Spartans dominate Iroquois West 10-1, breaks IHSA record for most goals in a season

ST. ANNE - St. Joseph-Ogden continued its remarkable soccer season on Friday with a commanding 10-1 victory over Iroquois West in the IHSA Regional Semifinals, setting a new state record for most goals in a season. The Spartans’ 165th goal of the year broke a record that had stood since 1993, when Sandburg High School scored 164 goals across 30 matches.

The game ended at halftime due to the lopsided score, as SJO’s offense overwhelmed the Warriors from the start, scoring at will. With the win, St. Joseph-Ogden advanced to the regional title game, where they will face Watseka on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
St. Joseph-Ogden's Quinn Stahl fends off a Blue Ridge defender during a non-conference home match on September 16. Stahl delivered one of ten goals scored against Iroquois West in Friday's regional semifinal game at St. Anne.

The Spartans’ high-powered attack was led by standout performances from several key players. Alex Acosta notched a hat trick, adding an assist for good measure, while Tyler Hess matched his teammate with three goals and one assist. Logan Mills contributed two goals and two assists, and Yadi Acosta and Quinn Stahl each chipped in with a goal.

SJO’s relentless offensive pressure proved too much for Iroquois West, which struggled to contain the Spartans’ dynamic attack. Davin Alvarez also added an assist in the rout, while goalkeeper Jaxson Colvin made two saves on three shots to secure the win.

While the offense garnered much of the attention, St. Joseph-Ogden’s defense has been equally formidable throughout the season. Friday’s match marked the 21st game since the team’s last loss on August 29, a stretch that has included 14 shutouts. The Spartans have allowed just 15 goals all season, a testament to their balanced play on both sides of the ball.

St. Joseph-Ogden (21-1-1) will now prepare for the regional championship match against Watseka. With the Spartans riding a 21-game unbeaten streak, including 20 wins and one draw since their lone defeat to Urbana University High, they appear poised to make a strong push in the remainder of the postseason.

The Spartans’ offensive firepower, combined with their stingy defense, has made them a formidable contender in the IHSA playoffs. As they head into the regional final, SJO will look to continue its historic season and add more hardware in an already impressive campaign.

St. Joe-Ogden Athletics
Keywords: St. Joseph-Ogden soccer, IHSA soccer record, Illinois high school soccer, SJO vs Iroquois West, St. Joseph-Ogden regional title, Illinois soccer playoffs.
at

Trip #6! Rockets are going to state!

Unity football head coach Scott Hamilton celebrates with players and fans after his 2021 Rocket team defeated visiting Mt. Carmel High School on Saturday at Hicks Field on Saturday. Unity prevailed in the seesaw battle to advance to the state title game after defeating the Golden Aces, 28-21. Heading to the Class 3A championship game, the Rockets will take their 17-game win streak to DeKalb to face the Byron Tigers who upset IC Catholic with a stunning fourth-quarter 15-14 comeback.

Follow the link to see more photos from the semifinal game.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
at

Dowling breaks IHSA record

It was bound to happen this season and it finally did. Yesterday, St. Joseph-Ogden shortstop Bailey Dowling became Illinois' most prolific softball home run hitter in IHSA history.

After tying the record of 60 set by Benet Academy's Stephanie Abello in 2015 on Thursday, Dowling hit a pair of dingers to raise the career home run bar to 62.

In her first trip to the plate against visiting Charleston, the Alabama commit crushed the ball over the right field fence. The second shot, her 19th home run of the season, soared over the left field fence pushing the all-time record to 62 by the future Olympic junior national player.

She is now one home run shy from being the first Illinois prep softball player to hit 20 home runs in three consecutive seasons. She pummeled 22 her freshman season at SJO and 21 last spring as a sophomore. Heading into the postseason semifinal against Monticello later today, chances are she will add at least one or more to the total she now commands.

With another season left in her prep career, Dowling could very well hold the career record for ... well, like former Spartan head coach Randy Wolken's career 1,043 win total, ... forever.

Despite her historic, record-making performance, the Spartans (20-9) fell 15-4 to the Trojans in their last regular season contest on the 2019 season.

Hannah Dukeman, also a junior, contributed two RBI in the non-conference loss.


at

Dowling ties IHSA record

Bailey Dowling puts the ball in play against Rantoul. The St. Joseph-Ogden junior pounded her 60th career home run yesterday in her team's home game against Champaign Central. The home run puts her in a two-way tie with the record held by former Benet Academy catcher Stephanie Abello. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

St. Joseph-Ogden slugger Bailey Dowling averaged 21.5 home runs per season when the current one started a few months ago.

Yesterday, the junior tied the Illinois High School Association record for career home runs in the Spartans' home game against Champaign Central. Her 60th bomb ties a state record set in Benet Academy's Stephanie Abello, who played from 2012-2015 and now a catcher on the Illinois softball team.

It was Dowling's 17th homer this season as the Spartans rounds out their final week of regular season of play defeating the Maroons, 16-1.

Kaylee Ward led SJO on offense with three RBI on a pair of hits. Meanwhile, Ashtyn Cromwell hurled a complete game giving up just four hits.

Dowling's name appears in several additional spots on the IHSA's All-Time Records. As of the previous season she was tied in 10th for the most number of home runs in a game (3), tied for 15th in most runs scored in a season at 69, tied for 14th for most hits in a season and tied 11th for most doubles in a game.

Next up for Dowling and the Spartans is a trip to Galesburg for the Silver Streak Invitational on Friday and Saturday this week.


at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Stress-free Thanksgiving tips for those short on time this holiday season

While gathering for Thanksgiving is intended to be a joyous occasion, everyone who has hosted the feast knows it can also come with a lot of stress, and expenses.

The good news is that whether you’re a Gen Z-er hosting your first Friendsgiving on a budget or you’re a busy family preparing for guests, there is a lot to be thankful for this year.

Read more >>>


Recent study suggests childhood trauma could haunt Illinois adults for life
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed 75% of U.S. high school students said they have had at least one adverse childhood experience, or ACE.

Research has shown ACEs can alter a child's brain chemistry and produce a prolonged toxic stress response. Experiencing at least one ACE as a child is linked to having alcohol and substance use problems in adulthood, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

Read more ...
Op-Ed |
Tipped wage system isn't working, removing taxes won't save it
Both major presidential candidates have called for eliminating taxes on tips. But that won’t help most restaurant workers.

What will? Replacing the subminimum wages that tipped workers make with one fair wage nationwide.

The federal minimum wage for most workers is just $7.25. But for workers who get tips, employers are allowed to pay them $2.13 an hour. If tips don’t raise your hourly pay to at least the ...
Read more ...
Health & Wellness |
Is it depression, ADHD or bipolar disorder?
Lavender Zarraga, APRN, a behavioral health provider at OSF HealthCare, says it’s not uncommon for her patients to ask for a medication that isn’t the right fit.

The culprit? She says symptoms of common mental health issues like depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder can overlap. So, it’s important to stay in contact with your provider to make ...
Read more ...
In case you missed it |
One for the record book, Unity nearly pulls off underdog victory over Althoff
TOLONO - Unity head football coach Scott Hamilton said Althoff Catholic (4-0) was the best team he has coached against in his career.


Hamilton told the team after the game that, having coached over 400 games, there has only been a handful in which he thought every player on the field would have to play at their absolute best to even have a chance of winning. Friday night's game against Althoff, which brought three Division I recruits to town, was one of those occasions.
Read more ...