Judicakas nets big goal for Stagg

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:14PM

Call it a knack for scoring the big goal when needed.

After scoring both of Stagg's goals in a three-overtime win in the regional final and battling shin splints and cramps, Chargers midfielder Zack Judickas one-upped himself Thursday night.

Having already scored the tying goal early in the second half, Judickas knocked in the game-winning goal with three minutes to go in the fourth overtime of Stagg's 2-1 win over Marist in a Class 3A Marian Catholic Sectional semifinal.

"I just try and be in the right place at the right time, and my team does a lot of the other work," Judickas said. "This was a team win for us tonight, and everybody gave it their all. That fourth quarter, everybody was just exhausted. I know I was, and if I got the ball I had to take a shot with it."

Stagg (14-5-2) previously made it to a sectional final in 2005, eventually falling in the supersectional. The Chargers advance to play the winner of Thursday's other semifinal, Lincoln-Way North vs. Eisenhower.

"Triple overtime (against Sandburg) and quadruple overtime, I don't know," Stagg coach Mike Kealy said with a smile. "It was a great game. Marist played their butts off, and it's unfortunate that a team like that has to lose."

Marist finishes the season 18-7-1.

Unable to muster much of an offense after Judickas' goal on a free kick with 30 minutes left in the second half, Stagg watched the RedHawks consistently attack goalkeeper Chris Kosior (10 saves) through the first 31⁄2 sessions of overtime.

On a rare attack, Adrian Cup pushed the ball forward on a breakaway up the left side with Judickas cutting in from the right. Cup placed a pass into the center of the field that was tipped by a Marist defender. Judickas slid to field the ball and with his left foot put just enough on it to get it past Marist goalie Frank Brown at the far post.

"Zack felt like he couldn't go tonight, and I just asked him to give us what he can, give us everything he's got," Kealy said. "Try and be the hero, and he did it again. Zack's been amazing. He's a superhero to us. I don't know what else to say. I'm looking forward to Saturday and getting our guys healthy."

Marist opened the scoring late with two minutes to go before halftime. Dillon Olson dribbled straight at the Stagg goal before passing to a streaking Jeremy Ballard on the right side. Ballard powered the ball to the far corner past Kosior for the score.

In the three-plus overtimes, Marist managed six shots to Stagg's two but could not get one past Kosior.

"We played a solid game, but it didn't bounce our way," Marist coach Sean Maxwell said. "It's hard, because this was an unbelievable group. This is the best team I've had in seven years, the most talented team from top to bottom. It's one I'll never forget, and it's tough watching them fall down on the field like that (after the game-winner) because they gave their all today."

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