Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

Late substitute kicks winning goal for Triad to down Marion

Champaign Centennial is next on Tuesday

O'FALLON -- Triad High coach Mike Villa was so into his team's Class 2A Jerseyville Sectional championship game against Marion on Friday that he almost forgot to put one of his top reserves into the action.

It wasn't until midway through the second half that junior defender Ben Howard was summoned from the bench, a move that paid rich dividends when Howard scored the game-winning goal in the Knights' 1-0 triumph over Marion.

"Coach told me to go in and I got a hold of another one," Howard said of his goal in the 74th minute, which came from in front of the left post after a well-directed corner kick from the right side by junior David Wiese. "I could (see the corner kick), but then I lost it at the last second. It hit me in the shoulder and the face."

Howard also had a goal on a head ball -- his first of the season -- in Triad's 3-2 win on penalty kicks over Highland in the semifinals Wednesday night.

"Poor coaching, but I finally woke up and it turned out great," Villa said of bringing Howard off the bench and into a scoreless battle. "He didn't play in the game until about 15, 18 minutes left. He's not a starter, but he gets in here and there. He can win head balls. He's shown that."

The games against Highland and Marion were played on the artificial surface at O'Fallon High because Jerseyville's field was saturated with rain.

Triad (14-9-2) will play Champaign Centennial (18-9-1) at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the Springfield Super-Sectional at the University of Illinois-Springfield. The Chargers outlasted Springfield 2-1 in three overtimes Friday afternoon to win the Mahomet-Seymour Sectional.

The Knights are in the super-sectional for the second straight year, needing one more win to advance to their first state tournament.

"We never thought this was going to happen, but we had some heart and hard work -- and some talent showed up along the way," Wiese said. "It was all worth it. Some people had to step it up. We lost some good players. Some people had to fill some big shoes, and we did. I'm proud of all of us."

Marion, making its first sectional appearance, finished 19-5.

"Triad's probably the best team we've seen all year on set pieces, and they were able to capitalize late in the game," Wildcats coach Jeff Marlo said. "Of course, it's disheartening (coming) so late in the action."

Marion had a scoring chance in the final minute, but senior Kenny Crabtree's odd-angle shot from the left side was handled by Knight senior keeper Jake Terveer.

Triad dominated early, and had back-to-back rockets by senior Kyle Hoggatt in the fourth minute that were saved by senior goalie Timmy Mieldezis.

The Knights had another chance in the 28th minute on a cross by senior Derek Mitchell. But senior Ben Murray was unable to redirect the ball into the goal from in front of the left post, and Marion escaped with a goal kick.

Marion began playing better 20 minutes into the game, but the Wildcats had difficulty penetrating Triad's staunch defense.

"We had never been to the sectional, so our guys were maybe a little nervous," Marlo said. "After about 25, 30 minutes into the game ... my kids finally realized, 'Hey, we can play with these guys.' They kind of settled down from there."