Libertyville drops heartbreaker

All season long, Libertyville's boys soccer team fought its way back in a number of games.

Even on the biggest of all nights.

The Wildcats tied Rockford Boylan in the final three minutes of the Class 3A state championship game, but the Titans got a golden goal from Homero Jordan in the 93rd minute to beat Libertyville 3-2 in the second overtime at North Central College in Naperville on Saturday night.

Jordan delivered the game-winning goal from a Nick Kind cross.

“I just waited for the ball for a moment,” Jordan said. “I put the leg out there and the ball went in off the post. When I hit it, I didn't know what was going to happen.”

Boylan (25-1-3) captured its first state soccer title in school history, while denying Libertyville its first.

Libertyville finished runner-up for the second time. The Wildcats lost to Collinsville 2-1 in four overtimes in 1986.

Libertyville also became the third North Suburban Conference team to take second in the last five years. Warren (2006) and Lake Zurich (2009) were the others.

“(Boylan) played well and we were just not up for the challenge,” said Libertyville coach Andy Bitta, whose team finished 20-4-2. “Look at how hard we played. We tied it up and had many opportunities to win it.”

Libertyville's Griffin Pils forced overtime with a goal in the 77th minute. Adam Witucki started the play with a throw-in to Landon Eyre, who flicked the ball to Pils.

“I was just standing there and it came down to my feet,” Pils said. “I was able to use my left foot and knew it was going in.”

Friday's semifinal hero, Miles McNeir, had a couple of chances in overtime to give Libertyville an OT win for the second night in a row. McNeir sent one shot wide and another went over the bar.

He earlier scored Libertyville's first goal, his 20th of the season.

“This whole tournament was a good experience,” McNeir said. “We had great improvement from last year. We've played a lot of overtimes this season. We just don't quit.”

McNeir scored the opening goal in the 21st minute. Sam Kalpan hit a shot off the post and McNeir redirected it in.

Boylan tied the game six minutes when Ryan Howe hit a free kick just inside the far post.

The Titans took a 2-1 lead in the 37 minute. Victor Zamora was fouled in the penalty area and converted a penalty kick for his 26th goal.

“This takes hard work. It's like winning the World Series,” Boylan coach Chris Mera said. “Libertyville was a great team and made it a great challenge for us.”