10.31.09
Timothy Men’s Soccer Wins IHSA Class 1A State Championship With 2-1 (4OT) Victory Over Waterloo Gibault Catholic
Trojans Clinch First Men’s Team State Championship in School History
Game Summary
The 2009 Timothy Christian High School men’s varsity soccer team is the IHSA's Class 1A champion.
The magical 2009 men’s soccer post-season run ended in dramatic fashion- with Junior captain Corey Phillip’s championship winning goal coming 2 minutes into the 4th and final overtime period of the state final on Saturday, October 31st.
The Hawks of Gibault found the score sheet first off of a corner kick. A team famous for great defense and great execution of set pieces held the 1-0 halftime lead. This lead would hold until the waning minutes of regulation when senior midfielder Nate Middel hustled after a ball that was about to roll over the end line for a Trojan corner kick.
The entire Hawk defense had given up on the ball, but Middel’s hustle afforded him the opportunity to cross it. Junior captain Mike Pizzello, who had been brought out of the defense to join the midfield attack and give the Trojans more of an offensive threat, was on the end of the cross and ripped the ball to the back of the net to send the game into the golden goal overtime and the Trojan faithful into a frenzy. Pizzello had another chance to finish the game off in the final ten seconds of regulation, but the Hawk goalkeeper was equal to the task.
The Pizzello equalizer was made possible by an offensive minded line up switch. With 23 minutes remaining in regulation, senior sweeper Kyle Anderson subbed on and provided a quality defensive effort that allowed Pizzello to join the midfield attack. The move also put Nate Middel into the outside midfield position that set up his cross.
Throughout the second half and overtime, the offensive flow of play was dominated by sophomore Nolan DuBois. This same time period featured shut-down defending by freshman defender Adam Garza and senior defender Dai hee Cho. Senior goalkeeper Aaron Foster only gave up the one goal in the 111 minute of play and had seven saves.
In the IHSA state tournament, there are four 10 minute periods of golden-goal overtime (if you score, you win). The Trojans, rejuvenated by their dramatic comeback controlled most of the first three overtime periods, but ultimately couldn’t produce the game winner. The Trojan’s best chance to this point came in the second overtime where junior stopper Troy Ellens won a head-ball off of a Corey Phillip throw-in that was headed to the lower corner of the far post. The Gibault keeper made the save of the tournament, just getting some fingertips on the ball, ushering it past the post and out of bounds, and keeping the Gibault championship hopes alive.
By the fourth overtime, both teams were completely exhausted, but the Trojans continued to control the game in extra time. Just two minutes into the fourth and final overtime, Corey Phillip won a throw-in deep in Hawk territory. Phillip’s long throw-in was headed out of the goal box by a Gibault defender, but the ball bounced right back to Phillip. Phillip had only one man to beat and that is exactly what he did. With a championship-clinching move, Phillip blew past the defender, found room in confined space for a low, near-post shot that beat the Hawk goalkeeper, won the game, and set off a celebration the likes of which Timothy men’s sports had previously never experienced.
Post Season By the Numbers
Timothy’s playoff run was truly one for the ages. The Trojans amazing playoff run included 7 consecutive wins (in a regular season with only 8 victories), 10 separate periods of overtime, a successful penalty kick shootout victory, come-from-behind victories in both the state semi-final and the state final, and five consecutive 2-1 victories to finish off the season. Remarkably, the Trojans were only a 4th seeded team within their own region. The state championship is Timothy's first men's team state championship in the 99 year history of the school. Timothy now has 6 total state championships- 4 from women's track, 1 from women's cross country, and 1 from men's soccer.
Junior Captain Corey Phillip finished the post-season with 10 goals and 4 assists (20 and 18 overall). Phillip's championship-winning goal came in the 111th minute of play.
Post Season Nemesis
Entering the 2009 championship game, the Hawks of Waterloo Gibault had a playoff record of 33-1 over the past five playoff seasons. A true IHSA class 1A dynasty with 3 consecutive championships from 2005-2007, the only loss in the previous 4 seasons also came at the hands of Timothy Christian with a 1-0 defeat in the 2008 state semi-finals.
The Hawks are now 33-2 over 5 post seasons with both losses coming to Timothy Christian.
Scheduled Celebrations
The triumphant Trojans have two scheduled celebrations in which the Timothy community is invited to participate. On Tuesday, November 3rd at 2:15, the school will hold a pep-rally in the Huizenga Auditorium. Entrance is free- all in attendance are encouraged to wear red.
On Saturday, November 7th at 7:30 PM, the team will be recognized on the field and over the public address announcement at Toyota Park during the Chicago Fire/New England Revolution playoff game! Tickets players this game for non players/family members of are $25. If you are interested, please contact team mom JoAnn Favia at joann@financialsolutionsmidwest.com.
Other State Tournament Press
Chicago Sun Times
Chicago Tribune
Chicagoland Soccer News
IHSA Soccer Menu... note the beautiful red star
Elmhurst Doings
Elmhurst Doings #2
Daily Herald
Daily Herald Interview of Coach Gesch
Roster
Team members for the state champions include:
Blake Engelsman, Danny Leach, Adam Garza, Aaron Foster, Kevin Hansberger, Nolan DuBois, Ben Cook, John Bowman, David Kuenzi, Troy Ellens, Mike Euwema, Nick Groenewold, Jonathan Workman, Mike Pizzello, Nathan Middel, Colin Middel, Dai hee Cho, Brad Wieringa, Corey Phillip, nathan Slager, Kyle Anderson, Matt Robinson, Devon Loerop, Justin Rink, Ju Young Kim, and Rick June.
The Trojans were coached by head Coach Rudi Gesch, assistant coach Ryan Dekoekkoek, and assistant coach Mike Oosterhouse.
