High school boys soccer: Benet shuts out Crystal Lake South in Class 2A state championship game

HOFFMAN ESTATES – When the final horn sounded, green-clad Gators dropped to the cold turf. Some knelt in silent resignation, others sat with tears streaming.

Benet’s bench rushed the field and the Redwings celebrated their win, 2-0, in the IHSA Class 2A state championship game. Minutes later, Crystal Lake South head coach Brian Allen hugged each player as he walked off the stage with a state runner-up medal around his neck.

“I don’t think many people gave us a chance,” Allen said. “Yeah, we wish we could have finished the job, but they’re going to look back and realize that this two-year run was special and unprecedented.”

South, which won the Class 2A state title a year ago, needed to replace eight senior starters coming into this season. This year’s group answered the bell.

South’s historic two-year run is equaled in McHenry County only by the Prairie Ridge teams of the late 1990s, which finished as Class A runner-up in 1998 and champion in 1999.

The 2019 Gators (20-5-4) simply ran into a juggernaut in Benet (20-1-2), which did not allow a postseason goal and allowed four total goals all season.

“They were good,” South forward Alex Canfield said. “They were extremely well-rounded in every part of the field. They just pushed through and they found little areas where they could put one away.”

The Redwings controlled the possession, especially early. Benet’s Sam Hepburn scored the game’s first goal in the 16th minute. A Redwings corner kick deflected to Hepburn at the top of the box. He kicked a low line drive across the turf and past South keeper Carson Hill.

Benet added one more from Hans Haenicke (assisted by Nick Augustyn) in the 72nd minute when South was pressing to find an equalizer.

The Redwings kept two defenders near Canfield, South’s leading scorer, at all times. Benet’s Anthony Klos tailed him wherever he went and there was always another defender a few steps behind them.

“[Canfield] up top is a handful,” Benet coach Sean Wesley said. “We saw what he did in the semifinal and we knew that at any moment he could go off again. So it was nerve-wracking.”

Canfield scored both goals during South's 2-0 win over Triad in Friday's semifinal.

He will graduate from South with a bevy of accolades. Following his two goals in Friday’s semifinals, he set the program’s record for career goals scored and career points.

Canfield finished his career with 85 goals and 206 points, one goal and three points ahead of Paul Lekics, who played for South in 1990 and 1991. Both are records that Allen, in his 13th season coaching South, said he thought would never be broken.

Though the Gators came up short, Canfield and this senior class ended its career on the state’s biggest stage once more.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way, if I’m being honest,” Canfield said. “This team has grown so much since the beginning of the season and I’m so proud of them.”

South will graduate nine of the program’s most decorated seniors, including six from the starting lineup.

"A two-year run like this is unimaginable," Allen said. "I’m going to miss all these guys tremendously. They put South on the map in a big way."

Benet won its third state championship in program history after winning back-to-back Class A titles in 2000 and 2001. This was its first under 10th-year coach Wesley.

Benet’s only loss this season came to Naperville North, a Class 3A powerhouse that saw its string of three straight 3A state championships come to an end in a supersectional loss Tuesday.

Benet Academy 2, Crystal Lake South 0

Benet 1 1 – 2

CLS 0 0 – 0

First half

Benet – Hepburn, 16th minute.

Second half

Benet – Haenicke (Augustyn assist), 72nd minute.

Goalkeeper saves – Benet: Staniskis 5. Crystal Lake South: Hill 1.