By Bobby Narang
In many ways, Benet Academy athletics had a week to remember.
In the Class 2A girls State soccer tournament, the Redwings played stellar in their two State games at North Central College, however, Glenwood pieced together two goals in less than 35 seconds in the first 10-minute overtime session to pull out a 2-0 win in the 2A championship game.
The Redwings finished in second place in the 2A tournament for the second consecutive season, after winning the State championship in 2019.
Benet girls soccer head coach, Gerald Oconer, said the final game came down to a few mistakes and a couple of unlucky bounces.
“That’s what these games come down to, just those one or two bounces,” Oconer said. “When we won State in 2019, we got the lucky bounces that we needed. Last year we hit the inside of the post and it comes out on a PK. Today, we got the ball scrambling on the goal-line and it doesn’t go in.
“We’re fortunate to get quality kids in our program to have that sustained level of success year after year. It’s nice to have one good season, but to have them strung together like we have in the last five years is pretty amazing. It’s kind of set a certain bar for other classes to achieve.”
The Redwings and Glenwood hooked up a memorable match on a muggy afternoon, with Benet nearly winning the game with three shot attempts in the final 90 seconds.
- In boys lacrosse, the Redwings set a new standard by reaching the State semifinals, and losing, 17-10 to Wheaton Academy, despite grabbing an early 3-1 lead. Benet senior Erik Lorenzl led the way in the defeat with five goals. Thom Bartenhagen added three goals.
“We had a great start and came out hot today,” Lorenzl said. “It was unfortunate how it turned out, but we battled hard. At the beginning of the season, I thought we would barely make the playoffs, but we made it to State. It’s great. I’m so happy we made it and we have one more game Saturday and hopefully get third place.”
- Meanwhile, the Benet girls softball team continued its stellar season by defeating Richards, 5-2, Monday iin the super-sectional to advance to the Class 3A State semifinals against Lemont Friday at 10 a.m. at the Louisville Slugger Complex in Peoria. The Redwings, 24-11, are making the program’s second State appearance and first since placing fourth in Class 4A in 2011.