State newcomers York, Lockport
square off in Class 3A semifinals
Dukes, Porters look to cap historic seasons with a championship
By Curt Herron
It's not very often that two teams who haven't advanced to the IHSA finals before meet in a semifinal showdown in the state's largest class.
But that's just what is going to happen on Friday at 5 p.m. when York and Lockport meet with the victor earning a spot in the 7 p.m. championship Saturday at Hoffman Estates High School.
While the other two teams in the finals, Fremd (20-2-1) and Morton (21-1-3), both will make their 10th state finals appearances and have had top-four finishes on 13 occasions between them, the Dukes
(21-2) and Porters (19-1-0) hope that their initial trophies in the sport is the biggest one that's awarded this weekend.
York was ranked ninth in the final Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 poll posted at the end of the regular-season. Lockport was 15th. Fellow semifinalists Morton and Fremd were ranked second and fourth, respectively.
York, which had one sectional title to its credit in the pre-regional days of the state tournament in 2000, won its second at Addison Trail. After 100 minutes of scoreless soccer, the Dukes prevailed over St. Charles East with a nine-round 9-8 shootout advantage. That win advanced earned a Streamwood Supersectional berth Tuesday, where two late goals delivered a win 3-1 over Huntley, which was also seeking its first trip to state.
The Dukes fell behind early in the supersectional on the only goal scored against them in the playoffs so far. They have allowed just 12 all season.
York has won six in a row and 16 of its last 17 matches. It’s lone loss during that stretch came against Lyons. The Dukes outscored opponents by a 41-4 margin during its 10-match winning streak.
Coach Jordan Stopka has posted a 28-5-1 record in his two seasons at the helm. This season’s win total is a school best, surpassing a 19-victory showing in 1982.
In goal, the Dukes have gone with senior Ricardo Torres, who has played in 17 matches with a 0.41 GAA and 52 saves, and senior Anthony Kroumov, who has seen action in 13 matches with an 0.38 GAA and 32 saves. Torres was hurt in second half of the supersectional; Kroumov played the last 15:40 of regulation plus the two overtimes and PKs. Stopka said the status of Torres for the weekend will be discussed at training Thursday.
Junior forward Jose Herrera leads the Dukes in both goals and assists with 21 and nine, respectively. Fellow double-digits goal-scorers include senior forward Kevin Gliatis (13 goals, eight assists) and senior midfielder Sam Musial (11 goals, four assists).
Other top contributors for York include: junior midfielder Joe Hernandez (five goals, four assists); senior midfielder Kacper Janowski (four goals, six assists); junior forward Kevin O'Connor (four goals, one assist); senior forward Erik Barishman (three goals, three assists); and senior defender Yael Silvestre (three goals, one assist). Senior
defender Connor Bare joins Janowski and Musial as the team's captains.
"I couldn't be prouder of them," Stopka said. "It started in June with summer league and camps and just making sure they kept them involved throughout the entire summer since they knew that they were building for something bigger. After tryouts we came together and said that we have a long season ahead of us, but why not us?"
Click here to see York’s team page on Chicagoland Soccer
Also heading into the semifinals with a great deal of enthusiasm is Lockport, which captured the biggest victory in program history Tuesday. The Porters rallied from a 2-0 deficit by scoring twice in 16 seconds in the 70th minute before landing the game-winner in the first overtime to stun Collinsville 3-2 in the Bloomington Supersectional.
Lockport has scored 19 goals in the playoffs, collecting three tallies or more in each outing other than their 2-0 win over Shepard in the victory in their regional final. A 5-2 victory over Romeoville in the Sandburg Sectional final resulted in the program's initial sectional championship.
The only blemish on the Porters' slate is a 3-2 loss to Lincoln-Way Central on Sept. 23. The squad has gone 12-0-0 since suffering its lone defeat, collecting 54 goals in those 12 matches. The IHSA program lists the team's record as 19-1-1, but that is incorrect. The match against Stagg, which is shown as a tie, was cancelled.
Coach Chris Beal is in his 12th season as Lockport's head coach and has a 151-63-23 record. Under his tutelage, the program has won 16 or more matches on four other occasions.
Senior forwards Makonnen Stampley (17 goals, 10 assists) and Danny Kajtezovic (17 goals, six assists) are the offensive engines for the Porters. Junior midfielder Dan Jimenez (nine goals, 10 assists) is tied for first in assists and ranks third in goals.
Other top scorers for Lockport are: sophomore forward Nate Blazewski (nine goals, two assists); senior midfielder Dylan Morgan (seven goals, seven assists); senior defender Gabe Czako (four goals, three assists); and senior midfielder Braeden Roth (three goals, three assists).
Senior Patrick Marshall has played 20 matches in goal with a 0.90 GAA and 58 saves, while junior Mateusz Wrona has seen action in eight matches with a 0.38 GAA and 14 saves. Senior midfielder Adam Doyle joins Czako and Marshall as the team's captains.
"I can't really put into words how proud I am of these boys," Beal said after his team's supersectional win. "We always believe in them, and they believe in themselves. I'm so excited for the boys."
square off in Class 3A semifinals
Dukes, Porters look to cap historic seasons with a championship
By Curt Herron
It's not very often that two teams who haven't advanced to the IHSA finals before meet in a semifinal showdown in the state's largest class.
But that's just what is going to happen on Friday at 5 p.m. when York and Lockport meet with the victor earning a spot in the 7 p.m. championship Saturday at Hoffman Estates High School.
While the other two teams in the finals, Fremd (20-2-1) and Morton (21-1-3), both will make their 10th state finals appearances and have had top-four finishes on 13 occasions between them, the Dukes
(21-2) and Porters (19-1-0) hope that their initial trophies in the sport is the biggest one that's awarded this weekend.
York was ranked ninth in the final Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 poll posted at the end of the regular-season. Lockport was 15th. Fellow semifinalists Morton and Fremd were ranked second and fourth, respectively.
York, which had one sectional title to its credit in the pre-regional days of the state tournament in 2000, won its second at Addison Trail. After 100 minutes of scoreless soccer, the Dukes prevailed over St. Charles East with a nine-round 9-8 shootout advantage. That win advanced earned a Streamwood Supersectional berth Tuesday, where two late goals delivered a win 3-1 over Huntley, which was also seeking its first trip to state.
The Dukes fell behind early in the supersectional on the only goal scored against them in the playoffs so far. They have allowed just 12 all season.
York has won six in a row and 16 of its last 17 matches. It’s lone loss during that stretch came against Lyons. The Dukes outscored opponents by a 41-4 margin during its 10-match winning streak.
Coach Jordan Stopka has posted a 28-5-1 record in his two seasons at the helm. This season’s win total is a school best, surpassing a 19-victory showing in 1982.
In goal, the Dukes have gone with senior Ricardo Torres, who has played in 17 matches with a 0.41 GAA and 52 saves, and senior Anthony Kroumov, who has seen action in 13 matches with an 0.38 GAA and 32 saves. Torres was hurt in second half of the supersectional; Kroumov played the last 15:40 of regulation plus the two overtimes and PKs. Stopka said the status of Torres for the weekend will be discussed at training Thursday.
Junior forward Jose Herrera leads the Dukes in both goals and assists with 21 and nine, respectively. Fellow double-digits goal-scorers include senior forward Kevin Gliatis (13 goals, eight assists) and senior midfielder Sam Musial (11 goals, four assists).
Other top contributors for York include: junior midfielder Joe Hernandez (five goals, four assists); senior midfielder Kacper Janowski (four goals, six assists); junior forward Kevin O'Connor (four goals, one assist); senior forward Erik Barishman (three goals, three assists); and senior defender Yael Silvestre (three goals, one assist). Senior
defender Connor Bare joins Janowski and Musial as the team's captains.
"I couldn't be prouder of them," Stopka said. "It started in June with summer league and camps and just making sure they kept them involved throughout the entire summer since they knew that they were building for something bigger. After tryouts we came together and said that we have a long season ahead of us, but why not us?"
Click here to see York’s team page on Chicagoland Soccer
Also heading into the semifinals with a great deal of enthusiasm is Lockport, which captured the biggest victory in program history Tuesday. The Porters rallied from a 2-0 deficit by scoring twice in 16 seconds in the 70th minute before landing the game-winner in the first overtime to stun Collinsville 3-2 in the Bloomington Supersectional.
Lockport has scored 19 goals in the playoffs, collecting three tallies or more in each outing other than their 2-0 win over Shepard in the victory in their regional final. A 5-2 victory over Romeoville in the Sandburg Sectional final resulted in the program's initial sectional championship.
The only blemish on the Porters' slate is a 3-2 loss to Lincoln-Way Central on Sept. 23. The squad has gone 12-0-0 since suffering its lone defeat, collecting 54 goals in those 12 matches. The IHSA program lists the team's record as 19-1-1, but that is incorrect. The match against Stagg, which is shown as a tie, was cancelled.
Coach Chris Beal is in his 12th season as Lockport's head coach and has a 151-63-23 record. Under his tutelage, the program has won 16 or more matches on four other occasions.
Senior forwards Makonnen Stampley (17 goals, 10 assists) and Danny Kajtezovic (17 goals, six assists) are the offensive engines for the Porters. Junior midfielder Dan Jimenez (nine goals, 10 assists) is tied for first in assists and ranks third in goals.
Other top scorers for Lockport are: sophomore forward Nate Blazewski (nine goals, two assists); senior midfielder Dylan Morgan (seven goals, seven assists); senior defender Gabe Czako (four goals, three assists); and senior midfielder Braeden Roth (three goals, three assists).
Senior Patrick Marshall has played 20 matches in goal with a 0.90 GAA and 58 saves, while junior Mateusz Wrona has seen action in eight matches with a 0.38 GAA and 14 saves. Senior midfielder Adam Doyle joins Czako and Marshall as the team's captains.
"I can't really put into words how proud I am of these boys," Beal said after his team's supersectional win. "We always believe in them, and they believe in themselves. I'm so excited for the boys."