SJO’s 4-0 win over Uni High delivered multiple milestones: a second consecutive regional title, a first-time season sweep of Uni High, and a record-breaking 23rd win.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
St. Joseph-Ogden junior Yadi Acosta settles the ball during first half action against Unity last week. The Spartans' lead defender helped SJO reach several milestones in their regional title game against Uni-High.
by Clark Brooks
Sentinel Sports
ST. JOSEPH - The St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team is having an impressive, even legendary, season. If there’s one word that describes this year’s squad, head coach Chris Stevens said it’s “family.”
“They all play for each other and know how critical every player’s role is in our overall success,” he said.
On Saturday, that family played together to achieve several impressive milestones at Dick Duval Field. First, SJO’s 4-0 win marked the program’s second consecutive regional title. Second, it was the first time in school history the Spartans shut out perennial small-school powerhouse Urbana University High School. Third, when the final buzzer sounded, it was also the first time St. Joseph-Ogden had beaten Uni High twice in the same season. Finally, the victory pushed the Spartans to their winningest season ever, improving their record to 23-1-2.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Tyler Hess dribbles the ball away from a Unity Rocket defender during Tuesday's semifinal match.
“We were extremely thrilled with our players’ performance this past week. We knew Uni High would come ready to play,” Stevens said. “We spent the week preparing both mentally and physically to get the job done. Earning the win against them the second time around was incredibly rewarding—and adding a shutout on top of that made it even better.”
Zach Harper recorded yet another hat trick, and Tyler Hess found the back of the net in the second half to send the Spartans to the Williamsville Sectional semifinal.
Next up, St. Joseph-Ogden will face Athens-Greenview-Illini Central in the sectional semifinal on Tuesday. The Warriors advanced after ending Monticello’s postseason bid with eight seconds left in the first overtime period, winning 3-2. Both the Spartans and Warriors defeated Argenta-Oreana and Meridian-Sangamon Valley by nearly identical scores during the regular season.
“We know both teams will come out playing like they have nothing to lose,” Stevens said about his game plan for Tuesday night. The SJO coaching staff has diligently analyzed game film and will be ready. “We’re going to stay true to our game plan—this team knows how to win, and that’s exactly what we intend to do.”
With three top scorers, the Spartans look poised to advance to the sectional final. Harper has scored 55 goals this season, followed by Hess with 34 and freshman Lucas Stevens with 22. Hunter Cler rounds out SJO’s top four scorers with eight goals.
When asked what the Spartans are doing best right now, Stevens pointed to the team’s mindset. “Consistency is the key,” he said.
St. Joseph-Ogden is scheduled to take on the Warriors at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Williamsville High School.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Zach Harper lines up a shot on Unity's goal during their regional semifinal match. The senior scored six goals to give SJO the win on Tuesday.
Tagged: St. Joseph-Ogden soccer regional championship, IHSA sectional semifinal Williamsville, Zach Harper hat trick Uni High shutout, Illinois high school soccer postseason, SJO Spartans 23-1-2 record 2025 season
Back at the end of August, Prairie Central dropped a hard-fought match to Lexington but showed promise across all levels. The JV team earned a solid 2-0 victory to highlight the night.
FAIRBURY – A long rally here, a dig there, and a crowd that kept holding its breath — Prairie Central’s matchup with Lexington on Sept. 2 had all the energy of midseason volleyball, even if it ended in disappointment for the home team.
The Lady Hawks dropped a tight 2-0 decision to the visiting Minutemen, falling 25-19 in the opener and 27-25 in a second-set nail-biter that could’ve gone either way. For head coach Kirsten Smith’s squad, it was one of those early-season games that reveal a team’s character as much as its record.
“We came out a little slow tonight but we were able to get some energy as we went on,” Smith said. “The second set was exciting but Lexington got us on a five-point run that swayed the momentum in the opposite direction. Lexington played solid defense and played scrappy when it mattered, keeping our hitters from getting the kills we wanted.”
Prairie Central had its share of bright spots in the loss. Charlee Popejoy led all servers with six service points and two aces, while Kinley Elliott paced the attack with seven kills. Setter Kyah Creek distributed the ball efficiently, finishing with 17 assists, and sophomore libero Paige Young showed her defensive chops by collecting 18 digs. The front line saw contributions from Mia Elliott, who recorded two assisted blocks to slow Lexington’s momentum when the Hawks needed it most.
The loss comes on the heels of a two-set defeat to Illini Prairie Conference rival Pontiac (25-23, 25-18), but it follows a solid showing in the early-season tournament, where Prairie Central swept both Dwight and Tri-Point in straight sets. Those results, paired with Smith’s steady focus on growth and chemistry, suggest a squad capable of tightening up as the season wears on.
“We’re proud of our JV team as they really came alive against Lexington today,” Smith said, noting that the younger groups continue to make big strides. The JV earned a solid 2-0 victory (25-20, 25-16), while the freshman team battled through three sets before falling 25-15, 15-25, 15-6.
Backtrack: Highlights, Heartbreaks, and Hustle is the Sentinel's retrospective look back, highlighting games and athletic performances that might have been lost or overlooked in the regular season chaos.
TAGS: Prairie Central Lady Hawks volleyball, Lexington Minutemen volleyball, Illinois high school volleyball recap, Fairbury sports news, Prairie Central vs Lexington 2025
