St. Joseph-Ogden dominates again! Spartan soccer team wins first regional title in 12 years

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Zach Harper sets up a pass in St. Joseph-Ogden's home match against Central Catholic on October 1. Harper led the Spartans with another hat trick in their long awaited - and expected - regional title.

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ST. ANNE - St. Joseph-Ogden captured its first regional soccer title in over a decade with a commanding 7-2 victory over Watseka on Wednesday, clinching the St. Anne Regional Championship. The Spartans, who hadn’t tasted postseason success since 2012, are in the midst of a remarkable season, improving their record to 22-2-1 and extending their current win streak to 15 games.

The Spartans displayed their balanced offensive attack once again, led by Zach Harper, who scored a hat trick and added an assist. Harper’s relentless playmaking has been a cornerstone of St. Joseph-Ogden’s dominance this season, and his performance against Watseka proved vital. Yadi Acosta contributed two goals to the Spartans' cause, while Alex Acosta and Tyler Hess each added a goal, with Hess also registering an assist. Logan Mills played the role of facilitator with two assists, and goalkeeper Jaxson Colvin made seven saves on nine shots to anchor the defense.

Despite Watseka's spirited effort in the first half, which saw them score two goals, the Spartans carried a 3-2 lead into halftime. St. Joseph-Ogden’s ability to control possession and create opportunities through its well-organized midfield and clinical finishing proved too much for Watseka to handle. The second half was all Spartans, as they rattled off four unanswered goals to seal the victory.

Tyler Hess attacks the Central Catholic goal looking for a solo shot or open teammate to send the ball. Hess, who is a quiet force behind SJO's dominant offense, scored one goal and notched an assist in his team's first regional title in 12 years.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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Watseka, who struggled against St. Joseph-Ogden in their previous meeting earlier this month—an 8-0 shutout—fought valiantly to stay within striking distance in the first half. However, they were ultimately overwhelmed by the Spartans’ tactical adjustments and superior depth. Wednesday’s match marked St. Joseph-Ogden’s 15th consecutive win, a streak bolstered by 14 shutouts throughout the season.

As the final whistle blew, the Spartans celebrated their long-awaited regional title, a moment that seemed increasingly likely as they breezed through the Illini Prairie Conference without dropping a match. Now, with a regional championship under their belts, St. Joseph-Ogden turns its attention to the Monticello Class 1A sectional semifinals, where they will face a formidable opponent in Normal University.

The Spartans' upcoming match against Normal University will be a significant test. The Pioneers, with a 20-5-1 record, finished the regular season with an undefeated 7-0-1 mark in the highly competitive Central State Eight Conference. They boast wins over Sacred Heart Griffin, Quincy Notre Dame, and all five Big Twelve Conference schools on their schedule. Known for their defensive discipline and midfield control, Normal University will pose a unique challenge for St. Joseph-Ogden, whose high-powered offense has made quick work of most opponents this season.

Saturday’s clash at noon will not only test St. Joseph-Ogden’s ability to maintain their scoring prowess but also how they manage against a team with the caliber of Normal University’s defense. While the Spartans have largely been dominant, outscoring opponents by wide margins, Normal University’s balanced approach could force them to adapt their strategy. The Spartans' success may hinge on their ability to break down a defense that has held its own against some of the state’s top programs.

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Steven Newman keeps the ball away from two Blue Ridge players during SJO's home match on September 16. Newman, a sophomore, and the Spartans made quick work of the Knights in the 9-0 shutout.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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With the Spartans riding high on confidence and momentum, the stage is set for an intense matchup that could determine the trajectory of St. Joseph-Ogden’s playoff run. As they seek their first sectional title since their 2012 campaign, the Spartans will need to rely on the consistency and leadership of players like Harper, the Acosta brothers, and Hess, who have been key contributors throughout the season.

For a team that has consistently found the back of the net and controlled matches with superior tactics, St. Joseph-Ogden’s success against Normal University will likely depend on whether they can replicate the offensive precision that has been their hallmark. If they continue to perform at this level, the Spartans could very well extend their remarkable season even further.

St. Joseph-Ogden’s triumph over Watseka represents not only the end of a long postseason drought but also the beginning of a promising path deeper into the playoffs. With a talented roster and a winning mentality, the Spartans look poised to make a serious run at a state title.

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Keywords: St. Joseph-Ogden soccer regional championship, SJO vs Watseka soccer, Illinois Class 1A sectional soccer, St. Joseph-Ogden high school soccer, Normal University vs SJO soccer playoff

Medicare plan for Illinoisans sees changes in new enrollment period

by Terri Dee
Illinois News Connection

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CHICAGO - Open enrollment for Medicare ends on Dec 7. The federal health insurance program is for anyone aged 65 or older. Some people younger than 65 with certain disabilities or conditions, limited income and resources can also get coverage.

Health research organization KFF reports 43% of Illinoisans have Medicare Advantage and 57% opted for traditional Medicare coverage.

Stephani Becker, associate director of health care justice at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law in Illinois, explained the program.

"It covers inpatient care in hospitals, services from doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment and many preventive services," Becker outlined. "That's your Medicare Part A and Part B. Then there's a part D, which is a drug-coverage program."

KFF also noted in 2025, Medicare beneficiaries will pay no more than $2,000 out of pocket for prescription drugs covered under Part D, Medicare's outpatient drug benefit, due to a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

Another important distinction to know is the difference between the original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Traditional Medicare does not cover dental, vision and hearing insurance. However, many Medicare Advantage programs do. Becker emphasized it is important to review all documentation carefully to understand exactly what is in private plan coverage.

"One is the premium, which is what you pay monthly to your health insurance company," Becker pointed out. "Then the second is your out-of-pocket costs, so things like copays and coinsurance and deductibles, and that's the type of payment that you use when you use your insurance."

JustPlainClear.com and MedicareMadeClear.com are good websites to explain various health care plans for members and caregivers.

Becker adds someone who is self-employed and not eligible for Medicare can buy a plan for themselves on the marketplace and may be eligible for premium assistance. A slightly larger business with two or more employees, for example, can work with a broker and buy a small group health plan.

Meanwhile, open enrollment dates vary for other types of health plans. People with employer-sponsored coverage typically select a plan during a two-to-three week period between September and December. And open enrollment for plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace generally runs from November 1 to January 15 in most states. More information is available at www.UHCOpenEnrollment.com.

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Regional soccer title on their minds, Tigers crush the Vikings in semifinal match

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Emir Martinez lines up a pass during second half action against Danville. The Urbana junior scored twice in his team's overwhelming victory over the Vikings on Tuesday at the Urbana Tigers Sports Complex.

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URBANA - The #3 seed Urbana Tigers cruised past Danville in a dominant 7-0 shutout Tuesday evening, advancing to the Class 2A regional final. Playing on home turf at the Urbana Tigers' Sports Complex, the Tigers showcased their offensive prowess, scoring twice in the first half and exploding for five more goals in the second. The win improved their record to 11-8-1, while Danville's season ended at 7-12-4.

Urbana's attack was ignited by junior Emir Martinez, who opened the scoring just 10 minutes and seven seconds into the match. His early strike set the tone for what would be a lopsided contest. Martinez wasn’t finished, netting his second goal of the game with 17:10 left in the second half to push Urbana's lead to 5-0.

The Tigers’ relentless offensive display continued with Winner Nana scoring two goals of his own. His first came with just 5:32 left in the first half, giving Urbana a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break. Nana wasted little time adding to that tally after halftime, striking again just 7:34 into the second half to make it 3-0. Not to be outdone by his younger brother, senior Fortunel Nana found the back of the net shortly after, extending the lead to 4-0 with 31:31 remaining.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Fortunel Nana settles the ball during the second half. The senior booked a goal eight and a half minutes into the second half for the Tigers.

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Danville, seeded #6 in the Warrensburg-Latham Subsectional, struggled to contain Urbana's aggressive offense. The Vikings, who finished 9th in the Big Twelve Conference, failed to generate significant scoring chances throughout the match. Their defense, which had held Urbana to just two goals in their previous meeting on October 1, couldn’t replicate that performance in the postseason.

Urbana continued to apply pressure even as the match seemed out of reach. The Tigers’ sixth goal came courtesy of Arnau Sanchez-Marin, who chipped the ball over the Danville goalkeeper in the 74th minute. Sophomore Lemex Ondongo capped off the scoring with just 53 seconds left, adding the final dagger in Urbana's commanding victory.

The Tigers now turn their attention to the regional championship, where they will face Mahomet-Seymour, a familiar foe. The two teams split their regular-season series, with Urbana winning 3-1 in their first encounter on September 7, but falling 1-0 in the rematch on September 30. Mahomet-Seymour's defensive improvement in the second meeting will be a key storyline heading into the final.

Urbana, which finished 6th in the Big Twelve Conference with a 4-5-1 record, will look to continue its postseason momentum as it chases a regional title.

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