Boylan beats Libertyville in overtime

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:08PM

Libertyville boys soccer program collected five trophies this season. They just weren't as big as the Wildcats would have liked.

Substitute Griffin Pils scored with 3:44 left in regulation off a long throw-in from Adam Witucki to tie the game for Libertyville, but Homero Jordan scored the game-winner 2:26 into double overtime to propel Boylan to a 3-2 win in the Class 3A state championship Saturday at North Central College in Naperville.

It is the first title in program history for the Titans (25-1-3), who will graduate only four seniors from this year's team.

"We all played like we were seniors this year and that's how we had to play facing older teams," said Jordan, a senior. "Hopefully my teammates comeback next year and repeat."

Ryan Howe had a goal and Victor Zamora, one of the best juniors in the state, converted on a penalty kick with 3:27 left in the first half to give the Titans a 2-1 lead.

"[Boylan] played really well and we just weren't up to the challenge," Libertyville coach Andy Bitta said. "I thought two goals would be enough, we just didn't get it done. I didn't think that was a penalty kick, but that's how it breaks sometimes."

The second-place finish earned the No. 3 Wildcats (21-4-2) their fifth trophy of the season, which included regional, sectional and supersectional titles to go with a second-place trophy in the Pepsi Showdown. Libertyville's 21 wins were also three times as many as last year when it posted a 7-8-2 record and were eliminated in a regional semifinal.

"Compared to last year we really stepped up this year," said senior forward Miles McNeir scored on a rebound of a shot from Sam Kaplan to give Libertyville a 1-0 lead 20:09 into the first. "It's been a big improvement and it looks like the program is going in the right direction."

The victory was the 15th in a row for Boylan, which was unbeaten in its final 22 games. The Titans lone loss of the season was a 2-0 setback Sept. 4 to St. Charles North.

The Wildcats were playing without senior forward and second leading scorer Joey Ruppert, who received two yellow cards in Libertyville's state-semifinal victory over Naperville North.

It was the second time Bitta coached the Libertyville boys program to a second-place finish. He also coached the Wildcats girls soccer teams to seven appearances in the state final, including a state championship in 1991.

The Libertyville coach was joined this year at the state finals by his sons Andrew, the team's senior goalie who had nine saves, and sophomore Austin.

"Right now they're upset," Bitta said. "But in a couple days they'll realize what a great time we had together and what we accomplished. It's hard for the senior [Andrew], but I've got [Austin] back for two more years and we should be pretty good."

Tim Dobrowolski had seven saves for Boylan.

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