Peoria ND ends super Lemont run

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PEORIA -- If you continue along the state series trail in a given sport, one thing is certain.

Sooner or later, you will face the best.

That was the fate that befell the Lemont High School soccer team Tuesday afternoon as the Indians were matched against defending state champion Peoria Notre Dame in the Class 2A Notre Dame Supersectional.

The Irish's Kevin Whalen scored a goal in the 12th minute off an assist from Vince Cicciarelli and went on to score a 3-0 victory and secure a berth in the state tournament this weekend at North Central College in Naperville.

Whalen's goal was the first scored against Lemont (21-5-1) in the state tournament series, covering five games. The Indians beat Joliet Catholic Academy 7-0 in last week's sectional semifinal and won the sectional title with a thrilling victory on penalty kicks over top-seeded Bremen.

Lemont and Bremen went scoreless for 80 minutes in regulation and through four overtimes before the Indians won on penalty kicks 4-3. That ended Lemont's three-game losing streak against Bremen, including a 1-0 setback earlier this season.

In Tuesday's game against Notre Dame (22-2-1), the Indians offense, led by senior forwards Kyle Spoo and Dillon Perez, could not penetrate the Irish's rock-solid defense. Spoo's 19 goals topped the 2007 Lemont team that reached the state tournament.

The Irish, who have been shut out once all season and are averaging a shade under 5 goals per game, were coming off a 5-1 victory over Normal U-High in their sectional final. They have not lost to an Illinois team since Oct. 3, 2008, have won 16 straight and have outscored opponents 23-3 in five postseason victories.

Notre Dame has won 35 in row against Illinois opponents and has shut out 13 foes this season.

"Obviously if you're still alive at this stage, you're a pretty good team," Irish coach Mike Bare said of Lemont in an interview with the Peoria Journal-Star before the game. "But until you've played us, it's tough to game-plan for us."

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