May 14, 2024
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Boys soccer: Crystal Lake South defeats Rochester to reach IHSA Class 2A state championship

Gators senior Nico Velasquez scores in 11th minute of 1-0 victory

By Alex Kantecki
Crystal Lake South’s Nico Velasco (center) celebrates his goal in the first half during the Class 2A state semifinal match against Rochester at Hoffman Estates High School on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.

Crystal Lake South’s Nico Velasco (center) celebrates his goal in the first half during the Class 2A state semifinal match against Rochester at Hoffman Estates High School on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. (Sandy Bressner)

HOFFMAN ESTATES – Crystal Lake South’s Nico Velasco and Nolan Getzinger are very familiar with each other’s playing styles.

Their connection has gotten only stronger over the past four years.

On Friday against Rochester in the Class 2A state semifinals, the seniors hooked up for arguably the most important goal of their high school soccer careers.

Getzinger found his teammate wiggle free just outside the 18-yard box, and Velasco’s confident strike into the lower left corner in the 11th minute stood as the game’s first and only goal.

South’s defense and senior goalkeeper Chris Slawek secured their fourth shutout of the postseason in a 1-0 win at Hoffman Estates High School, earning a spot in the Class 2A state championship.

Crystal Lake South’s Nico Velasco and his teammates celebrate his goal in the first half during the Class 2A state semifinal match against Rochester at Hoffman Estates High School on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.

Crystal Lake South’s Nico Velasco and his teammates celebrate his goal in the first half during the Class 2A state semifinal match against Rochester at Hoffman Estates High School on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. (Sandy Bressner)

South will face Peoria Notre Dame – a 2-0 winner over St. Laurence in the second semifinal – in the state final at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The Gators, playing in their third state tournament since 2018, won their first championship five years ago.

“Truly amazing, the feeling to do this in the state semifinals,” said Velasco, who now has eight goals on the season. “I just read what Nolan was going to see. We’ve been practicing the past four years together. I just had to put it in the bottom corner like always. It was an amazing goal.

“I was always turning my head to see, and I saw a gap, and so did Nolan, so we kind of read that together.”

South (21-4-1) will carry an 11-game winning streak into the final day of the season.

“I mean, I really never expected this,” said Getzinger, who added to his program record with his 28th assist of the year. “I knew we could, but at the beginning of the season, it’s not what you think of. Being able to play this many games and be here with the boys, it’s a great feeling.”

South coach Brian Allen said Getzinger is the ultimate team player.

“There aren’t enough words I’ll be able to use to describe what Nolan does,” Allen said. “He sees the game at a different level. He anticipates things and sees things before they develop. He strives for more and makes everyone around him better, and I think all great players do that.”

Crystal Lake South’s Nolan Getzinger heads the ball away from Rochester’s Jack Reid during the Class 2A state semifinal match at Hoffman Estates High School on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.

Crystal Lake South’s Nolan Getzinger heads the ball away from Rochester’s Jack Reid during the Class 2A state semifinal match at Hoffman Estates High School on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. (Sandy Bressner)

Rochester (19-6) had some of its better scoring chances in the game’s first 10 minutes, but Slawek, who has 14 shutouts on the season, was there for the stop each time.

In the eighth minute, the Gators’ senior goalie had a quick reaction and made a save off a deflected shot. Less than a minute later, he stopped a one-timer from junior forward Landon Kutscher to keep the match scoreless.

“It’s what we’ve come on to rely on with Chris,” Allen said. “He’s been steady for us all year, and he usually is good for one of those game-changing saves. ... He’s done it a lot in the playoffs; that’s a big reason why we’ve been able to keep the zeroes. It’s a collective effort that starts with him.”

Rochester had two corner kicks in the final 15 minutes that came up empty and a free kick just outside the penalty area that sailed high.

Rochester coach Chad Kutscher felt his team did well defensively against South’s top attack options, including leading scorer Ali Ahmed.

“In the attack, I think maybe we needed a little more, and maybe I could have gone with a three-forward system earlier,” Kutscher said. “They have a style that’s unique, and you get down 1-0 to them, you’re really going to have a tough time coming back. They had a lot of guys behind the ball, and they had 15 mph wind to their backs. I thought the boys were battling. I don’t think we ever gave up. I think we had some opportunities, and it just didn’t work out in the end.”

Crystal Lake South goal keeper Chris Slawek makes a save during the Class 2A state semifinal match against Rochester at Hoffman Estates High School on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.

Crystal Lake South goal keeper Chris Slawek makes a save during the Class 2A state semifinal match against Rochester at Hoffman Estates High School on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. (Sandy Bressner)

South sophomore defender Pierce Johnson felt some pressure in the final moments, but the Gators’ defense never relented.

“I thought we stayed very compact as a team the whole game,” Johnson said. “Our whole back line played great, the [midfielders] played great. It’s very stressful, the last minute of the game, trying to keep the zero. You’ve just got to stay calm and stay composed, just got to keep telling yourself you have to stay calm and you’ll get through this.”