Trick sends Timothy to state title match
There was a feeling during Friday night's Class 1A boys soccer state semifinal that Timothy Christian standout Corey Phillip was going to score.
In a sense he did.
Deadlocked at 1-all with Peoria Christian in the second overtime, the Trojans decided to give the Chargers a trick a day before Halloween.
"I guess you could call it a trick play," Timothy Christian coach Rudi Gesch said. "I came up with it myself when I was an eighth-grade coach about six years ago."
The trick began with Phillip not taking a corner kick like he usually does. Senior defender Dae He Cho was brought up field as a decoy and when the ball was kicked into play in his direction, he fanned on it, leaving Phillip ready to attack. The Chargers submerged quickly on Phillip, causing the ball to carom around, which gave senior Dave Kuenzi, who missed most of the season with an ankle injury, an opportunity to do something he hasn't done all season - score.
"I was kind of hanging back just because I knew anything could happen," Kuenzi said. "I was ready for it, saw it fumbling around and took it. I guess I was in the right place at the right time."
Kuenzi's game-winner with 2:25 remaining in the second overtime earned the Trojans their second consecutive appearance in the state title game. They will face Gibault Catholic at North Central College at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
"We've never won a men's team championship before," Gesch said. "We'd love to do it (Saturday)."
Timothy Christian (14-12) couldn't get much going offensively early, failing to convert on its two best opportunities in the opening half.
Peoria Christian (20-3-2) didn't fare much better, but the Chargers netted a goal in the 36th minute when Cooper Meyer ran a ball down and smashed it past goalkeeper Aaron Foster.
The Trojans battled back to tie it in the 53rd minute. Phillip dribbled for about 20 yards from midfield before sending a cross to sophomore forward Nick Groenewold, who buried it in the net.
Phillip had a handful of opportunities to give the Trojans the lead for good and to win it regulation, but a feisty Peoria Christian team simply wouldn't budge.
"They played me very well," Phillip said. "They kept a guy on me at all times and shut me down. I'm glad that Kuenzi stepped up because that's all that matters."