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Eastside Centre's stadium will be the venue for the 2017 IHSA Class 1A Boys Soccer State Finals, as East Peoria High School hosts the event at their home facility. The semifinals will unfold at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 27, with the third-place match (3:00 p.m.) and state championship (5:00 p.m.) following on Saturday, October 29.
Presenting sponsor Country Financial brings fans broadcasts of all four matches this weekend via the NFHS Network at www.IHSA.tv with IHSA TV veteran Nate Baliva on the call.
The 2017 state final field features three first-time qualifiers in Acero-Garcia, Monmouth-Rosevillle & St. Edward, while Alton Marquette makes its second appearance. The Explorers first state trip came back in 2012 and resulted in a state title.
Semifinal #1
ACERO-GARCIA CHARTER PATRIOTS (16-5-2)
Garcia High School, one of three high schools in the Acero Charter Network in Chicago, reaches the state finals for the first time under third-year head coach Eduardo Balderas. The Patriots closed the regular-season with a 1-2-2 mark, but playing a large-school schedule appears to have prepared them for the State Series. In five postseason matches, junior goalkeeper Vaquez Diego (1.44 GAA) and company have allowed just one goal, while all told, the defense has allowed a single goal or less in 16 matches this season. The Garcia offense flows through the one-two tandem of senior forwards of Alejandro Ramirez (25 goals) and Devin Hernandez (23 goals), while four other players have found the back of the net at least three times this season.
ALTON MARQUETTE EXPLORERS (15-6-3)
Marquette is the only team this weekend with previous state final experience in their program. The school’s first trip in 2012 resulted in a Class 1A state championship (1A in 2012), a result that first-year head coach Joe Burchett and young roster hope to repeat. A pair of underclassmen lead the offense, as sophomore forward Aaron Boulch leads the team in goals (18) and junior forward Chris Hartrich assists (14), while adding 11 goals of his own. Meanwhile, junior goalkeeper Nick Hernan (.67 GAA, 93 saves) has been strong between the pipes, headlining a defense with eight shutouts this season. Aside from a 2-1 Sectional Final over Breese Central, the Explorers have won their four other State Series contests by three goals or more.
Semifinal #2
MONMOUTH-ROSEVILLE TITANS (20-3-3)
The Monmouth-Roseville program has only existed since 2007, but the only coach in team history, Aaron Sikorski, already has the Titans at state for the first-time in school history. Sikorski’s son, senior midfielder Eric (5 assists), is a four-year varsity player who provides leadership in front of senior goalkeeper Edgar Mora Sanchez (1.19 GAA, 53 saves). The Titans feature five double-digit goal scorers, but the offense is at its best when senior midfielder Eric Suarez (23 assists) is setting up senior forward Gilberto Vazquez (24 goals, 11 assists). Monmouth-Roseville enters East Peoria on a 10-match winning streak, while averaging four goals per game in the postseason.
ST. EDWARD GREEN WAVE (26-1-0)
St. Edward makes its first state final trip in school history guided by head coach Tim Brieger. Breiger captained St. Ed’s first varsity team in 1990, was named head coach five years later, and now has his own son sophomore Chase (6 goals, 9 assists) on his state roster. Senior forward AJ Franklin is enjoying a record-breaking season for the Green Wave. He is already St. Ed’s career goal scoring leader (138 goals), while he enters the weekend just two goals shy of tying the IHSA single-season record (71). Sophomore forward Josh Johansen is a facilitator (16 goals, 43 assists), while fellow sophomore Evan Sajtar (.085 GA, 101 saves) handles the goalkeeping duties for a defensive unit that has shutout 13 opponents in 2017.
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TOURNAMENT HISTORY
46th annual State Series
10th year of 3-Class Series
2nd year at Eastside Centre
SITE
Eastside Centre Stadium
Directions
HOST
East Peoria High School
Eastside Centre
Peoria CVB
FOOD
Biaggi's Peoria
SCHEDULE
Friday, October 27
Semifinal #1 - 5:00 p.m.
Acero-Garcia vs.
Alton Marquette
Semifinal #2 - 7:00 p.m.
St. Edward vs.
Monmouth-Roseville
Saturday, October 28
Third-Place - 3:00 p.m.
Championship - 5:00 p.m.
TICKETS
$6 per day
WATCH
All matches available live on www.IHSA.tv via NFHS Network subscription
LISTEN
No radio broadcasts scheduled at this time
RESULTS & BOX SCORES
IHSA Boys Soccer Page
SOCIAL MEDIA
#IHSA on Twitter
Twitter - @IHSAstate
Instagram - @IHSA_IL
Facebook.com/IHSA.IL
Classic IHSA YouTube Video
OFFICIAL STATE FINAL
Gear from Minerva
Photos from VIP
Balls from Wilson
IHSA Program
STATE SUPPORTERS
Country Financial
Wilson Sporting Goods
Peoria Awning
Gatorade
MaxPreps
STUDENT SAFETY
Play Smart. Play Hard.
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HISTORY & RECORDS
2017 1A State Series
Record Book & Past Champions
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