October 31, 2009
BOYS H.S. FINALS
Timothy Christian wins first title in 3OT

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TIMOTHY CHRISTIAN (Elmhurst) 2, GIBAULT CATHOLIC (Waterloo) 1 (3 OT)

NAPERVILLE, IL.--"Thriller" wasn't reserved for Halloween parties on Saturday evening, as Corey Phillips scored in the 112th minute to give Timothy Christian a 2-1 triple overtime win in the IHSA boys soccer state championship at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

The championship is the first for Timothy Christian, after finishing as the runner up last year. The contest marked the 13th time an IHSA boys soccer state championship match has needed overtime to decide a winner and the ninth to go three overtimes or more.

Gibault Catholic took a 1-0 lead into halftime after Brent Russell setup Matt Reinholz's goal in the 38th minute. It appeared the Hawks lone tally might hold up, but Mike Pizzello came up with the late heroics when he tied the game at 1-1, scoring off a pass from Nathan Middel in the 85th minute to force overtime.

Aaron Foster was the winning goalie, making seven stops between the pipes for the Trojans. Brendan Fournie made five saves for Gibault Catholic.

THIRD-PLACE GAME
KEITH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL (Rockford) 4, PEORIA CHRISTIAN 0
NAPERVILLE, IL---The Cougars cruised to the win in the third-place contest, as Sven Steller netted the game-winner in the 18th minute and Bruno Oliveira added an insurance goal three minutes and 28 seconds later.

Peoria Christian’s Evan Smith accidentally scored into his own net in the 38th minute to give Keith Country Day School a 3-0 halftime advantage, while Bruno Oliveira rounded out the scoring in the match with a goal in the 43rd minute. Tim Gustafson started in goal and stopped the only shot he faced en route to recording the shutout victory.