Boys soccer: Johnsburg makes school history with Class 1A sectional title over Richmond-Burton

RICHMOND – Johnsburg controlled the play most of the second half and protected its two-goal lead quite well.

But Richmond-Burton finally scored with less than 11 minutes remaining, and the Rockets were revitalized as they chased the equalizer.

Skyhawks midfielder Kyle Patterson, who got his team off to quick start with an early goal off a penalty kick, also came through late.

Forward Jacob Calhoun served a ball to Patterson, who delivered the clincher with 4:19 to go, giving Johnsburg a 3-1 victory Tuesday in the Class 1A Oregon Boys Soccer Sectional championship.

“I laid it off to [Calhoun] and made the run through the middle, and he gave me a really good ball,” Patterson said. “It’s really cool to make school history. It’s going to be something I always remember. I hope we can keep moving forward.”

The Skyhawks (13-8) play in the Chillicothe IVC Supersectional at 11 a.m. Saturday against the winner of the IVC Sectional. Quincy Notre Dame and Peoria Christian play at 6 p.m. Wednesday for that sectional title.

The IHSA allowed Monday for the teams to move Tuesday’s game from Oregon to R-B, which added to the excitement with both teams trying for their first boys soccer sectional title in school history.

Patterson was tripped in the goal box early in the game and made his penalty kick.

Ten minutes later, midfielders Armando Garcia and Aidan Schwichow combined for a 2-0 lead. Garcia served the ball through for Schwichow, who put it away.

“Aidan always calls for the ball,” Garcia said. “I took a second to look up and saw him running, and I tried to play it out wide, but the wind took it into the middle. The wind kind of helped me a lot.”

Johnsburg lost goalkeeper Preston Michel midway through the first half when R-B’s Sean Rockwell and Michel collided as Rockwell almost scored. Michel was hit in a knee and left the game, but freshman Drew Jesuit came through with a couple of tough saves. Michel eventually returned with 25:25 remaining in the second half.

Johnsburg kept R-B (16-11) quiet most of the second half. The Rockets did not have a shot on goal until Meyer scored.

“It was our guys in the middle,” Skyhawks coach Adam Bronars said. “We controlled the middle. We talked at halftime about just play through the middle. Our strength is in our midfielders. Being able to have them control that was big.”

Dalton Youngs passed a ball that Meyer booted in with 10:38 remaining, and the Rockets came to life. R-B coach Casey DeCaluwe added a forward, switching to a 4-4-2 alignment, and it paid off.

“Maddox was able to get in behind and tuck it away,” DeCaluwe said. “The fact that we were pushing forward helped us get that goal and get back into the game. I liked our chances with 11 minutes to go, and unfortunately we came up short.

“At halftime we talked that 2-0 was dangerous, just find one [goal]. We’re a really young team, and I’m really proud of the boys who stepped up. We had three freshmen playing major moments today. We got ourselves into this position and that’s a really proud moment for this group.”

R-B kept pressing right after Johnsburg took the 3-1 lead, but forward Sean Rockwell was taken down and swung at a Johnsburg player after the foul was called, receiving a red-card ejection.

Shortly after that, Schwichow was given his second yellow card on the other end and ejected. Bronars plans to appeal that call in hopes that Schwichow will be made available for the supersectional.

“What the ref called was that Aidan kicked him after the ball was out of play,” Bronars said. “They should have been recording that on HUDL and we should be able to submit it. Aidan ran back, he didn’t kick anybody. I’m hoping we can take that snippet and send it in. Anytime you get a red card you can appeal it. We’ll try to do that tomorrow.”

DeCaluwe said Rockwell let his emotions get the best of him.

“That’s not who we are. We got packed stands tonight, and I don’t want that to overshadow the positive things we did this season and the kids who played the way that they should,” DeCaluwe said.

Class 1A Oregon Boys Soccer Sectional Championship

Johnsburg 3, Richmond-Burton 1

Johnsburg 2 1 – 3

Richmond-Burton 0 1 – 1

First half

J–Patterson, 2:50.

J–Schwichow (Garcia), 12:54.

Second half

R-B–M. Meyer (Youngs), 69:22.

J–Patterson (Calhoun), 75:41.

Goalkeeper saves: Michel (J) 3, D. Jesuit (J) 5; Chmeilowski (R-B) 8.