Providence gets its payback
MINOOKA -- Providence Catholic High School's boys soccer team got the rematch it wanted with Joliet Township, and the Celtics didn't waste it.
Back on September 28, JT beat Providence 1-0. It was the fourth time in the last three years that the Celtics and Steelmen had locked horns, and Providence had not scored a goal.
On Friday, Providence broke its scoring drought early in a 3-1 win to take the title of the Class 3A Minooka Regional on Friday.
The first Celtics goal came from Ian Land with 18:00 to play until halftime. Two minutes later, teammate Kevin Graham found the back of the net and the Celtics took a 2-0 lead into halftime.
"That first goal was the most important," Providence coach Dan Potempa said. "If we had gone down 1-0 instead, it would have been a different story."
Providence increased the lead to 3-0 in the second half as Connor O'Brien scored in the 28th minute.
Joliet Township avoided the shutout with a goal by Juan Carranto a minute later, but it was all the Steelmen could muster against the Celtics' defense.
"We are on a high right now," Potempa said. "I am real proud of my boys. Joliet gave us a good game, but we matched their effort.
"We wanted to come out and let them know we aren't a floormat and that we can take it to a good team."
Despite the loss, JT (20-2-2) finished with a 20-win season.
"Providence has a nice team," JT coach Eduardo Contreras said. "Our boys shouldn't hang their heads. We still won 20 games this year.
"The wind killed us in the first half and we weren't able to respond. But we have a good program here and we are going to bounce back, unlike some other teams that are just good for one year."
Providence advances to the Edwardsville Sectional, where they will take on the winner of Friday night's East Moline United-Normal Community game.
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