Boys soccer: Kaneland drops heartbreaker in double overtime

Tucker Jahns established a school record for goals in a season at Kaneland this fall, but the senior was hoping to score a sectional trophy next for his team.

Unluckily for Jahns and the Knights, they ran into a tough Lemont team during Tuesday's Class 2A Burlington Central sectional semifinals, and the Indians shocked the Knights by scoring the game-winning goal with 3:32 remaining in the second overtime for a 1-0 victory.

Kaneland (17-7) was shut out for just the fourth time this season, but this time it meant the end of its postseason, one in which the Knights brought a regional trophy back to Maple Park for the second time in three years.

"I think the main problem was that we looked past this game and thought we could put in a couple easy goals," Jahns said. "We had to work pretty hard and the conditions (of the field) were tough. I thought we had a lot more chances than they did, but I feel disappointed I didn't put any in. I've been able to before."

Lemont (12-3-8) scored the game-winner off a free kick from Alex Gonzalez that Sebastian Kowalczyk was able to clean up and sneak past Kaneland goalkeeper Maison Kerl.

Gonzalez acknowledged that he was beginning to smell the possibility of a PK shootout as the game wore on.

"I was kind of nervous because there were only three minutes left and it was 0-0 and I didn't want to go to penalty kicks," he said. "I hit it with everything I had and was glad Sebastian was able to follow up on it and score."

The Knights proved unable to get in the box and clear the ball as it caromed off the crossbar to Kowalczyk, who was able to send it in with a rebound header.

"Straight from training, we're always following so if it comes out, we finish," Kowalczyk said. "It felt like a goal was coming soon and it did. And coach said during the biggest games it comes down to the little things and this was one of those."

Jahns wouldn't have a similar opportunity during the 100 minutes and the chances he did get, he struggled with footing and had Indians all over him whenever he got a touch. He was definitely the marked man.

"They loaded four guys in the back so they did their research and defended us pretty good," he said. "Coach said to take the shot, if I got it, but it was tough to move around."

Tyler Chapman, one of 11 seniors who was playing for the final time in a Kaneland uniform, had a free kick near the box about 30 seconds after Lemont scored, but skied it. The Knights wouldn't have another solid scoring chance.

"It's tough when one lucky ball goes through and wins the game," Jahns said. "I'm going to miss it here. When I started freshman year, coach (Scott Parillo) believed in me and Gavin (Cano) and we were the building blocks along with Tyler (Chapman) and then Zach Smith, who moved the next year. We kept building and became a really strong team and it showed this year with how good we did."