Boys soccer: Wheaton Academy earns another shutout victory

After graduating its entire back line from last year's team that only had two losses, there was cause for concern with Wheaton Academy's rebuilt defense.

Those worries are long gone.

Relying on a stubborn defense and a balanced offensive attack, the Warriors beat Timothy Christian 3-0 during Friday's Class 2A sectional championship game.

Wheaton Academy (22-4) captured its eighth sectional title and first since 2014. The Warriors advance to the Oct. 31 Sterling supersectional against Quincy Notre Dame (20-4).

"We basically lost all the guys in back and it took some time," Warriors coach Jeff Brooke said. "Now we've got some synergy together and (goalkeeper) J.D. Gunn has really grown into a leader in an amazing way."

The Warriors won their 15th in a row, which dates back to a 4-0 shutout against Plainfield North on Sept. 18 after starting the season at 7-4. They've blanked eight of their past 11 opponents.

"It was a rough start because last year I was coming off 13 clean sheets and only conceded 6 goals," Gunn said. "This year was a little difficult with a whole new back line, but they've adapted well since the first 11 games and we haven't loss since. Hopefully, we can keep it going."

The first goal came less than four minutes into the action as Luke Holwerda scored via Max Dominguez for his 31st goal on the season.

"We just came out and knew we had to get something going," Holwerda said. "In a playoff game any little mistake or freak accident and you find yourself down 1-nil and your mind starts to go and your team starts to go. I was thrilled when I saw the ball go into the back of the net."

Grayson Harris scored for the third time this week in the 17th minute to make it 2-0.

Timothy Christian (17-7) played well and created some scoring chances but came up empty. The Trojans also failed to clear a few dangerous balls in the box that the hosts converted.

"I think we just needed to bury a few more goals," Trojans coach Stephen Fernandes said. "We make a PK, we clean up. I think their first goal off a corner kick, our guy heads it back and our keeper kind of fumbles it. I think if we bury our chances and play the same game and maybe we get a different result."

Gunn made a huge save on a penalty kick in the 51st minute, which kept the Trojans from making it a 2-1 game. Then, 15 minutes later, Seamus Kilgallon scored for the Warriors to break the game open.

"I kind of just pointed one way and went the other and just tried to play mind games with him," Gunn said. "I think it's big whenever a keeper makes a PK save, so that was big."

Defenders Max Dominguez, Eli Lebo, Matthew Oster, Owen Setran and D.J. Pollino provided stellar protection for Gunn. They became just the second team to hold the Trojans scoreless.