Roundup (Tuesday)
Class AA state tournament
Deerfield Regional
Deerfield 2, Lakes 1 (2 OT)
The Warriors advanced to the final with a come-from-behind victory. Lakes had the better chances in the first half and forced Warriors keeper Ryan Toback to keep the game scoreless at halftime. Lakes struck first when Nathan Rendl picked up a loose ball, beat his defender, and fired a low shot inside the near post at 62:23. Deerfield roared back with a number of good chances: Peter Straus' header just missed the far post; and Ryder Coleman's shot narrowly missed the frame. At 71:25, Straus was taken down in the penalty area. Coleman stepped up and calmly slotted home the penalty. With 4:30 remaining in the second overtime, Andrew Babos found Coleman, who turned his defender and launched a shot from 30 yards that found the upper corner. The Warrior defense closed things out for the win. Shots for the game were 19-17 in Deerfield's favor. The Warriors earned six corners, while the Lakes had none. Eighth-seeded Deerfield hosts no. 4 seed Carmel at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Class 3A state tournament
Argo Regional
Benet 7, Proviso East 1
The Redwings built a 5-0 halftime lead with goals in the first 24 minutes. T.J. McVey topped the scoring list with a goal and two assists. Nico Picha, John Kolb and Tommy Kelleher had a goal and helper apiece. Andy Nash, Sam Barbeau and Caden Schultz added goals. Benet (13-5-1) advances to meet seventh-seeded Young in the final at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Barrington Regional
Libertyville 2, Waukegan 0
The seventh-seeded Wildcats avenged an earlier season loss with goals from Ben Nuttall and Michael Kelly (Felix Amyot assist). Keeper
Micheal Krokonas made five saves for the clean-sheet. Libertyville (10-6-4) faces second-seeded Barrington for the title at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Bolingbrook Regional
Naperville North 6, Plainfield South 1
Cam Radeke had a brace and assist to lead the top-seeded Huskies (18-5-2). Caden Hill, Alex Barger and Bryan Higgs contributed a goal and assist apiece, and Jaxson Grier capped the scoring list. Jacob Ryu and Tyson Amoo-Mensah chipped in with assists. Naperville North advances to the final to play sectional host and eighth-seeded Plainfield North at 7 p.m. Friday.
Glenbard North Regional
York 6, Conant 0
After a scoreless opening 40 minutes, the top-seeded Dukes poured on the offense. Jose Herrera, Kacper Janowski, Sam Musial, Ryder Kohl, Brendan Haran
and Neil McGovern scored. Ricardo Torres posted the shutout. York (17-2-0) meets ninth-seeded St. Charles North for the title at 6 p.m. Friday.
Hersey Regional
Hersey 1, Prospect 0
Hersey will face top-seed Fremd in the final of its own regional after a sensational goal from Charlie Shiffman ensured a 1-0 victory over division rival Prospect on Tuesday night in Arlington Heights at Roland Goins Stadium.
The build-up to this game revolved around the Huskies desire to avenge a late-season loss to Prospect (2-1) that slowed its effort to eventually claim the Mid-Suburban League East Division crown.
The win also earned another opportunity to play Fremd, which beat Hersey one week ago in the 45th annual MSL Soccer Bowl and 4-2 in conference play Oct. 7.
"We really wanted to have another chance at playing Fremd in the regional final, so to get past Prospect tonight and have that chance meant a lot to all of us," said Shiffman
"This team never ceases to amaze me,"said Huskies manager Mike Rusniak.
"Prospect has a lot of talent, beginning with their great keeper (East Division Player of the Year Alejandro Rider-Leiner) and Ryan Novak among others. They came out and had a lot of the play in that first half to kind of put us under.
"But this is a resilient bunch. When we had a chance, we put one in. Then it was just a matter of defending and protecting our lead until the final whistle."
Rider-Leiner turned away a trio of quality Hersey attempts, but the senior could do nothing about Shiffman’s game-winner in the 57th minute that started with a corner kick serve from Adrian Szumski.
"Adrian and I made eye contact before he sent in his corner," said a thrilled Shiffman. “I just ran to the ball unmarked and headed in my first goal ever on the varsity.”
Prospect (11-6-2) enjoyed its best season during manager Mike Andrews' tenure. A trio of players returning from club helped energize a senior-dominated roster that was in the division race up until the final day of the regular-season.
"I feel very fortunate to have had such a wonderfully talented group of players, who worked hard, did all the right things and were able to enjoy the type of season they all should be very proud of," said Andrews, who will say goodbye to 14 seniors. Five of them, Ari Kemperas, Steven Lopez, Shea Morris, Novak, and Rider-Leiner, were named to the 2021 MSL All-Conference team.
-- Mike Garofola
Mundelein Regional
Warren 1, Round Lake 1 (Warren wins PKs 5-3)
The sixth-seeded Blue Devils prevailed in the tiebreaker. Miguel Garcia's PK gave Warren the lead in 37th minute. Round Lake equalized 13 minutes later, and the teams followed with 50 minutes of scoreless soccer through two overtimes. Keeper George McAtee made nine saves. "Super proud of the boys ability to stay locked in the entire game," said coach Jason Ahonen. "We had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation but came up short. We battled for 100 minutes and were able to convert our PKs and win the game." Warren faces 13th-seeded host Mundelein, which upset Lake Zurich in kicks in the semis, at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Schaumburg Regional
St. Charles East 5, Glenbard East 0
Mason Brockmeyer's brace paved the way for the second-seeded Fighting Saints (16-4-0) over their 15th-seeded foe. Luca Avendano and Sebastian Carranza added a goal and assist. Luca Carranza registered a goal. Will Orloff and Logan Lewarchick contributed assists. Keepers Jordon Rolon (60 minutes, seven saves) and Tyler Benhart (20, 4) shared the shutout. St. Charles East advances to play seventh-seeded Glenbard West in the final at 5:30 p.m. Friday
Class AA state tournament
Deerfield Regional
Deerfield 2, Lakes 1 (2 OT)
The Warriors advanced to the final with a come-from-behind victory. Lakes had the better chances in the first half and forced Warriors keeper Ryan Toback to keep the game scoreless at halftime. Lakes struck first when Nathan Rendl picked up a loose ball, beat his defender, and fired a low shot inside the near post at 62:23. Deerfield roared back with a number of good chances: Peter Straus' header just missed the far post; and Ryder Coleman's shot narrowly missed the frame. At 71:25, Straus was taken down in the penalty area. Coleman stepped up and calmly slotted home the penalty. With 4:30 remaining in the second overtime, Andrew Babos found Coleman, who turned his defender and launched a shot from 30 yards that found the upper corner. The Warrior defense closed things out for the win. Shots for the game were 19-17 in Deerfield's favor. The Warriors earned six corners, while the Lakes had none. Eighth-seeded Deerfield hosts no. 4 seed Carmel at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Class 3A state tournament
Argo Regional
Benet 7, Proviso East 1
The Redwings built a 5-0 halftime lead with goals in the first 24 minutes. T.J. McVey topped the scoring list with a goal and two assists. Nico Picha, John Kolb and Tommy Kelleher had a goal and helper apiece. Andy Nash, Sam Barbeau and Caden Schultz added goals. Benet (13-5-1) advances to meet seventh-seeded Young in the final at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Barrington Regional
Libertyville 2, Waukegan 0
The seventh-seeded Wildcats avenged an earlier season loss with goals from Ben Nuttall and Michael Kelly (Felix Amyot assist). Keeper
Micheal Krokonas made five saves for the clean-sheet. Libertyville (10-6-4) faces second-seeded Barrington for the title at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Bolingbrook Regional
Naperville North 6, Plainfield South 1
Cam Radeke had a brace and assist to lead the top-seeded Huskies (18-5-2). Caden Hill, Alex Barger and Bryan Higgs contributed a goal and assist apiece, and Jaxson Grier capped the scoring list. Jacob Ryu and Tyson Amoo-Mensah chipped in with assists. Naperville North advances to the final to play sectional host and eighth-seeded Plainfield North at 7 p.m. Friday.
Glenbard North Regional
York 6, Conant 0
After a scoreless opening 40 minutes, the top-seeded Dukes poured on the offense. Jose Herrera, Kacper Janowski, Sam Musial, Ryder Kohl, Brendan Haran
and Neil McGovern scored. Ricardo Torres posted the shutout. York (17-2-0) meets ninth-seeded St. Charles North for the title at 6 p.m. Friday.
Hersey Regional
Hersey 1, Prospect 0
Hersey will face top-seed Fremd in the final of its own regional after a sensational goal from Charlie Shiffman ensured a 1-0 victory over division rival Prospect on Tuesday night in Arlington Heights at Roland Goins Stadium.
The build-up to this game revolved around the Huskies desire to avenge a late-season loss to Prospect (2-1) that slowed its effort to eventually claim the Mid-Suburban League East Division crown.
The win also earned another opportunity to play Fremd, which beat Hersey one week ago in the 45th annual MSL Soccer Bowl and 4-2 in conference play Oct. 7.
"We really wanted to have another chance at playing Fremd in the regional final, so to get past Prospect tonight and have that chance meant a lot to all of us," said Shiffman
"This team never ceases to amaze me,"said Huskies manager Mike Rusniak.
"Prospect has a lot of talent, beginning with their great keeper (East Division Player of the Year Alejandro Rider-Leiner) and Ryan Novak among others. They came out and had a lot of the play in that first half to kind of put us under.
"But this is a resilient bunch. When we had a chance, we put one in. Then it was just a matter of defending and protecting our lead until the final whistle."
Rider-Leiner turned away a trio of quality Hersey attempts, but the senior could do nothing about Shiffman’s game-winner in the 57th minute that started with a corner kick serve from Adrian Szumski.
"Adrian and I made eye contact before he sent in his corner," said a thrilled Shiffman. “I just ran to the ball unmarked and headed in my first goal ever on the varsity.”
Prospect (11-6-2) enjoyed its best season during manager Mike Andrews' tenure. A trio of players returning from club helped energize a senior-dominated roster that was in the division race up until the final day of the regular-season.
"I feel very fortunate to have had such a wonderfully talented group of players, who worked hard, did all the right things and were able to enjoy the type of season they all should be very proud of," said Andrews, who will say goodbye to 14 seniors. Five of them, Ari Kemperas, Steven Lopez, Shea Morris, Novak, and Rider-Leiner, were named to the 2021 MSL All-Conference team.
-- Mike Garofola
Mundelein Regional
Warren 1, Round Lake 1 (Warren wins PKs 5-3)
The sixth-seeded Blue Devils prevailed in the tiebreaker. Miguel Garcia's PK gave Warren the lead in 37th minute. Round Lake equalized 13 minutes later, and the teams followed with 50 minutes of scoreless soccer through two overtimes. Keeper George McAtee made nine saves. "Super proud of the boys ability to stay locked in the entire game," said coach Jason Ahonen. "We had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation but came up short. We battled for 100 minutes and were able to convert our PKs and win the game." Warren faces 13th-seeded host Mundelein, which upset Lake Zurich in kicks in the semis, at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Schaumburg Regional
St. Charles East 5, Glenbard East 0
Mason Brockmeyer's brace paved the way for the second-seeded Fighting Saints (16-4-0) over their 15th-seeded foe. Luca Avendano and Sebastian Carranza added a goal and assist. Luca Carranza registered a goal. Will Orloff and Logan Lewarchick contributed assists. Keepers Jordon Rolon (60 minutes, seven saves) and Tyler Benhart (20, 4) shared the shutout. St. Charles East advances to play seventh-seeded Glenbard West in the final at 5:30 p.m. Friday