St Francis continues string of upsets

Updated: October 28, 2011 11:47PM

As the No. 9 seed of this year’s Class 2A Riverside-Brookfield Sectional, St. Francis had beaten seeds No. 8, 5, and 1 heading into Friday’s sectional final vs. St. Joseph.

And three days before Halloween, the Giant Killer struck again.

St. Francis got goals from Patrick Holman and David Kaminky and a clean sheet from goalkeeper Ryan Huerte in notching its first sectional title in program history with a 2-0 win over the second-seeded Chargers.

“We’ve been the underdog the whole time so this feels great,” said Kaminky, whose goal in the game’s 42nd minute gave the Spartans a 2-0 lead. “We’re playing with heart and we’re focusing on coming out with intensity.”

The Spartans (14-9-4) got yeoman efforts in back from Kaminky, Matt Bonner, Perry Poulos, Andy Wood, and Jake Miller in helping Huerte to his seventh shutout of the season, and a place in Tuesday’s supersectional match against Mather in DeKalb.

St. Joseph (13-7-4) established a pattern of shots from distance in the first half that Huerte handled cleanly. The Spartans posted their first goal when Holman scored in the 39th minute.

The Spartans struck again two minutes into the second half after the Chargers failed to clear a Remmy Mifsud corner kick, and Kaminky buried a rebound shot from point-blank range.

St. Joseph’s attacking pressure rose from there to the end of regulation, but the Chargers couldn’t solve Huerte and his defenders.

“No big shots,” Huerte said. “I know St. Joe’s will take shots from anywhere and our defense did a great job on their shooters. It’s the defense. Give the credit to them.

“Two straight years we’ve been knocked out of the playoffs on this field, and to come off this field in my senior year with a victory — you can’t ask for anything else.”

The win also put some fears to rest for St. Francis coach Kristin Keigley.

“I was worried last night after practice,” she said. “It was a rough practice but then they came out today and they were very focused. We have the skill but no one believes that we do. People just keep underestimating us.”

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