Lions win big prize at 2A finals

By Mike Garofola

There was a point during the second half of play when both Trevor Wheeler and Kevin Cavers were in tackling mode and in full gallop while running towards the near touchline and the Saint Viator bench.

And with the radiant sunshine kissing off the silver-clad bleachers of Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, the recently dyed blonde hair of the Lions’ duo shined so bright it appeared – for just an instant -- that the co-captains were in front of hundreds of paparazzi, photo bulbs snapping endlessly.

Good fortune would rain down on the Lions Saturday afternoon when they defeated Peoria Notre Dame 1-0 to win the 2A state championship, and end the career for several 3-year players who would dream of this moment the minute they each put on their Lions varsity shirt for the first time.

"Unbelievable!" Cavers would shout, after the club accepted the biggest piece of hardware in high school soccer.

"It's just amazing," offered Wheeler. "It feels even better than I thought it would to win a state title."

To a player, long after offering the championship cup to loyal Lions fans in celebration, there was still a measure of disbelief in its achievements, despite the fact this club has been pointing towards a rematch with PND since early October, while thinking all along that it was quite capable of recording a better result if and when they played.

Here's another fact: the Lions were the better team on the pitch of North Central College.

They clearly dominated play in the first half, and would make 2-time all-state and University of Notre Dame recruit Vince Cicciarelli a spectator for most of his 80 minutes. Neutralizing Cicciarelli would essentially send the Irish attack into a free fall, as it would muster just a few quality chances on keeper Scott Faul.

Oh, and Faul? The Man-of-the-Match for the champions.

"I never would have ever thought one goal would have decided a match like this, where both teams have so much experience and talent in the attack," began Irish captain Michael Schrader, who'll likely attend either Butler or Vanderbilt next fall.

Schrader handled himself with great dignity and sportsmanship after the loss and would easily show why he wears the PND captain’s armband for coach Mike Bare.

"We had only been shut out (once) this season when we played a top 10, nationally-ranked team (Evansville Reitz) - but today, the Saint Viator defense was great, and their keeper made two or three great game-saving goals when he was needed, and that was the difference."

"Credit (Saint Viator) because they deserved to win today."

Fittingly, in a season when two clubs would dominate the opposition in 2A play, and with attacks which would generate 231 goals scored between them, it would be defense -- mostly from the Lions -- that would help sway the final result.

Brendan King, Joe Surdam and sophomore Nick Abel were water-tight all afternoon, while their midfield mates in front of them stayed organized and kept their shape when coming back to help defend or tackle. That combination made for a long 80 minutes for the Cicciarelli, who was the main culprit in PND's 3-2 victory in Peoria on October 3.

"The boys along the back today played near flawless defensive soccer for us, and were (key) figures in our win, along with Scottie Faul," said a still beaming Lions head coach Mike Taylor.

The Scott Faul that Taylor spoke of hasn't been in the limelight for very long, as the soft-spoken junior took over the starting spot full time following a strong effort in the Lions season-finale win (2-0) over Benet.

"It wasn't me, it was all of the guys in front of me, or like coach Taylor says, it's all about 11 thru 22 (Taylor's first-11 plus his next 11 on the varsity roster)."

"Brendan (King) made my life so easy out there (today) and the rest of our backline and midfield, and even our guys up front, all came through defensively, and I couldn't be happier for the seniors today," said Faul, who in 9 matches this season allowed just 5 goals.

"Can you believe Faul out there today?" said MF Billy Hamilton, whose well-aimed free-kick at 3 minutes would find the upper right corner from 30 yards and prove to be the game-winner.

Up until, and just about into the break, the Lions brought a swagger in its play that further demonstrated how confident this club was on this day.

Wheeler, Cavers and Hamilton would point the Lions attack forward when it wanted to, and scoring leader Alan Aboona, who didn't add to his 35-goals on this day, was a physical force up top in his runs and on an occasional strike to help keep the Irish honest in its own end.

"I thought the boys would dominate the first half, but we fell off (a bit) later on when I think we got a little tired, and when our focus became to play more defensive as we tried to hold the lead," said Taylor, who in the first half would bring on fresh legs in anticipation of a fast paced match.

Faul would make a remarkable save at 29 minutes when a blistering free-kick from Cody Gilfillan would explode through the Lions’ wall from 18 yards out. Faul may have outdone himself near the hour mark on a goal-saving stop on a cracker from Jeff Cassidy.

"After the 2003 team won its championship -- our first for the school -- you begin to wonder if another team like that one will ever come through," reflected Taylor.

"But then, a team like this one arrives, and for three years we've seen how they have grown, until a day like today is upon them and they respond in the biggest game of their high school lives."

"I am so proud of them today, and I will miss them all terribly. They have put up with me, and me constant barking and demands to work harder, but now, that it's over, I can tell you, that I am going to miss them.

"They're a great bunch of boys, and I love them all.”