Waukegan displays heart of a champion

Waukegan's Fransisco Sajuan (center) is mobbed by teammates after scoring the game-tying goal near the end of regulation during their sectional soccer game against Palatine.
(Michael Schmidt/News-Sun)

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LIBERTYVILLE -- In the waning moments of Wednesday's IHSA Class 3A boys soccer sectional semifinal at Libertyville, Waukegan High fans couldn't help but think about the future of the Bulldogs' program.

That's because a young Waukegan squad with numerous talented underclassmen appeared to be headed for a 1-0 loss to Palatine.

Despite applying constant pressure throughout the contest, the top-seeded Bulldogs couldn't get the ball in the back of the net.

So thoughts of "wait until next year" were ready to invade a few frustrated minds.

That's before one of those talented Waukegan underclassmen -- freshman Fransisco Sajuan -- headed in a goal with 3:07 remaining to tie the game at 1-1 and send the Bulldogs into overtime with the momentum.

A few minutes into the first extra period, sophomore Luis Medina booted in a drop pass from junior Julio Ibarra to give Waukegan an amazing 2-1 victory.

"We weren't panicking or over-confident, but we were attacking the goal strong and putting pressure on," said Waukegan coach Joe Martinez. "It was great to see that tying goal go in."

Top-seeded Waukegan (18-2-3) was putting pressure on No. 5 Palatine (18-5-1) for most of the contest after the Pirates tallied a goal less than three minutes into the game.

Palatine's Willie Filian heaved a long throw-in toward Waukegan's goal and directly into the sun for Bulldogs' keeper Josue Nazon. A tussle for the ball ensued, and it ended in the back of the net for a 1-0 Pirates lead.

"That sun was bad at the start of the game," said Martinez. "We couldn't see anything on the bench (facing the sun), but once the sun set, we settled down."

Waukegan settled down into it's passing finesse game, while Palatine used its superior size and strength to try to muscle the smaller Bulldogs. It didn't work, as the Pirates could manage only one shot on goal the rest of the game after their early score.

"We aren't very big like Palatine, but we are quick and skilled, so we tried to use that to our advantage," said Martinez.

Palatine committed nine of its 11 fouls in the second half trying to keep Waukegan off the ball.

Those fouls resulted in a pair of lengthy free kicks from the strong leg of Waukegan junior Lucas Lopez, but both shots were deflected over the goal by Palatine keeper Kyle Held midway into the second half.

After Sajuan finally tied the game late in regulation, the speedy Ibarra took a throw-in down the sideline four minutes into the first overtime before slotting the ball back to Medina in front of the goal for the game-winner.

"I knew (Ibarra) was going to get free, so I just tried to get myself in position to score," said Medina. "We were confident going into the overtime. We knew we had the momentum."

Waukegan will play for its first-ever sectional championship on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Libertyville against second-seeded Deerfield, a team the Bulldogs have defeated twice this season. PREP BOYS SOCCER: CLASS 3A LIBERTYVILLE SECTIONAL