HS boys’ soccer: Staunton extends historic season to regional championship round; Carlinville, Southwestern and North Mac eliminated
Rhyse Rucker celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal and giving Staunton’s boys a 1-0 lead in the semifinals of the IHSA Class 1A Altamont regional Oct. 19. The Bulldogs went on to defeat the host Indians by that same score and advance to the championship match against Teutopolis. Photo courtesy Kirk Simpson.
Litchfield-Gillespie advances in 2A postseason
By JACKSON WILSON
Enquirer Democrat Reporter
The Staunton boys’ soccer team extended its historic season to the regional championship round while Carlinville, Southwestern and North Mac were eliminated in the first two rounds of the Illinois High School Association Class 1A playoffs.
In Class 2A action, Litchfield-Gillespie is on to the semifinals.
Staunton
Rhyse Rucker scored an early goal and that’s all the Staunton defense would need to secure a semifinal victory over 1A regional host Altamont Oct. 19.
Rucker found the back of the net on an assist by Ty Simpson.
The Bulldogs limited the Indians to just three total shots on goal en route to a school record 15th victory in a single season.
Staunton advanced to the IHSA Class 1A regional title match against heavily-favored Teutopolis. The Bulldogs battled the Wooden Shoes for championship hardware and a berth in the Virden sectional, which begins Sat., Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. Coverage will be featured in next week’s issue.
The Bulldogs were 15-5-1 overall heading into the regional championship game.
Litchfield-Gillespie
Litchfield-Gillespie busted a scoreless tie with five unanswered goals in the second half and secured a dominant home victory over Jerseyville in the first round of the Class 2A Triad sub-sectional Oct. 21.
The Purple Panthers battled top seed Althoff Catholic in regional semifinal action at Belleville Oct. 22. The winner faces either Highland or Civic Memorial in the regional championship match Fri., Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. Coverage will be featured in next week’s issue.
Carlinville
Carlinville defeated Lincolnwood 3-0 at Raymond to conclude the regular season but the Lancers flipped the script and got their revenge with a 1-0 upset over the Cavaliers in the semifinals of the Carlinville regional five days later Oct. 19.
Carlinville, which won a share of the South Central Conference title and captured the Route 66 Kickoff Classic championship, ended the year with a 12-8-1 record.
Southwestern
Southwestern pushed past East Alton Wood River, 3-1, Oct. 15 then finished the season 8-10 after losing 9-0 against top sub-sectional seed Columbia in the regional semifinals Oct. 18.
North Mac
North Mac tapped out with a 9-0 loss against Decatur St. Teresa in the first round of its hometown sub-sectional Oct. 16.
The Panthers ended the season 1-21 overall.
