Boys soccer: St. Viator falls in 3rd place game
St. Viator fell in its final match of the boys soccer season Saturday, ending a marvelous, memorable year which included an East Suburban Catholic Conference title and a Class 2A fourth-place state trophy following its 1-0 loss to Springfield at Hoffman Estates High School.
The Lions (21-7-1), who lost in heartbreaking fashion on Friday in a shootout to eventual state runner-up St. Joseph, left the stadium alongside their head coach Mike Taylor, who was happy and thrilled for his club, despite falling short in its bid to lift its third state crown.
"I won't lie to you, (Friday) night's win really stung all of us," admitted Taylor, who is on the other side of 500 career victories after securing that magic number during the regular season.
"Losing in PKs, especially here at the state tournaments is so hard, and it's not fair, but that's life.
"That's what we told the boys - life isn't fair sometimes, but on the other side of it, they were able to experience something that only a few get to enjoy.
"I've been coaching a long time, 27 years, but have only been here nine times. So you embrace all of this and consider yourself fortunate - and I know these guys will eventually."
Springfield found the only goal of the match at 73 minutes when Kaleb Cheung drove in the game-winner with a header, after teammate Logan Willard provided the helper to give the Senators (26-4-0) their first state trophy since 1997, when Phil Eck directed the club to its first and only state title.
"The guys came back from their loss to state champ Wheaton Academy and played with a lot of heart and energy today, which isn't always easy when you know your chance to win is over," began Senators' head coach Pat Phillips.
"But we told the players only two come away in the state with a victory on the final day of the season, and now both us and Wheaton Academy did just that."
"Nobody on this team wanted to lose their last game of the season, but it happens, but coach Taylor is right, all of us will remember this season, our teammates, and our great run during the last half of the year," said St. Viator senior Chris Beiersdorf, the classy back liner who was a central figure in a rebuild defense that would help the Lions go 10-0-0 after their 2-1 loss to Evanston at the Mid-State Classic on October 4.
"I really don't think anyone in the area had us figured to be in the Final Four when the season began, even some of us.
"But Taylor and the staff brought us together, and after a few rough times, we finally began to play the system we were taught, and it helped make us a great run to get here."
"It will be tough replacing a lot of these guys - we've got nine seniors leaving our program, but we'll do it, and hopefully be back here next year," added Taylor.