Ultimate magazine theme for WordPress.

Naperville Central wins 1st soccer state title

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comNaperville Central's Chase Adams charges toward Romeoville goalkeeper Carlos Escobar in the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected] Central’s Chase Adams charges toward Romeoville goalkeeper Carlos Escobar in the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comYork goalkeeper Diego Ochoa looks out from behind the net after Stevenson's Ben Isthione, right, scored on a header in the Class 3A third place game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected] goalkeeper Diego Ochoa looks out from behind the net after Stevenson’s Ben Isthione, right, scored on a header in the Class 3A third place game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comStevenson's Ben Isthione, middle, is congratulated by teammates Grayson Lueck and Bryant Rouse, right, after his first half score against York in the Class 3A third place game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday , November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected]’s Ben Isthione, middle, is congratulated by teammates Grayson Lueck and Bryant Rouse, right, after his first half score against York in the Class 3A third place game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday , November 5, 2022.

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comYork's Jose Herrera is congratulated by teammates after his first-half goal against Stevenson in the Class 3A third place game of the boys state soccer tournament at Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected]’s Jose Herrera is congratulated by teammates after his first-half goal against Stevenson in the Class 3A third place game of the boys state soccer tournament at Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comStevenson's Rohan Gopalam reacts after scoring the first goal of the game against York in the Class 3A third place game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected]’s Rohan Gopalam reacts after scoring the first goal of the game against York in the Class 3A third place game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comStevenson's Bryant Rouse runs away from York's Michael Greco in the Class 3A third place game of the boys state soccer tournament at Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected]’s Bryant Rouse runs away from York’s Michael Greco in the Class 3A third place game of the boys state soccer tournament at Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comYork's Alexander Menolascina, right, and teammate Drew Ebner harass and take the ball from Stevenson's Rohan Gopalam in the Class 3A third place game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected]’s Alexander Menolascina, right, and teammate Drew Ebner harass and take the ball from Stevenson’s Rohan Gopalam in the Class 3A third place game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comStevenson's Bryant Rouse and York's Michael Greco compete for the ball in the Class 3A third place game of the boys state soccer tournament at Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected]’s Bryant Rouse and York’s Michael Greco compete for the ball in the Class 3A third place game of the boys state soccer tournament at Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comYork's Ryder Kohl clears the ball from in front of the net in the Class 3A third place game of the boys state soccer tournament against Stevenson in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected]’s Ryder Kohl clears the ball from in front of the net in the Class 3A third place game of the boys state soccer tournament against Stevenson in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comNaperville Central's Nathan Kwon redirects the ball against Romeoville in the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected] Central’s Nathan Kwon redirects the ball against Romeoville in the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comNaperville Central's Josh Weigel gets around Romeoville's Gavin Carrasco in the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected] Central’s Josh Weigel gets around Romeoville’s Gavin Carrasco in the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comNaperville Central's Chase Adams battles Romeoville's Imanol Casillas in the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected] Central’s Chase Adams battles Romeoville’s Imanol Casillas in the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comNaperville Central's Nathan Kwon heads the ball over Romeoville's Imanol Casillas in the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected] Central’s Nathan Kwon heads the ball over Romeoville’s Imanol Casillas in the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comNaperville Central's Patrick Berryman heads the ball as Romeoville's Christian Agyekum watches in the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected] Central’s Patrick Berryman heads the ball as Romeoville’s Christian Agyekum watches in the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comRomeoville's Joseph Duarte steps on the foot of Naperville Central's Sean O'Reilly in the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament at Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected]’s Joseph Duarte steps on the foot of Naperville Central’s Sean O’Reilly in the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament at Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

  • Naperville Central's Eli Jarrell takes a shot.


    Naperville Central’s Eli Jarrell takes a shot.
    John Stark’s | Staff Photographer

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comNaperville Central goalkeeper Dylan Scott falls with Romeoville's Gavin Carrasco in the final seconds of the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament at Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected] Central goalkeeper Dylan Scott falls with Romeoville’s Gavin Carrasco in the final seconds of the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament at Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comNaperville Central's Sean O'Reilly comforts Romeoville's Joseph Duarte at the end of the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected] Central’s Sean O’Reilly comforts Romeoville’s Joseph Duarte at the end of the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament in Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

  • John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comRomeoville accepts their runner up trophy in the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament at Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

    John Starks/[email protected] accepts their runner up trophy in the Class 3A championship game of the boys state soccer tournament at Hoffman Estates on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

  • Naperville Central coach Troy Adams hugs Carter Adams after the Redhawks defeated Romeoville in the Class 3A state championship game Saturday night at Hoffman Estates.


    Naperville Central coach Troy Adams hugs Carter Adams after the Redhawks defeated Romeoville in the Class 3A state championship game Saturday night at Hoffman Estates.
    John Stark’s | Staff Photographer

  • Josh Weigel ran with his teammates toward the large group of the Naperville Central faithful and leapt toward the clad-in-white student body with absolute glee.

    You see, he scored the lone goal in Saturday night’s Class 3A boys soccer state championship against Romeoville at Hoffman Estates High School to provide all the offense the Redhawks would need to win their first state title, 1-0.

    “It was straight up adrenalin and I didn’t really know what was going through my mind,” he said. “I just wanted to celebrate the fans who have supported us all year. It was awesome.”

    The communication that helped the game-winning play develop may not have been nearly as enjoyable as the end result, but it still captured the attention of coach Troy Adams, who last brought a team to state with 2013’s third-place finisher.

    “We talked about communication and Josh (Weigel) calls Sean (O’Reilly’s) name to get the ball back, so we talked about that component,” Adams said. “As a coach, yeah, that championship is unbelievable, but seeing those little pieces that make a season complete, when you’ve talked about something as much as we’ve talked about and see players execute it, it was an awesome goal. “

    Weigel was able to get past a defender as well as the goalkeeper to send in the game-winning goal with still 32:46 remaining.

    “I think it was a great pass from Sean to play into me,” he said. “I was kind of wide open and all I had to do was go around the goalie to score.”

    Romeoville (28-2-1) kept on pressing and was able to create some opportunities but ultimately came up just short of the first state title in any sport in school history. Still, the second-place finish is another of the many program records the team is proud to own now.

    “We got a record board and this group of guys broke every single record that we ever had,” Romeoville coach Nick Cirrincione said. “That whole board needs to be changed.”

    Naperville Central (26-3-1) had finished as a runner-up three times.

    Comments are closed.