February 12, 2025
Sports

High school boys soccer: Timothy Christian state-bound once again

By JASON ROSSI

Timothy Christian's Michael Martens (left) heads the ball on Oct. 27 in a Class 1A supersectional game against Latin at Benedictine University. The Trojans won 2-1 to earn their second straight berth in the state finals. (Bill Ackerman)

ELMHURST – Ben Lodewyk is a big reason why Timothy Christian boys soccer is headed back to state.

The senior captain and central defender not only stifled Latin’s attack, he had a goal and an assist in the Trojans’ 2-1 win in the Class 1A Lisle supersectional game Oct. 27.

“He really kept us ahead in the game and got the job done offensively as well as defensively,” said TC head coach Stephen Fernandes, who also praised senior captain Mitch Evenhouse for winning balls in the air and making it hard for Latin to work through the midfield.

The supersectional win avenged a 2-0 loss against Latin on Oct. 6 near the end of the regular season and booked a return trip to state for the Trojans (17-4), who placed second in state last season.

“We are incredibly excited,” Fernandes said. “The boys want to go back and get the job done this year, as last year many of them were on the team that lost in the final.

“The team is really playing some of its best soccer now and I am very excited to see what we are able to do down at state.”

Timothy faces Urbana U-High in a state semifinal game Oct. 30. The winner moves on to the championship game at 5 p.m. Oct. 31.

A Lodewyk throw-in led to Jimmy Allen’s goal in the 17th minute against Latin, and 10 minutes after that Lodewyk scored when Joshua Anderson’s free kick wasn’t cleared. Latin’s only goal was on a penalty kick with less than a minute to play.

Allen (33 goals), Anderson (18 goals, 12 assists) and Lodewyk (10 goals, 11 assists) have been leaders offensively this season, although the Trojans have 15 other players who have scored goals this year, including Michael Martens (eight goals, 14 assists) and Evenhouse (eight goals, 11 assists).

U-High enters the state semifinal with a 24-0-1 record, but the Trojans aren’t worried about preparing for a specific opponent. Instead, they are focused on perfecting the skills they have been working on all season.

“At this point in the year we are definitely playing our best soccer, but we know that we need to continue to improve this week going into our semifinal game,” Fernandes said. “I do not know much about Urbana U-High. We know that they have a great record and have won some big games. I think we match up well with anybody.

“We have several ways of getting to the goal and defensively we have been growing more and more solid. It will certainly be a great game.”

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If you go

Who: Timothy Christian vs. Normal U-High

What: Class 1A boys soccer state semifinal

When: 7 p.m. Oct. 30

Where: The Corn Crib, 1000 W. Raab Road, Normal