After winning five straight state tournament matches on penalty kicks, St. Joseph`s luck finally ran out.
Playing its sixth penalty kick game since sectional play began, St. Joseph lost 1-0 to Glenbrook North in a state semifinal game Saturday at Fremd High School in Palatine.
In the other semifinal, perennial powerhouse Granite City defeated Addison Trail 2-1 in two overtimes, setting up Saturday night`s title contest with Glenbrook North. Dan Weathers scored in regulation for Granite City, while Eric Burns` goal with 9 minutes 24 seconds left in regulation sent the match to overtime. Robert Chung`s header with 2:40 left in the second overtime held up to give Granite City the victory over the Blazers (17-7-3).
In the first game, Glenbrook goalkeeper Jon Novy used the scouting report given to him by Spartans assistant coach Steve Gross in penalty kicks to stop St. Joseph (20-2-3). In fact, Novy had notes on the tendencies of the Charger shooters scribbled on his taped left wrist.
”They all did what Coach Gross said, except their third shooter (George Rios),” Novy said. ”I knew our guys would score and that all I had to do was make one save.”
That Novy did, stopping St. Joseph`s second shooter, Gustavo Nicosia. Novy also got a piece of Rios` shot before it went in.
Craig Radis, Mike Schlenhardt, Brandon Hardy, Mark Radis and Packy Taylor scored for Glenbrook North. St. Joseph goalie Bryan Sirota got a hand on Taylor`s winning penalty kick, but the ball got past him.