Washington soccer gets a dream match-up

With 14 sectional titles, a dozen trips to the state finals and three state championships to its credit, the Notre Dame boys soccer program?s success is hard for most teams to match.

But as far as Washington is concerned, you have to start somewhere. Even if somewhere is in the back yard of one of the state?s most successful teams.

Just days after claiming the first regional title in program history, the Panthers will look to claim their first sectional plaque against an Irish side seeking its third state title in five years. The two square off at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the first of two semifinals at the Class 2A Notre Dame Sectional.

?We?re feeling good about what we?ve done,? said Washington coach Jeff Brooks, who guided his team to its first Mid-Illini Conference championship this fall.

?But we?ve been wanting this game for a long time.?

While the challenge may be great, the reward will be far greater should the Panthers pull off the upset.

And in what has been a season of firsts for Washington, the chance to play for a sectional title seems like a natural progression.

But despite their success this season, the Panthers aren?t overlooking anybody, especially the Irish.

?Obviously it?s our biggest game to date,? Brooks said. ?But we feel like if we play our best game we have a chance against anybody.?

SPEAKING OF ND: As usual, Notre Dame seems to be hitting its stride about the right time.

Not that the Irish ever lost it, but with an eight-game win streak that has produced a 40-4 difference in goals, the sectional hosts are rolling right along.

Statistically speaking, senior Drew Whalen has led the Irish offense with 28 goals and 21 assists.

Alex Garcia, the reigning JS Player of the Year, has been just as potent for ND with 18 goals and 25 assists. Fellow senior Ben Fiddes has contributed 14 goals and 19 assists.

The Irish defense, which has allowed 17 goals this season, has also posted ten shutouts.

PREPPED POTTERS: Confidence boosters can come in any number of ways.

And for a Morton side that has been struggling to find consistency this season, one may have come in the form of a loss.

Facing Notre Dame in the regular season finale for both teams, the Potters became one of a handful of teams to take a lead on the Irish when Jonah Greving scored in the 26th minute of play on Sept. 11th at ND.

That goal gave the Potters a 1-0 lead heading into halftime, but the Irish responded with three goals after the break to get the nonconference victory.

Prior to that loss, the last time that the Potters were on the Irish? home field was in the 2010 sectional final.

In that game, the Potters took the nationally ranked Irish into overtime tied at 1-1 before an 87th-minute goal by Vince Cicciarelli gave the eventual Class 2A state champs the victory.

Having won its sixth regional title in seven years, the Potters will need to defeat Morris in order to set up a potential rematch with the Irish.

If they advance, the Potters would match their season-high win streak (three) while advancing to the sectional final for the third year in a row.

MORE ON MORRIS: The change to the three-class system has been both kind and harsh to the Redskins.

Since the change was initiated back in 2008, Morris has increased its regional title count from zero to three. But an 0-2 record in sectional play, with losses of 3-0 and 6-1, has been an issue thus far.

The Redskins are hoping that a diverse attack, led by Chava Villanueva and Ricardo Del Toro, could change that.

Josh Wessler can be reached at 686-3214 or jwessler@pjstar.com
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Source: http://www.pjstar.com/sports/x470409184/Washington-soccer-gets-a-dream-match-up

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