Comet striker Macen Phillips pushes the ball away from St. Joseph-Ogden's Tyler Hess during their early season match in August. Macen delivered two goals in OSF's title victory.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
From the opening whistle, OSF dominated possession and created multiple scoring opportunities, finishing the first half with a comfortable 3-0 lead. The Comets struck early when Macen Phillips connected on a pass from Merritt to open the scoring. Merritt then added two goals of his own before the break, converting assists from Saul Carrillo and Mason Swartz to put OSF in complete control. In the second half, the Comets picked up where they left off. Phillips scored his second goal of the match, once again assisted by Carrillo, while Merritt completed his hat trick just minutes later, courtesy of another assist from Carrillo. Swartz rounded out the scoring, netting the final goal on a pass from Cooper McCrae, capping off a dominant offensive display. The Comets outshot GRFW 32-8, with 17 of those shots on target, compared to just five from the Buffaloes. Goalkeeper Matt Darling of GRFW faced constant pressure throughout the match, making 11 saves to keep the score from getting even more out of hand. Meanwhile, OSF keeper Jakob Rupp had a quieter night but still managed five saves to preserve the shutout. For GRFW, the loss marked the end of a season in which they finished 7-10 overall and 4th in the Vermilion Valley Conference with a 5-7 record. The Buffaloes were unable to find the offensive spark they needed, as their leading scorer, junior forward Simonas Ankstutis, was held scoreless. Ankstutis, who averages 2.5 goals per game and leads his team with 75 shots on goal this season, struggled to break through OSF’s organized defense. Senior midfielder Elijha Jones and freshman forward Landon Heck were similarly stifled, as GRFW managed just eight total shots, with few clear scoring opportunities. The regional title represents a continuation of OSF’s upward trajectory under Fenton. Last season, the Comets finished 17-8-1, winning the conference with a 10-2 record before falling to Bloomington Central Catholic in the sectional semifinals. Now, with a deeper squad and more experience, OSF appears poised for a deeper postseason run. Standing in their way is a rematch against FGCMS, who boast a 19-3-1 record and have not lost since September 25. FGCMS is known for its defensive discipline, having allowed only a handful of goals during their current winning streak. Their only recent loss came against Coal City in a 1-0 defeat decided by a late second-half goal. Saturday’s match, set for 10 a.m. at Monticello High School, will offer OSF a chance to avenge their previous 2-0 loss to FGCMS and continue their quest for a sectional title. With Merritt and Phillips in top form, the Comets will look to test the Bunnies’ defense while relying on their own balanced approach to maintain control of the match. For OSF, this postseason run represents more than just an opportunity for redemption. With their sights set on a potential state tournament appearance, the Comets are riding a wave of confidence and form as they enter the final stretch of the season.
