Boys soccer: Conant's improbable run continues
Another chapter was written on Tuesday night in the improbable postseason fairy tale story of the Conant boys soccer team.
The Cougars knocked off Jacobs 5-1 in the Class 3A Bartlett supersectional at Millennium field in Streamwood to advance to the state finals at Hoffman Estates High School on Friday, where they will take on Barrington at 7 p.m.
Conant's postseason run has included an upset win in the regional final over Wheaton Academy, a win in the sectional semifinals over top-seeded St. Charles North and a sectional final victory over an Addison Trail team that had won 16 in a row.
It's Conant's first trip to the state finals since 2002 and the Cougars denied Jacobs (16-6-4) its first state final appearance.
"Ever since that Wheaton Academy game something has clicked and it has just snowballed from there," Conant coach Jason Franco said. "We've had that kind of focus we've been looking for all year. To be able to string wins together against these kind of teams is pretty amazing."
Most of the first half was an even battle until the Cougars broke through with a goal by Mateusz Pasula with 12:40 left to play.
"It was great to get that goal," Pasula said. "We had a lot of chances early. We just kept working and kept the pressure on. We know we are the underdogs and that just motivates us even more. It's been unbelievable what we've been able to achieve."
The Cougars (16-7) blew it open in the second half. It all started with a spectacular goal on a spin move through a couple defenders by Soto Ono at the 11:47 mark.
Kevin Sindewald followed with a goal on a header just under 3 minutes later to make it 3-0.
Noah Melick scored the Golden Eagles' only goal with 13:07 left, his 33rd of the season, to cut the deficit to 3-1. However, Conant answered right back with goals by Michael Rizzo on a penalty kick with 9:49 left and Jason Fillingim on a 50-yard free kick.
"Getting in front is huge for us," Rizzo said. "It gives us the momentum and gets into the other team's head. Being the underdogs, that is what we have tried to do in all these games is to get the other team uncomfortable and playing from behind. We have figured out our game and are really clicking. It's outstanding to see all the support we are getting and we are going to keep trying to do whatever it takes to keep winning."