A-J boys’ soccer to play for regional championship

For only the second time in the history of the boys’ soccer program, the Anna-Jonesboro Wildcats will play for a regional championship.  

Tuesday night, the Wildcats opened the IHSA playoffs with a 2-0 win over Massac County in the Waterloo Gibault regional.

“It was a hard-fought game,” A-J head coach Mark Boomer said.

“We opened the game on our heels a bit and never really got anything going the first half. We were not connecting on our passes and we were not finishing our shots.

“But a lot of credit has to go to Massac County.  This is our third game against them and we won the first two games. This game is a ‘win or go home’ game. So the Patriots brought their best and simply played with a lot of urgency and a lot of heart. We did not match their desire early on,”  Boomer said.

The Wildcats survived the first half malaise and the game went into half time tied 0-0.  

“Our defense did a great job protecting the goal,” Boomer said.

“We allowed a few shots that normally get snuffed out up top or that we disrupt in the passing lanes.  But in that first half we were a step behind Massac and they got through a few times.  

“Our goalie, Steven Wells, and defenders, Dakota Earnhart, Tyler Vaughn, Trey Pender and Jesus Godinez, kept us in the game early with some stellar play in front of goal. They had some remarkable stands early or this game may have had a different ending.”

The ‘Cats came out stronger in the second half.  

“We stepped up our game.  We fronted them better and pressured them into mistakes that led to us having better possessions. We just had to fight through those earlier lapses and get back to our game. The intensity seemed to shift our way about ten minutes into the second half,” Boomer said.

Then at the 23-minute mark of the second half the ultimate in a soccer momentum changer came.  

Ryan Stark won the ball at midfield and got it out to Zac Parr. Parr carried the ball down the side to the corner, worked around the defender and along the base line to the corner of the goal.  

Seeing an attacking A-J midfielder, Parr placed the ball just in front of the net where Garrett Nadeau was ready to finish with a strong shot to the back corner.  

“That was the game,” Boomer said. “That shot completely changed the momentum. Massac had played so hard, had attacked our net and kept us from getting one through. But within that short span of time, the outcome of the game suddenly changed for them.”

During the last 17 minutes Massac County was not able put any other real pressure on Wells.   

“In soccer, one goal can be a game changer. The Nadeau goal with 17 minutes to play was that game changer. Massac lost their step after we took the lead,” Boomer said.

The ‘Cats scored an insurance goal with 7 minutes to go in the game.  

Noah Fuller found himself behind the defense and took a shot but it was right at the Patriot goal keeper.  But the keeper was not able to corral the ball as it deflected away from the net and to the foot of Parr.  

Parr finished the play for the insurance goal that put the ‘Cats into the regional championship  game.

“This is only the second time in the short history of the boys’ soccer program that we will play for this championship. We get the pleasure of playing one of the strongest boys’ soccer programs in the state of Illinois,” Boomer said.  

The ‘Cats are scheduled to play the regional host, Waterloo Gibault Catholic, Friday at  6 p.m. in Columbia.  

Gibault defeated Valmeyer 10-0 in the other semifinal game.  

“We are ready for this game. We have been looking forward to this chance all year,” Boomer said.

“We will have to come out stronger and play better from the start if we want to continue playing in the playoffs though. The boys know that and I expect they will be ready for this challenge as they have been ready all year.”