Historic win: SJO Spartans beat University High 5-3, led by Hess, Harper, and Stevens.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
ST. JOSEPH - On Wednesday, the St. Joseph-Ogden Spartans soccer team achieved a milestone that had eluded them for years, defeating Urbana University High for the first time in 13 meetings. The Illineks, known for their disciplined play and elite ball handling, fell to SJO thanks to second-half goals from Lucas “Buddy” Stevens and Zach Harper. The 5-3 victory marks a program-first for St. Joseph-Ogden, now 3-0 on the young season. Tyler Hess sparked the offensive surge with two first-half goals on passes from Harper, tying the game at 2-all late in the half. Harper then broke the deadlock with a goal at 1:54, finding the east goal at Dick Duval Field to give the Spartans a 3-2 lead heading into halftime.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
The second half saw Hess complete his hat trick on a header from a Stevens cross at 37:10, extending the lead to 4-2. University High's Robert Tu responded at 25:54 with a well-placed shot in the box, trimming the deficit to 4-3 with his third goal, but a resilient Spartan defense, anchored by goalie Quinn Stahl, held firm to prevent any further scoring. With just 17:13 remaining, Stevens sealed the historic win with a header from a Harper assist, finalizing the score at 5-3. Statistically, SJO was led by Harper with one goal and three assists, Hess with three goals and one assist, and Stevens contributing a goal and an assist. Stahl recorded eight saves to secure the victory. "They are always a good team," head coach Chris Stevens said about the Illinek. "Whether they lose 20 players or 15, it doesn't matter. They always have a good team." Stevens said he is excited to watch this year's squad come together. "We have a good team this year, and I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do," he said. "I'm looking forward to having the guys who played all year back out there." Last year, the SJO soccer team started the season with one win and two losses, including a loss to Uni High. The Spartans then went on an 18-game win streak before falling in the IHSA sectional semifinal. Now 3-0, the program and its core players are positioned for another successful season. Stevens said this year's team strength lies in its ability to communicate and stay dedicated. "Some of these kids have played together for more than eight years," he said. "I have 27 kids who show up for every practice." Looking ahead, undefeated St. Joseph-Ogden faces a challenging stretch with three matches in four days: hosting Mt. Pulaski/Hartsburg-Emden on Sept. 2, traveling to Schlarman on Sept. 3, and ending the run at Decatur Eisenhower. University High, now 1-1, also begins a three-game week starting on the road against Champaign Central on Sept. 2, followed by home matches against Monticello on Sept. 4 and Fisher/Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley on Sept. 6. While the loss stun and stung the Illineks, for them it was a step forward in their quest for another regional or even sectional title. "Obviously, Robert Tu scoring three goals was amazing. He was working hard the entire game," said Uni head coach Joe Krehbiel. "I think we didn't match their physicality, especially in the first half." After losing 15 seniors, the Illinek are a relatively young team. While the squad certainly has its strengths, Krehbiel said the team needs time to mature. Despite the loss and with only three senior to handle the leadership roles, he believes his program is still competitive among the top Class 1A teams in the area. "Overall, we are less experienced than we were this time last year," he said. "Our midfield is pretty strong. We were able to move the ball around pretty well and create chances for Robert."
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