Timothy takes second place at state
NORMAL - Getting to the Class 1A championship match took more than grit for Timothy Christian boys soccer team.
The Trojans were in the heat of the battle for the state championship trophy on Saturday afternoon and were in a scoreless game for more than a half.
But downstate Columbia (21-3-2) scored twice in the final 30 minutes and captured the state championship with a 2-0 victory over Timothy Christian at the Corn Crib.
It left the Trojans (19-5-1) as the state runners-up. They will bring a second-place trophy back to Elmhurst.
"It's tough. They feel it and I feel it," Timothy Christian coach Joe Grit said. "Congratulations to Columbia. But it hurts. My hope is these kids remember the memories that we made along the way, they remember the moments, winning the PK shootouts. We came together as a unit, as a family with so many memories."
Timothy Christian left their emotions and their hard work on the field during their biggest game of the year. But the Trojans have something to look back at for what they've done in the near future.
"I think it will take a couple of days and it may hurt for now and (Sunday)," Grit said. "They may look back at this and realize how great of an accomplishment it really is.
"It was a long road and a tough road. For some of these guys, it was a lifetime of soccer they've played. Some will go on and play at the next level. Since they've been a little kid they have put all the work into it for this moment."
The Eagles scored both of their goals off corner kicks.
John Harrell tallied both, with the first in the 51st minute. Sean Rickey hit the corner, Sam Spivey let the ball go by him, Noah Baumann back-touched the ball for Harrel at the back post.
The other one was in the 69th minute, again from Rickey. Ryan Gudenman redirected for Harral to find the back of the net.
"They had some great plays by (Columbia)," Grit said. "First one was by design, and the second one was a good flick. It was unfortunate that we were scored on two set pieces."
Still, a number of the Timothy Christian seniors have something to look back at with their efforts in a game like this one and the rest of the season.
"It was disappointing because we've worked hard all season," said John Barrera, a senior defender. "We had a great group of guys out there. We played in the beginning until they got the first one on us."
Yet the last couple of games will stand out the most this season with the penalty shootout victories over Latin in the supersectional and Harvard in the state semifinal.
"I thought we had a great season," senior defender Greg Biesboer said. "We played hard, we kept our heads up after the first and second goal (Saturday). We kept playing for it the entire game.
"I still thought we had a great season. This is my last year and we made it to state. I just wanted to come to the Corn Crib this year. You have to be happy with what happened and had a good time."