The 2013 IHSA Class 2A & Class 3A Boys Soccer State Finals are set to unfold in Hoffman Estates this weekend, as Hoffman Estates High School hosts the culminating matches of the season on Friday and Saturday, November 8-9. The 2013 tournaments mark the 42nd annual season of the Boys Soccer State Finals and the sixth of the three-class system, while Hoffman Estates is hosting for the first time.

Friday’s Class 2A semifinals feature first-time qualifier St. Ignatius meeting a Wheaton Academy squad that placed fourth a year ago at 11 a.m., while first-time qualifier Washington (Chicago) faces four-time qualifier Rochester at 1 p.m. The Class 3A semifinals will unfold during the evening session, with first-time qualifiers Lake Park and Wheeling facing off at 5 p.m., followed by 2012 runner-up Naperville Central meeting perennial power Edwardsville at 7 p.m. All eight Class 2A and 3A state final tournament matches on Friday and Saturday will be webcast live with full video and audio on IHSA.tv.

CLASS 2A

ST. IGNATIUS WOLFPACK (18-5-2) vs.
WHEATON ACADEMY WARRIORS (22-3-1)
St. Igantius head coach James Luzzi has led the Wolfpack since 1970 and returns to the state tournament for the second time in his career and first since 2013. Luzzi’s squad has peaked late, as the team has won 14 of 15 matches since a 1-3-1 start behind the scoring of senior forward Bryan Long (12 goals) and play of senior John Marks in goal (.76 GAA, 115 saves). Wheaton Academy makes its second consecutive state final trip under head coach Jeff Brooke after the Warriors ousted defending state champ Peoria Notre Dame 2-0 in the Super-Sectional round. Sophomore forward Ty Seager (26 goals) has emerged as a sensational scorer for the Warriors and has plenty of experience around him, like senior forward Casey Zimmerman (10 goals, 10 assists), who netted his team’s equalizer goal to force overtime in last year’s semifinals, a penalty kick loss to Notre Dame.

CHICAGO WASHINGTON PATRIOTS (13-1-8) vs.
ROCHESTER ROCKETS (21-5-0)
Washington High School and fourth-year head coach Alvaro Perez make their first state final appearance in school history behind a team that has played suffocating defense all year long. The Patriots have used two different goalkeepers throughout the season and had success with both, as the team has allowed a goal or less in 20 matches this season, including seven shutouts. The Washington offense goes through junior forward Luis Ortega (33 goals), the top goal scorer left playing in the state right now. Chad Kutscher’s Rochester club makes its fifth state final appearance, including its fourth under Kutscher, which have all come since 2006. The perennial power is still in search of its first state title and hopes that the high-scoring duo of junior forward Austin Bell (21 goals, 21 assists) and senior midfielder JD Pletsch (19 goals) can get them there. The Rockets avenged a pair of regular-season losses in the postseason, including a 2-1 Super-Sectional win over conference foe Glenwood.

CLASS 3A

LAKE PARK LANCERS (21-2-3) vs.
WHEELING WILDCATS (22-1-2)
Lake Park and Wheeling have similar stories in 2013. Both are making their first state final appearances in school history following subpar seasons a year ago when the schools won nine and eight matches, respectively. Lancer head coach Anthony Passi relies on Mike Catalano to create offense, as the senior midfielder’s next netter would be his 30th of the season. Meanwhile, Lake Park and senior goaltender Stephen Mack (.38 GAA, 70 saves) have not allowed a goal in their past four contests and own 15 shutouts overall on the season. Wheeling has been equally stingy on defense this season, as the Wildcats and senior keeper Gary Mendoza (.82 GAA, 87 saves) allowed just one goal in the team’s first 10 matches this season. The Wildcats also have a high-scoring senior scorer of their own in midfielder Jose Garcia (27 goals, 10 assists), who has a pair of double-digit goal scorers to work with, including sophomore forward Elias Cisneros (15 goals).

NAPERVILLE CENTRAL REDHAWKS (18-2-2) vs.
EDWARDSVILLE TIGERS (19-3-2)
The 2013 season is about unfinished business for Naperville Central. Head coach Troy Adams has guided the Redhawks to the state championship match the past two seasons, but painstakingly lost both contests in overtime. Some of the familiar faces from the past two seasons are gone, but what is left is a balanced team that rolled through its first five postseason games by outscoring its opponents 12-2. The Redhawks have two goalkeepers they trust who have split time this season, while junior forward Jordi Heeneman (14 goals) and senior midfielder Jay Tegge (10 goals, 12 assists) pace the offense. Perennial power Edwardsville is back at state for the seventh time since 2000 and head coach Mark Heiderscheid hopes to bring home the second state title in school history after leading the Tigers to the crown in 2000. Edwardsville has overpowered opponents in the backstretch this season, as senior goalkeeper Brendan Heaton (.55 GAA, 38 saves) and company have allowed just one goal in the past 11 matches. Senior forward Brent Heinlein (16 goals, 9 assists) is the Tigers top threat on the offensive end.

SITE
Hoffman Estates HS
(Hoffman Estates)
Directions


SCHEDULE
Friday, November 8
Session 1 - Class 2A
Semifinal #1 - 11:00 a.m.
St. Ignatius vs. Wheaton Academy

Semifinal #2 - 1:00 p.m.
Chicago Washington vs. Rochester

Session 2 - Class 3A
Semifinal #1 - 5:00 p.m.
Lake Park vs. Wheeling

Semifinal #2 - 7:00 p.m.
Naperville Central vs. Edwardsville

Saturday, November 9
Session 3 - Class 2A
Third-Place -  11:00 a.m.
Championship - 1:00 p.m.

Session 4 - Class 3A
Third-Place -  5:00 p.m.
Championship - 7:00 p.m.


WATCH
All matches available live on www.IHSA.tv

LISTEN
Currently no radio broadcasts for this event


RESULTS & BOX SCORES
IHSA Boys Soccer Page


TICKETS
$6 per session


INTERACT
#IHSA on Twitter

Facebook Page

Photos


HISTORY & RECORDS
2013 Class 2A State Series

2013 Class 3A State Series

Record Book & Past Champions