Saint Viator routs Triad to reach the title match

By Mike Garofola

Maybe dreams really do come true.

Saint Viator (23-4-1) will play long-time rival Peoria Notre Dame today at 1:00 to decide the 2A state champion on the pitch of the North Central College stadium floor in Naperville.

The Lions blasted downstate Triad 5-0 Friday afternoon to book its spot opposite the Irish, who earlier in the day rolled over a helpless Freeport side 6-0.

"Yes, this is the match we've been waiting for," beamed Viator head coach Mike Taylor, long after his lads would start its bus ride home and begin to think about how its awaited championship match would play out.

"There's a lot of history, and some terrific matches that we've had with (PND), going back to the days when the (1A) tournament was played at SIU-Edwardsville, and I believe our ballgame with them tomorrow should be another great one."

The Lions wouldn't break from tradition prior to its semifinal action as each player would don a fresh coat of blond atop his head in a show of team unity and strength.

"When my brother (T.J.) and his team won a state title (in 2003) every player would dye their hair blond," began senior Brendan King.

"It's a tradition now and we wanted to keep with (it) and maybe bring us a little good luck as well."

The Lions would find out later that it wasn't good luck which would carry them into the final. Instead, it was their level of technical and tactical talent which Triad (14-10-3) would be unable to match once the Lions found their pace after 20 minutes of play.

"During the postseason we have started each match a little tight (or) slow, but after ten or fifteen minutes, we've gained back the run of play and taken control," offered Trevor Wheeler, who with midfield mates Billy Hamilton and Kevin Cavers would give its opponents plenty of fits before coming off for good after King made it 5-0.

The Lions opened as bright as the sun-kissed day which would welcome soccer fans for this semifinal match, yet despite the quick start the club missed on 3 golden chances in close, until Wheeler's superb run and carry beginning 30 yards out ended with the all-state senior striking low in the 26th minute.

King made it 2-0 when he ran unmarked into the box to easily pop a header into the back of the net off a wonderful corner from Hamilton, whose 2 additional helpers on this day would run his assist total to 19.

Cavers dealt a hammer blow to the hopes of Triad just before the break when he smashed a long drive off the post and over the endline at 38 minutes.

"It took us a little while to get that first goal but I knew once that came, more would follow," offered Wheeler.

"That group in the middle (Wheeler, Cavers, and Hamilton) are second to none in the state, as far as I am concerned," said Taylor.

The Lions added more misery to the day of the Raiders when Cavers and King would find the back of the net before the hour would come and go, leading Taylor to begin bringing most of his first-11 off to grab some needed rest.

Peoria Notre Dame (23-2-1) now awaits in a much talked about rematch from early October in which the Irish would come back from a 2-0 deficit to claim a 3-2 victory in the Mid-Classic tournament final.

"There's not much more to talk about anymore," began King.

"This is the match we've been pointing to, and now it's here and we'll be playing for a state title tomorrow afternoon."