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Wheaton Academy beats Johnsburg 5-0 in Section al semifinal

WEST CHICAGO - Joshua Mariotti knew it was a matter of when, not if, Wheaton Academy would score against Johnsburg on Tuesday night.

The Warriors controlled the ball for much of the first half of their Class 1A Wheaton Academy Sectional semifinal match and constantly pressured Skyhawks goalkeeper Preston Michel until Mariotti broke through with a goal.

Once Mariotti and Wheaton Academy got going, there was no stopping them, with the Warriors winning 5-0 and Mariotti ending the night with a hat trick.

"We knew eventually they would crack," Mariotti said. "We wanted to create pressure, and we moved the ball well collectively."

The Warriors (13-4-3, 5-1 MSC) never stopped firing after Preston turned away their first shot in the first few minutes of the match. Wheaton Academy had 10 shots on goal in the first 20 minutes, and Mariotti broke the tie when he shot the ball about 25 yards from the goal over Preston's arms with 17:29 left in the first half.

Wheaton Academy kept applying pressure and scored again when Caleb Mariotti connected off a deflection to make it 2-0 with 13:09 left in the first half.

Not much changed in the second half. Joshua Mariotti knocked in his second goal when he shot the ball in the bottom left corner of the net past Preston. Lucas Landstrom scored 45 seconds later, and Joshua Mariotti completed his hat trick when he tallied through traffic with 15:28 left in the match.

The Warriors wanted to apply constant pressure and didn't let the Skyhawks move the ball much upfield. Preston finished with 22 saves in the first half and 32 saves in the match, while Johnsburg had 3 shots on goal in the match.

"Goals are not guaranteed in soccer, which is why they're so celebrated and treasured," Wheaton Academy coach Cody Snouffer said. "We hoped, we kept believing and kept trying, and it was great to break the ice and add a couple more."

Johnsburg (9-11-1, 4-2 KRC) struggled with how fast Wheaton Academy played. The Warriors jumped on any loose or bad touch the Skyhawks had, and Johnsburg couldn't find a way to score when the match was scoreless or within 2 goals.

"They used their speed to their advantage," Johnsburg coach Adam Bronars said. "But I thought we hung in there for so long, and we couldn't find a way to get that goal."

Wheaton Academy will play either Genoa-Kingston or Westminster Christian on Saturday night for the sectional title.

The defending Class 1A state champion Warriors know each match gets tougher in the postseason, and they're ready to up the intensity even more as they move on in the bracket.

"We took this match really seriously, because they had a great season," Snouffer said. "We're really excited to see another great 1A team. Every game gets progressively harder. Whoever comes out on the other side Saturday will be well-prepared for a supersectional.

"We obviously hope it's us."

Wheaton Academy's Joshua Mariotti (17) smiles after scoring a goal against Johnsburg during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
Wheaton Academy's Joshua Mariotti (17) is greeted by his team mates after scoring a goal against Johnsburg during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
Wheaton Academy's William Clegg (21) celebrates with Scotty Murray (5) after scoring a goal against Johnsburg during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
Wheaton Academy's Declan Finnegan (0) makes a diving save against Johnsburg during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
Wheaton Academy's Alex Moncau (13) plays the ball on a header against Johnsburg's Ethan Pyles (22) during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
Wheaton Academy's Alex Moncau (13) plays the ball against Johnsburg's Andrew Chapman (5) during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
Johnsburg's Jacob Calhoun (13) plays the ball against Wheaton Academy's Joshua Mariotti (17) during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
Wheaton Academy's Caleb Mariotti (18) goes up for a header against Johnsburg's Armando Garcia (7) during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
Wheaton Academy's Caleb Mariotti (18) challenges Johnsburg's Armando Garcia (7) for the ball during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
Johnsburg's JT Schmitt (12) plays the ball against Wheaton Academy during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
Johnsburg's Patrick Broderick (21) goes up for a header against Wheaton Academy's Alex Moncau (13) during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
Johnsburg's Preston Michel (1) goes up high for a save against Wheaton Academy during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
Wheaton Academy's Jakob Karlson (9) challenges Johnsburg's Blake Bowers (11) for the ball during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
Wheaton Academy's Josiah Pitts (11) shoots the ball against Johnsburg's Preston Michel (1) during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
Wheaton Academy's Josiah Pitts (11) plays the ball agains Johnsburg during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
Wheaton Academy's William Clegg (21) is greeted by team mates after scoring a goal against Johnsburg during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
Wheaton Academy's Lucas Landstrom (10) shoots the ball for a goal against Johnsburg during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
Wheaton Academy's Troy Erickson (8) plays the ball in traffic against Johnsburg during a Wheaton Academy 1A sectional semifinal match at Wheaton Academy on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. Sean King for Shaw Local News Network
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