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Timothy Christian wins in state semifinal

NORMAL - Ben Lodewyk remembers his Timothy Christian team reaching the Class 1A championship game and ending the season as the state runner-up.

He also knows the Trojans have a second chance this year after defeating Urbana University High 4-1 Friday night.

"We do have a lot of the younger players that were on this team last year," Lodewyk said. "We're definitely back for revenge and want the state championship this year."

Lodewyk contributed with 3 assists. Mitch Evenhouse scored twice, Jimmy Allen and Eryk Biegunski once apiece.

Timothy Christian (18-4) will take on Anna-Jonesboro-Cobden co-op (20-5-1) for the state title at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Wildcats got past Rockford Keith Country Day 1-0 in the other semifinal.

"Assists are huge. To have a goal you almost need an assist," Lodewyk said, "You really can't get a goal single-handedly."

Timothy Christian put University High (24-1-1) on its heels with a pair of goals 80 seconds apart late in the first half.

Evenhouse scored on a header off a long-arching Lodewyk throw-in for a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute. Then Biegunski found the back of the net off a rebound for a 2-goal lead.

"We were confident coming in," Timothy Christian coach Stephen Fernandes said. "Our organization defensively was huge for us. Our back line and our keeper (Noah Marrera) have stepped it up.

"Going into halftime with a lead was huge. (University High) was a great team and they haven't been down much this season. So we wanted to make sure to get the lead and hold onto it."

The Trojans added a third goal in the 48th minute when Lodewyk kept a play alive.

University High got a goal back in the 53rd minute from Rahl Miraftab-Salo. But Timothy Christian answered less than a minute later when Lodewyk found Evenhouse for his second goal.

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