Boys soccer: Crystal Lake South to play for 2A state title

Baseball teams often bring in their closer to save games.

Crystal Lake South's boys soccer team brings in its other goalkeeper to do it.

The Gators turned to Oscar Estrada during the game-deciding shootout in Friday afternoon's IHSA Class 2A state semifinal and the senior did his best Mariano Rivera impersonation as the Gators defeated Waterloo Gibault Catholic in penalty kicks, 5-4, after playing to a 1-1 tie in regulation and a pair of overtimes in Hoffman Estates.

Crystal Lake South (21-2-3) advances to play Peoria Notre Dame, which defeated St. Ignatius 2-1 in PKs in Friday's second semifinal, at 1 p.m. on Saturday for the state championship.

The Gators have never played for a state title.

"We knew this was a special group," Gators coach Brian Allen said. "We just focused on the little things of growing and getting better and that's been something we've been working on since day one. We saw strides early so there where were moments where we knew there was a high ceiling for this team but you can't look that far or you slip."

There certainly wasn't a slip in the goalkeeping when Estrada got the call in the shootout to take over for Matt McCaleb, who made 7 saves in regulation and overtimes.

"I just had the next man up mentality," Estrada said. "I always have to be there for my team, always have to be a step ahead of the team and see what is going to happen in the game. They might need me, they might not. I just have to stay locked in."

Unlike baseball, there's no bullpen to loosen up in soccer so Estrada stayed loose on the sideline.

"I started to get locked in way before the game started, because I know I might have to come in at any point," Estrada said. "Then my time came so I had to do it."

The Gators made the same switch when they beat Wauconda in the Antioch regional title game as Estrada made 2 enormous saves. He did it again to deny the Hawks a second-consecutive appearance in the state title game.

"We've got two really solid keepers and they kind of were splitting time earlier (this season) and then Matt got on a roll and we kind of went with that," Allen said. "But I told Oscar to bide your time, you're an important part of the team and you never know when you're name will be called upon."

Allen said Estrada especially thrives in a shootout situation and he's certainly proving him right with 4 saves in two shootouts this postseason.

"Matt played a phenomenal 100 minutes and does his job there, but when we go to those situations, there are some things Oscar does really well," Allen said. "He doesn't get rattled and he comes up big."

Gibault Catholic (17-5-5) made its first 4 penalty kicks while the Gators missed one during that time frame so Estrada had to reject Cameron Kincheloe's attempt or the game was over.

Estrada made the save but the Gators still needed Andrew Edge to make his, which he did. Alex Canfield then converted his to open the sixth round and Estrada dove to deny Dylan Altadonna's attempt to seal the victory.

Tommy McSweeney, Nick Langdon and Jack Wruck also made their PKs in the shootout.

"It's amazing that he's done it twice now and that he can come off the bench after all game and cheering us on and can come out in the shootout and make a big save," Edge said of Estrada. "It's unbelievable."

Edge had made a penalty kick earlier when he scored with 5:37 left in the first half after the Hawks took down Canfield.

It remained that way until the Hawks received the game-tying goal from Gavin Kohnz just 8:38 into the second half. Kohnz wouldn't contribute in the second overtime or shootout though after getting a red card at the end of the first overtime.

Creating scoring chances wasn't a problem for the Gators as they forced Gibault Catholic goalkeeper Connor Olson into making 13 saves, but finishing them was difficult as the only time they found the back of the net came on penalty kicks.

"I think we were working well together as a team," Canfield said. "We really connected the ball super well and found little gaps and got in the box."

And now they've gotten themselves into the championship.