a dream come true."
The Gators were at the mercy of spot-kicks on three separate occasions during the postseason. The first came in the regional final with Wauconda, then in the state semifinal contest against Gibault and finally the state championship match on Saturday afternoon at Garber Stadium on the campus of Hoffman Estates High School.
In all three shootout victories the one constant was Estrada.
"Oscar really became a real-life superhero," said Allen with a smile as wide as the Cheshire Cat.
"He won it for us against Wauconda, came to the rescue in that Waterloo semfinal, and you just saw what he did this afternoon to help us win it all."
What the senior Estrada did against Gibault provided a bit of eerie deja vu for Allen and, perhaps, a harbinger of what would come five months later for the Gators manager.
Harken back to the girls spring season, and the epic Class 3A final that featured Barrington versus New Trier, a rematch of the 2016 championship final.
Allen, who is the Fillies keeper coach, watched his charge, all-state keeper Samantha Schmitz, finish things off in sudden death kicks.
Estrada did the same for the Gators twice. Crystal Lake South fell behind in kicks to Gibault only to have the senior stop one to allow Andrew Edge to equalize and stifle the final Notre Dame attempt to make Alex Canfield's spot-kick conversion the game-winner.
"It's really weird how those two games ended nearly the same way," admitted Allen.
"Today, we somehow found a way to weather an early storm against a great team, get them out of their style of play and survive overtime, before turning it over to our shooters and Oscar, who came through bigger than he ever has."
Estrada, who worked the Gators crowd into a frenzy after both of his spot-kick saves, made a quick-change into mild-mannered Clark Kent when he responsed to questions about his magnificent performance on the grandest stage of Illinois high school soccer.
"I didn't want to let down my friends, family, teammates or our fans," said the senior, who along with Wruck shared Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors.
"I really kind of feed off the pressure of PKs. But up until then, I'm there for the 100 minutes supporting Matt (McCaleb) who's our starting keeper (and) being ready in case I'm needed."
Notre Dame (Peoria) has been a Class AA soccer dynasty of sorts, arriving here for the seventh time in Mike Bare's tenure, and third since 2012 when the Irish won it all.
The penalty shootout capped a thrilling game with passages of play of the highest calibre and some not so. The game was played to the tactical delight of Allen, yet the action was firmly in favor of the Irish during the first half. But Crystal Lake South showed huge reserves of character, resilience and the ability to force such a technically adept opponent to fall into the style that the Gators have been so successful with.
"We came out today and played the way we knew we could: moving the ball around quickly; getting everyone involved; scoring the opener," said Bare, Notre Dame's terrific manager who has posted a 242-47-20 career mark. "When we got away from what we do so well, it allowed (Crystal Lake South) to get back into the game, and forced us out of our comfort zone."
The opening exchanges amounted to little more than sparring, aside from a few chances orchestrated from both sides. Notre Dame (23-3-0) was more dangerous in its opportunities thanks to its gifted duo of Noah Madrigal and Myles Sophanavong, who together had bagged 63 goals prior to the tournament. The Irish were glad to have Sophanavong back in the lineup after he sat out the semifinal due to a red card.
The Gators came up empth after Ricky Cristante latched onto a pass from Nick Langdon. The senior went endline before whipping a lovely ball into the six-yard box which forced the Irish defense to clear.
But the game burst into life after 20 minutes when Madrigal fired in the opener. Crystal Lake South answered quickly when Edge converted his spot-kick two minutes later.
Wruck and company slowly began to win the aerial and ground battles to control the middle of the park and disrupt the flow of the Notre Dame attack. It also exposed a backline which registered 12 clean-sheets.
"We had to weather the first 15-20 minutes," Wruck said. "(They) were so good on the ball and moved it around really well. But we've been a team that's really worked hard all year. (We) never stop playing that way, and I feel like that hard work and ability to go hard into 50-50 balls (and) win them kind of changed the way they were playing."
Cristante and Ryan Coughlin helped create a corner for Crystal Lake South at 34 minutes. When Couglin's inward-swinging serve was kept alive inside the back by Canfield it allowed Ty Getzinger to finish his close-range shot.
"It was great to get that goal before the half. It was big," said Coughlin.
"We knew that (Peoria) was maybe the best team we played this year, (and) that they would really come at us after the half. So getting that goal from Alex really helped us a lot."
Wruck blocked a pair of efforts from just inside the box by the Irish after the second period began. Notre Dame appeared to be in position to find the equalizer moments later if not for an offsides flag that ended a glorious chance by Madrigal.
But the Irish got back level in the 50th minute when McKay LaHood drove his header off the underside of the bar and over the line, taking advantage of a nicely played corner from Sophanavong.
Once again, Allen's men responded in sensational fashion, taking the lead back once again seven minutes later after Colton Weidner created yet another corner for Coughlin.
The senior put another inch-perfect serve to the back post where Canfield soared high above an Irish defender to meet his teammates helper and head home goal no. 31 of the season.
"This team has not given up at all this season," said Allen. "That goal from Canfield proved (it), because it would have been easy for some teams to hang their heads after conceding the equalizer."
It could have become a two-goal advantage for the eventual state champions when Canfield and Coughlin swung the ball around from left-to-right: giving Tom Coughlin a chance on frame with his one-timer that was saved by Kevin Wiles.
The Notre Dame attack, which seemed to be running on empty despite the LaHood goal, suddenly started to exert an influence on the game. Much of that energy came from its goal-scoring leaders, as well as LaHood and Jake Cusack.
McCaleb somehow denied Cusack's header with a neat glove save in the 64th minute and came up big again when LaHood sent Cusack in-close.
The Irish were left to regret their missed chances, which grew in number when Sophanavong went close with his 30-yard free kick and then another attempt that went just over the bar.
"No. 20 (Sophanavong) ... we knew he'd be back for the final to cause us a lot of trouble," said Allen.
Despite all the pressure heaped upon the Gators, the game looked as good as over four minutes from time until the Irish stunned the big crowd.
Madrigal's dipping 40-yard missile spilled off the gloves of McCaleb and straight onto the opportunistic foot of Dylan Dillon who took advantage of his good fortune to equalize on the stroke of 76 minutes.
Notre Dame had now come back twice and forced overtime.
The first 10-minute extra session was filled with plenty of nervous moments on both sides of the stadium.
Canfield's nifty (side) heel flick attempt from 10 yards nearly caught Wiles ball watching in the 82nd minute, while a low driving corner from Edge forced the Irish keeper off his line to punch the dangerous ball out of the area.
Sophanavong was on target with his 20-yard snap-shot that wrong-footed McCaleb, who still was able to keep his composure when he went to the air to push the attempt over.
The second extra session was played as if both sides were resigned to kicks, and after a handful of half-chances from each club, that's exactly what happened.
"I never lost confidence when we headed to PKs," said Wruck. "I just knew we were all mentally strong and ready, and that our shooters would come through for us again after doing that against Gibault."
Ryan Couglin, Getzinger and Langdon were all on target, each unloading unstoppable kicks to put the Gators ahead 3-1 after Estrada guessed correctly to his right to save efforts from Lucas Beebe and Madrigal.
Estrada was this-close to turning away a Sophanavong first round spot-kick after getting his glove on the attempt, which had enough pace left to gain the net.
With the Crystal Lake South coach sitting alone on the bench staring straight ahead, Wruck, with all the responsibility of finishing the Irish off, calmly buried his kick to crown the Gators champions.
"I knew with Oscar out there, we were in great shape, plus I had all the confidence in the world for my shooters," said a relieved Allen, who fell to his knees after he saw his players rejoicing.
"We kept our focus and composure all throughout this game, even when they scored that late goal to send it to overtime. I never felt we wouldn't come out ahead because of that."
"This is all kind of surreal right now, but it's the biggest thing that's ever happened in soccer at Crystal Lake South," said a jubilant Ryan Coughlin, one of 12 seniors on the Gators championship roster.
"Oscar saved us two times before today's game, and he came through one last time," said Wruck. "Along with his unbelievable work and what everyone did this weekend and the games leading up to this final, we were able to beat one of the best teams in the state to win this state title."
Mike Bare and his Notre Dame club will feel the sting of this loss for a while, a fact not lost on the longtime manager.
"I first want to congratulate Brian's team for their hard-fought win," Bare said. "It was a great game, and one that is always tough to decide in kicks, but if you're around soccer long enough (it) will happen to all of us.
"I'm not sure what I'll tell them on the ride back, or when we get home, but one thing is for sure, I am very proud of all them and the terrific season we had."
Starting lineups
Crystal Lake South (4-2-3-1)
G- Matt McCaleb
D- Tommy McSweeney
D- Evan Carlson
D- Nick Langdon
D- Andrew Edge
M- Ricky Cristante
M- Jack Wruck
M- Ryan Coughlin
M- Tom Coughlin
M- Brad Grabowski
F- Alex Canfield
Notre Dame (Peoria) (4-3-3)
G- Kevin Wiles
D- Brody Seaton
D- Ethan Miller
D- McKay LaHood
D- Charlie Waugh
M- Lucas Beebe
M- Myles Sophanavong
M- Jack Immesoete
F- Noah Madrigal
F- Jack Cusack
F- Declan Dillon
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Oscar Estrada, sr., GK, Crystal Lake South
Jack Wruck, sr., MF, Crystal Lake South
Officials: Ed Schell (middle), Hanah Shehaiber, Tony Martinez, 4th David Kintz
Scoring Summary
First half
Notre Dame: Madrigal (Cusack) 21'
Crystal Lake South: Edge (PK) 23'
Crystal Lake South: Getzinger (Canfield, Edge) 34'
Second half
Notre Dame: LaHood (Sophanavong) 50'
Crystal Lake South: Canfield (R. Coughlin) 57
Notre Dame: Dillon (U/A) 76'
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
No scoring
PKs
CLS:
CLS: R. Coughlin (goal), Getzinger (goal), Langdon (goal), Wruck (goal)
ND: Sophanavong (goal); Beebe (blocked); Madrigal (blocked)
CLS to championship over Notre Dame
Senior GK shines in PK star turn, Gators earn 1st state title
By Mike Garofola
HOFFMAN ESTATES -- In soccer, there's no agony quite like losing a penalty kick shootout.
For the players, managers and fans, it's a torturous experience that puts your destiny at the mercy of as few as six total shots or as many as it takes from 12 yards away.
After 80 minutes of regulation play, then 20 minutes of extra time, that's the way high school soccer picks a winner.
It's a time for heroes
And that's where Oscar Estrada enters -- and how.
For the second-consecutive day, Estrada sat on the Crystal Lake South bench and watched 100 minutes of soccer before called into action by manager Brian Allen to take his place between the sticks to help win a Class AA finals game -- this time however, it was for the state championship.
When Estrada turned away a third round attempt, and Jack Wruck converted his spot-kick, the heroics of both created a 4-1 PK advantage over nationally ranked Notre Dame (Peoria) and sparked wild celebrations for the Crystal Lake South crew, who claimed the first state title in program history.
"At the start of the year you always make a list of goals you go after," Allen said. "This year I really felt, with us having such a senior-laden roster, it was realistic for us to think we could get on a run in the postseason and maybe play our way into the final weekend of the season.
"But when you make it this far, and your guys are playing with so much heart, desire and for each other, you really feel like if everyone steps up just a little bit more, the chance to win it all becomes more than a dream.
"Now, it has become a dream come true."
The Gators were at the mercy of spot-kicks on three separate occasions during the postseason. The first came in the regional final with Wauconda, then in the state semifinal contest against Gibault and finally the state championship match on Saturday afternoon at Garber Stadium on the campus of Hoffman Estates High School.
In all three shootout victories the one constant was Estrada.
"Oscar really became a real-life superhero," said Allen with a smile as wide as the Cheshire Cat.
"He won it for us against Wauconda, came to the rescue in that Waterloo semfinal, and you just saw what he did this afternoon to help us win it all."
What the senior Estrada did against Gibault provided a bit of eerie deja vu for Allen and, perhaps, a harbinger of what would come five months later for the Gators manager.
Harken back to the girls spring season, and the epic Class 3A final that featured Barrington versus New Trier, a rematch of the 2016 championship final.
Allen, who is the Fillies keeper coach, watched his charge, all-state keeper Samantha Schmitz, finish things off in sudden death kicks.
Estrada did the same for the Gators twice. Crystal Lake South fell behind in kicks to Gibault only to have the senior stop one to allow Andrew Edge to equalize and stifle the final Notre Dame attempt to make Alex Canfield's spot-kick conversion the game-winner.
"It's really weird how those two games ended nearly the same way," admitted Allen.
"Today, we somehow found a way to weather an early storm against a great team, get them out of their style of play and survive overtime, before turning it over to our shooters and Oscar, who came through bigger than he ever has."
Estrada, who worked the Gators crowd into a frenzy after both of his spot-kick saves, made a quick-change into mild-mannered Clark Kent when he responsed to questions about his magnificent performance on the grandest stage of Illinois high school soccer.
"I didn't want to let down my friends, family, teammates or our fans," said the senior, who along with Wruck shared Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors.
"I really kind of feed off the pressure of PKs. But up until then, I'm there for the 100 minutes supporting Matt (McCaleb) who's our starting keeper (and) being ready in case I'm needed."
Notre Dame (Peoria) has been a Class AA soccer dynasty of sorts, arriving here for the seventh time in Mike Bare's tenure, and third since 2012 when the Irish won it all.
The penalty shootout capped a thrilling game with passages of play of the highest calibre and some not so. The game was played to the tactical delight of Allen, yet the action was firmly in favor of the Irish during the first half. But Crystal Lake South showed huge reserves of character, resilience and the ability to force such a technically adept opponent to fall into the style that the Gators have been so successful with.
"We came out today and played the way we knew we could: moving the ball around quickly; getting everyone involved; scoring the opener," said Bare, Notre Dame's terrific manager who has posted a 242-47-20 career mark. "When we got away from what we do so well, it allowed (Crystal Lake South) to get back into the game, and forced us out of our comfort zone."
The opening exchanges amounted to little more than sparring, aside from a few chances orchestrated from both sides. Notre Dame (23-3-0) was more dangerous in its opportunities thanks to its gifted duo of Noah Madrigal and Myles Sophanavong, who together had bagged 63 goals prior to the tournament. The Irish were glad to have Sophanavong back in the lineup after he sat out the semifinal due to a red card.
The Gators came up empth after Ricky Cristante latched onto a pass from Nick Langdon. The senior went endline before whipping a lovely ball into the six-yard box which forced the Irish defense to clear.
But the game burst into life after 20 minutes when Madrigal fired in the opener. Crystal Lake South answered quickly when Edge converted his spot-kick two minutes later.
Wruck and company slowly began to win the aerial and ground battles to control the middle of the park and disrupt the flow of the Notre Dame attack. It also exposed a backline which registered 12 clean-sheets.
"We had to weather the first 15-20 minutes," Wruck said. "(They) were so good on the ball and moved it around really well. But we've been a team that's really worked hard all year. (We) never stop playing that way, and I feel like that hard work and ability to go hard into 50-50 balls (and) win them kind of changed the way they were playing."
Cristante and Ryan Coughlin helped create a corner for Crystal Lake South at 34 minutes. When Couglin's inward-swinging serve was kept alive inside the back by Canfield it allowed Ty Getzinger to finish his close-range shot.
"It was great to get that goal before the half. It was big," said Coughlin.
"We knew that (Peoria) was maybe the best team we played this year, (and) that they would really come at us after the half. So getting that goal from Alex really helped us a lot."
Wruck blocked a pair of efforts from just inside the box by the Irish after the second period began. Notre Dame appeared to be in position to find the equalizer moments later if not for an offsides flag that ended a glorious chance by Madrigal.
But the Irish got back level in the 50th minute when McKay LaHood drove his header off the underside of the bar and over the line, taking advantage of a nicely played corner from Sophanavong.
Once again, Allen's men responded in sensational fashion, taking the lead back once again seven minutes later after Colton Weidner created yet another corner for Coughlin.
The senior put another inch-perfect serve to the back post where Canfield soared high above an Irish defender to meet his teammates helper and head home goal no. 31 of the season.
"This team has not given up at all this season," said Allen. "That goal from Canfield proved (it), because it would have been easy for some teams to hang their heads after conceding the equalizer."
It could have become a two-goal advantage for the eventual state champions when Canfield and Coughlin swung the ball around from left-to-right: giving Tom Coughlin a chance on frame with his one-timer that was saved by Kevin Wiles.
The Notre Dame attack, which seemed to be running on empty despite the LaHood goal, suddenly started to exert an influence on the game. Much of that energy came from its goal-scoring leaders, as well as LaHood and Jake Cusack.
McCaleb somehow denied Cusack's header with a neat glove save in the 64th minute and came up big again when LaHood sent Cusack in-close.
The Irish were left to regret their missed chances, which grew in number when Sophanavong went close with his 30-yard free kick and then another attempt that went just over the bar.
"No. 20 (Sophanavong) ... we knew he'd be back for the final to cause us a lot of trouble," said Allen.
Despite all the pressure heaped upon the Gators, the game looked as good as over four minutes from time until the Irish stunned the big crowd.
Madrigal's dipping 40-yard missile spilled off the gloves of McCaleb and straight onto the opportunistic foot of Dylan Dillon who took advantage of his good fortune to equalize on the stroke of 76 minutes.
Notre Dame had now come back twice and forced overtime.
The first 10-minute extra session was filled with plenty of nervous moments on both sides of the stadium.
Canfield's nifty (side) heel flick attempt from 10 yards nearly caught Wiles ball watching in the 82nd minute, while a low driving corner from Edge forced the Irish keeper off his line to punch the dangerous ball out of the area.
Sophanavong was on target with his 20-yard snap-shot that wrong-footed McCaleb, who still was able to keep his composure when he went to the air to push the attempt over.
The second extra session was played as if both sides were resigned to kicks, and after a handful of half-chances from each club, that's exactly what happened.
"I never lost confidence when we headed to PKs," said Wruck. "I just knew we were all mentally strong and ready, and that our shooters would come through for us again after doing that against Gibault."
Ryan Couglin, Getzinger and Langdon were all on target, each unloading unstoppable kicks to put the Gators ahead 3-1 after Estrada guessed correctly to his right to save efforts from Lucas Beebe and Madrigal.
Estrada was this-close to turning away a Sophanavong first round spot-kick after getting his glove on the attempt, which had enough pace left to gain the net.
With the Crystal Lake South coach sitting alone on the bench staring straight ahead, Wruck, with all the responsibility of finishing the Irish off, calmly buried his kick to crown the Gators champions.
"I knew with Oscar out there, we were in great shape, plus I had all the confidence in the world for my shooters," said a relieved Allen, who fell to his knees after he saw his players rejoicing.
"We kept our focus and composure all throughout this game, even when they scored that late goal to send it to overtime. I never felt we wouldn't come out ahead because of that."
"This is all kind of surreal right now, but it's the biggest thing that's ever happened in soccer at Crystal Lake South," said a jubilant Ryan Coughlin, one of 12 seniors on the Gators championship roster.
"Oscar saved us two times before today's game, and he came through one last time," said Wruck. "Along with his unbelievable work and what everyone did this weekend and the games leading up to this final, we were able to beat one of the best teams in the state to win this state title."
Mike Bare and his Notre Dame club will feel the sting of this loss for a while, a fact not lost on the longtime manager.
"I first want to congratulate Brian's team for their hard-fought win," Bare said. "It was a great game, and one that is always tough to decide in kicks, but if you're around soccer long enough (it) will happen to all of us.
"I'm not sure what I'll tell them on the ride back, or when we get home, but one thing is for sure, I am very proud of all them and the terrific season we had."
Starting lineups
Crystal Lake South (4-2-3-1)
G- Matt McCaleb
D- Tommy McSweeney
D- Evan Carlson
D- Nick Langdon
D- Andrew Edge
M- Ricky Cristante
M- Jack Wruck
M- Ryan Coughlin
M- Tom Coughlin
M- Brad Grabowski
F- Alex Canfield
Notre Dame (Peoria) (4-3-3)
G- Kevin Wiles
D- Brody Seaton
D- Ethan Miller
D- McKay LaHood
D- Charlie Waugh
M- Lucas Beebe
M- Myles Sophanavong
M- Jack Immesoete
F- Noah Madrigal
F- Jack Cusack
F- Declan Dillon
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Oscar Estrada, sr., GK, Crystal Lake South
Jack Wruck, sr., MF, Crystal Lake South
Officials: Ed Schell (middle), Hanah Shehaiber, Tony Martinez, 4th David Kintz
Scoring Summary
First half
Notre Dame: Madrigal (Cusack) 21'
Crystal Lake South: Edge (PK) 23'
Crystal Lake South: Getzinger (Canfield, Edge) 34'
Second half
Notre Dame: LaHood (Sophanavong) 50'
Crystal Lake South: Canfield (R. Coughlin) 57
Notre Dame: Dillon (U/A) 76'
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
No scoring
PKs
CLS:
CLS: R. Coughlin (goal), Getzinger (goal), Langdon (goal), Wruck (goal)
ND: Sophanavong (goal); Beebe (blocked); Madrigal (blocked)