Boys soccer: Stevenson, Waukegan advance after back-to-back wild finishes at Buffalo Grove sectional
There were layers upon layers of drama Tuesday night at Grant Blaney Stadium in Buffalo Grove with both sectional semifinals needing extra time to decide who would advance into the sectional final this Friday.
Filip Janda stunned MSL champion and No. 5 seed Fremd with his game-winner in the 94th minute to lead top seed Stevenson (19-0-3) over the Vikings 2-1 to reach the final against league rival Waukegan, which upset No. 7 Lake Zurich in penalty kicks to continue it fairy tale postseason run.
The Patriots struck first in the 6th minute when Alex Xie's angled shot from the left side found the far inside netting to get the NSC champs off to a terrific start on a rainy, windy and cold night. Despite the conditions, it had little effect on the play from these two league champions.
"That goal from Alex really helped set the tone for us, but Fremd never gave in all night. And when they drew even midway through the second half, we all knew it would be a battle until the very end," said Janda.
This all-action, box-to-box affair seemed destined to go into extra time with each club showing why it each lifted league and regional trophies with water tight defending in both ends, quality work from between the sticks, and the type of pace and purpose to make counter attacking very dangerous for their opponent.
Vikings senior Will Mayer would be rewarded for another terrific performance when his redirected header off a Owen Winegar serve went just over the gloves of keeper Aidan Morris from close in the 59th minute.
Both sides had chances to go ahead if not for some superb work by Morris, and his counterpart, Robby Remian, to send this contest into two extra ten-minute sessions.
Janda would guarantee victory when he steered in his effort from the right side after sophomore Jack Bacher did all the work to set his teammate up to be the hero for the Patriots.
"To beat a Steve Keller coached team says plenty about our guys. (It) was not an easy night to play in, and it made Fremd (14-7-2) that much more difficult to beat, but I am very proud of the effort of everyone on this team," said Patriots coach PepeJon Chavez.
"Stevenson is a very well coached team, and one that plays with a lot of poise and composure. (We) had our chances in this one, and our effort was terrific all night long, but they were a little better than us when they had to be (so) hats off to them," said Keller.
Waukegan 3, Lake Zurich 2 (PKs):
The dream of Lake Zurich returning to the sectional final for the first time since 2018 were dashed when No. 14 Waukegan outscored the Bears in penalty kicks 3-1 in the second semifinal.
The Bulldogs (9-10-3) have now beat three straight higher seeds in the tournament, beginning with No. 3 Hersey, No. 11 Barrington and now No. 7 Lake Zurich, which had entered this match on a 9-0-1 run after a 1-2-2 start to the 2022 campaign.
"I've said several times before, but it's a difficult way to go out when you lose in kicks, but we fought back to get even, then go ahead, but Waukegan never quit to force overtime, and once you go there, anything can happen," said Bears coach Mike Schmitz.
These two clubs were met with worse conditions than the opener as the rain and wind would increase following the Stevenson-Fremd affair. That made this a game of two halves, depending on what side had the advantage of the wind at its backs.
Senior Jon Hernandez-Morandel bagged the opener in the 54th minute after the Bears failed to clear the area after a corner. But the all-state candidate Ian Ferguson struck twice within 60 seconds to give the Bears the advantage 12 minutes from time.
Creasy Rivera's last gasp equalizer in the 76th minute sent this contest into overtime, and when 100 minutes could not decide things, it was on to penalty kicks.
Once there, Bulldogs keeper Julian Mendoza made two sensational saves, while teammate Carlos Delgado steered in the game-winning spot kick to send the Bulldogs fans into orbit.
"We fought all night long, came back from being down to go ahead, but we didn't use the momentum of that second goal from Ian (Ferguson) to get a third, which would have probably closed them out," said Schmitz.