Timothy pressure gets to Warriors

Timothy Christian’s Jon Workman possesses the ball while Morgan Park Academy’s Jeff Wolfe defends.
(Scott Powers/For the Sun-Times News Group)

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Timothy Christian coach Rudi Gesch could have seen his Trojans ahead by as many five goals against Morgan Park Academy in Tuesday’s Class 1A Lisle Sectional championship at Benedictine University.

But unable to put away countless opportunities, the Trojans along with Gesch had to sweat the game’s final 29 minutes and one second as they fought to hold on a one-goal lead.

“Cardiac-arrest time,” Gesch described it.

Finally when the time expired and they held on for a 2-1 victory over Morgan Park Academy (17-4), the Trojans, including Gesch, mobbed each other on the field and celebrated their first state semifinal trip in school history.

Timothy Christian (17-5-1) will meet Gibault Catholic in the state semifinals on Friday.

“It’s surreal right now,” said Timothy Christian’s Justin Greenwold, who scored a first-half goal and assisted on the game-winner. “I’ve never gone to state.”

Greenwold set up the game-winner from just outside box when he knocked a pass over sophomore Corey Phillip. Phillip had his first shot at point-blank range blocked by Morgan Park Academy goalkeeper Brian Szkarlat, but he had the ball come right back to him and scored with his knee on the rebound with 29:01 remaining in the second half.

Morgan Park Academy’s Milan Tica scored his team’s goal in the 17th minute of the first half to the tie the game at 1-1.

Trojans defender Josh Hjelmgren had one of the biggest plays of the game when he came from behind late in the second half and knocked the ball away from Morgan Park Academy’s Eppokrates Litos just before he was able to take a one-on-one shot on Timothy Christian’s goalie.