Andrew soccer stuns Lincoln-Way Central

No one had been able to beat them on their home field since 2004, a streak that had reached 36 games.

And with an opportunity to capture a fourth straight sectional championship, it looked like a good possibility that Lincoln-Way Central's soccer team would use its home-field advantage to help it capture the title.

BOYS SOCCER

But Andrew had other ideas when it met the Knights in Monday's Class AA Lincoln-Way Central sectional semifinals in New Lenox.

The T-bolts prevailed 4-2 in penalty kicks to boost them to a stunning 2-1 win.

Andrew (15-7), which had lost 3-0 to Lincoln-Way Central (22-3-1) on Oct. 11, advances to Thursday's 6 p.m. finals, where it will meet the winner of today's semifinal game between Bloom Township and Minooka.

The Knights had won nine straight games and 19 of their last 20.

"We were competitive when we played them before, but we just had a couple of breakdowns," T-bolts coach Pat MacDonald said. "But today, the kids wanted this game, and they never gave up."

In the shootout, Andrew got goals from Matt Ribbens, Ryan Butler, Kyle Mastey and Pat Vargos, while keeper Tom Serratore stopped a shot by Phil Galounis to keep his team in front.

The Knights got scores from Corey Bingham and Tim Garland, but Eric Davenport stoped a shot by Micah VanBruggan. Matt Ducci fired a shot over the net to start the penalty kicks for the hosts.

Central definitely had more chances during the overtimes, but Serratore came up with several big stops.

"It's just an amazing win," Serratore said. "It's one of those miracle come-from-behind wins. We didn't feel as if we were the underdogs, but we played that card, and that's what we needed."

The Knights got on the board first in regulation play when Jason Obermeier connected from in front off an assist from Matt Ducci with 21:05 left in the opening half.

But the T-bolts responded with a score with just 2:21 left before the break when Butler fired in a shot from the right side.

"Give Andrew credit since they were forcing themselves through balls that were in the air, and they went through us," Knights coach Dan Radz said.

"I told the guys that those are the type of teams that you worry about since they wanted it more than we did."

CLASS AA ST. IGNATIUSSECTIONALLane Tech 2, St. Ignatius 0

Rodolfo Fransual was among the goal scorers for Lane Tech in the semifinal round.

St. Ignatius closed the season with a 4-20-2 mark.

CLASS AA SAINT XAVIERSECTIONALKelly 3, Mount Carmel 2 (OT)

David Martinez and Tony Aguilar scored goals for Mount Carmel (19-7) in the semifinal match.

Argo 2, Brother Rice 0

Argo (16-6-1) triumphed in the semifinal match.

Brother Rice finished the campaign with an 11-10 record.

CLASS A FRANCIS PARKERSECTIONALFrancis Parker 4Morgan Park Academy 1

Adam Weisman scored twice as Francis Parker (17-5-2) triumphed in the championship.

Morgan Park Academy ended the season with a 16-5-1 record.

Contributing: Josh Krockey