Wheaton Academy ‘posts’ sectional win over Kaneland

Knocking on wood is generally considered something done for good luck. In Wheaton Academy’s case, it wasn’t really necessary.

However, the No. 3-ranked Warriors did hit five posts Tuesday en route to a 3-0 shutout of Kaneland in the Class 2A Hampshire Sectional semifinals.

Wheaton Academy (21-1-1) advances to Friday’s 5 p.m. championship to face a Belvidere North squad which scored a 3-2 win over Sterling thanks to a Luis Garcia 41-yard direct free kick that glanced off the crossbar and into the net for the game-winner.

The Blue Thunder could use that kind of good fortune in facing a Wheaton Academy program whose unbeaten string is now 12 games (11-0-1) since a 2-0 loss back on Sept. 20 to No. 1 Morton.

“We did hit (the posts) a lot,” All-State standout Ty Seager said with a smile. “But you just have to keep doing that hoping those will start to fall in next time.”

Actually the Warriors got a break 10:40 into the game when Jacob Kapitaniuk’s service led to a last touch by Seager on what is generally listed as an own goal. While Kaneland (13-9-2) managed some long-range shots that required saves, Wheaton Academy was clearly in control.

With 14:40 left before halftime, Grant Rougas had a textbook cross to the middle where Reid Culberson raced in for a nine-yard strike.

“Seeing Rougas on the baseline and knowing he was looking to slot it across I made the run and tried my best to roof it in order to put it away from the keeper’s reach,” Culberson said.

The final tally was a result of a Seager assist on Lucas Hoepner goal with 14:30 left in regulation.

“In some respects it was one of those games where we had a lot of possession, but it just took us a bit longer to get the goals,” Seager said.

“Props to our center mids for their patience and balanced play,” Wheaton Academy coach Jeff Brooke said. “I was pleased with our attack, of course we might have closed the door a little earlier.”

It was the 14th shutout for the Warriors, who had a streak of five straight interrupted in an 8-3 regional championship victory over Fenton.

Kaneland coach Scott Parillo had nothing but compliments for the way his squad hung in with the favorite to win the Class 2A state championship.

“We may have played our best game of the year and still would not have been enough,” Parillo said.

“They’re bigger, stronger and faster. When we started the year 1-4-1, no one would have said Kaneland is going to win a regional. We didn’t give up, but against that team, this was not our day.”