The senior scored twice and tallied in the game-deciding shootout to lead the Hawks to their third consecutive Class A title, a 3-2 decision over Winnebago. After two halves and four 10-minute overtimes, the Hawks prevailed 4-1 in a seven-shot shootout to claim the first soccer three-peat since the IHSA began the two-class system in 1997.
Billmeyer twice rallied Gibault from one-goal deficits.
Billmeyer’s goal in the 14th minute answered the game-opening score from Winnebago’s Juan Esquivel. Then the 6-foot-2 midfielder scored his fifth goal of the tournament and 19th of the year on a penalty kick in the 62nd minute, two-and-a-half minutes after star Andy Huftalin gave Winnebago its second and final goal.
“At the start of the season I just told him (coach Jim Corsi) I wanted to be here,” Billmeyer said. “I didn’t think we were going to come here and win it. It’s just awesome to be here.
“I thought we played really well this weekend. I thought this was the best we played all year. They got an early goal on us and we were able to bounce back.”
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Billmeyer’s shot that hit the crossbar in the 86th minute gave him pause, but he and Kyle Bement, Kevin Brady and Andrew Phillips converted in the shootout to end the need for remorse.
Gibault (15-12) won its second shootout of the finals, but it was the first for starting keeper Ty Schutt. He had to watch sophomore teammate Brendan Fournie earn the victory in the Elite Eight on Friday night after getting knocked out of the game after a collision. This time the senior got to seal the deal.
“Coach Corsi makes us practice PKs every single practice. We won in 2005 on PKs,” said Schutt. “I see a lot in practice where I’m pretty confident going in.”
Winnebago (23-3-3), a quarterfinalist in 2005 and 2006, carried the action in regulation.
“We made it all the way to the final game,” an emotional Andy Huftalin said. “That is exactly how a final game should end. It was a hard-fought battle by both teams, and there’s really nothing to split the teams apart but PKs. Both teams played great.”
Gibault scored only 39 goals in 24 games entering the finals but netted seven in three games in Naperville. Billmeyer scored in each game for the Hawks.
“He basically carried us,” Schutt said.