Boys soccer: St. Edward rallies, reaches state title game
EAST PEORIA - The Elgin St. Edward soccer team found itself in a not all too familiar position on Friday night.
The Green Wave recovered from a shaky start for a dominating second half and a 3-1 victory over Chicago Acero/Soto in the Class 1A state semifinal.
One year after losing in the semifinals, St. Edward will play for the state title at 5 p.m. Saturday against Quincy Notre Dame, which beat Decatur St. Teresa 3-1.
"We came in not knowing (about the experience of state) last year since it was the first time here as a program. We were frazzled," said forward Josh Johansen, whose left-footed game-winner in the 61st minute was tipped off the right post and in by the Soto keeper.
"This year we were more focused compared to last year. We came out and played our game."
While nerves caused issues a year ago, it was unfamiliarity with Soto that caused the Green Wave to be on their heels for the first 10 minutes and trail for just the third time all season 11:04 into the game.
Soto's Jose Gonzalez scored in transition off a cross from Oswaldo Duenas who broke down the right sideline.
"One thing I love about this team, (midfielder Carlos Ibarra) came off and said 'That was mine, all mine. I wasn't talking with (defender Emilio Martinez),'" St. Edward coach Tim Breiger said. "He went out (after that) and was one of the top players the rest of the game."
St. Edward changed tactics by moving Jackson Godfrey up high in the attack to try and add height up front to go with Johansen and Yuriel Carachure.
That change, along with deception on a throw-in, of all things, led to the first and third St. Edward goals. After a pair of early flip throw-ins from Zach Olenek, Soto twice was caught anticipating another.
Godfrey tied the game in the 38th minute as Soto was in the midst of setting its defense waiting for Olenek to get to the far sideline for the throw. Instead, St. Edward quickly got the ball in play to Ibarra who found Godfrey in the middle.
"They know Zach can flip it, so we dropped it Carlos and it was a beautiful service to Jackson," Bregier said.
The team elected to stick with the tactical change with Godfrey up front in the second half.
"We got the tying goal so at halftime, I asked them do we go back to what we do best or do we go with this?" Bregier said. "They wanted it. My halftime speech was two minutes long. Go get it, it's yours."
So, the Green Wave did.
Five minutes after Johansen's unassisted dazzler, Olenek didn't flip the throw and dropped it right at Johnson who found Chase Brieger streaking through the middle to set the final score.
"(Johansen) played it to me and I knew I had to put it in since I was so wide open," Chase Brieger said. "When it went in, there was so much joy."