Stagg’s Jose Flores knew he held a psychological advantage Tuesday night.
During a penalty kick shootout against Lincoln-Way Central, the senior goalkeeper played with a resounding poise, calmly looking to bend every possible scenario to his will.
He believed the odds were stacked in his favor.
“Nobody is going to blame the goalkeeper for giving up a penalty kick goal,” Flores said. “I think back to what a player was like and try to put as much pressure as I can on the shooter.
“Obviously, at the end, it’s 50-50.”
Flores, who ended up with seven saves through overtime, forced the Knights’ first PK shooter to miss as the Chargers prevailed 2-1 in a Class 3A Joliet West Sectional semifinal.
Stagg (17-3-1), which came out on top 5-4 in the shootout, posted its 13th straight win. The Chargers will play at 11 a.m. Saturday in the championship game against top-seeded Bloom (25-1), a 4-1 winner over Andrew in the other semifinal.
Senior forward Kacper Dziubek clinched the victory for Stagg by converting his PK. His goal in the 66th minute also created a 1-1 tie that played out through two 10-minute OTs.
Sophomore midfielder Aidan Byrne had staked Lincoln-Way Central (14-4-1), which lost 1-0 to Stagg on Oct. 7, to a 1-0 lead Tuesday with a goal in the 21st minute.
“We knew we had to take it to them,” Byrne said. “I tried my best to go out there and get the goal that ended up giving us the lead. We just had to stay strong and keep fighting.
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“Unfortunately, that lead didn’t hold up.”
The 5-foot-9 Flores made sure to hold things together for Stagg.
He’s in his second year playing with the Chargers after transferring from Eisenhower, where he played his first two years. He relies on quickness, anticipation and feel for the game.
“Some people might imagine my height is a disadvantage, because I’m not 6-foot,” Flores said. “But there are other ways to counter that with my positioning compared to others.
“I make better jumps or kicks that technically are better than other keepers. I always try to work on my positioning and my feet.”
During the Chargers’ 13-game winning streak, Flores has recorded eight shutouts. He now has 10 for the season, including the first win over the Knights.
But even as a transfer, Flores wasn’t an unknown commodity to Dziubek, a four-year starter and captain.
“We played club soccer together growing up,” Dziubek. “When I found out Jose was coming here, I was thrilled because I’ve known him for years. He’s amazing.”
After smashing home the half volley for the equalizer, Dziubek was the Chargers’ final shooter in PKs. He held the game literally at his feet.
“Even during the extra time, I knew the game was going to go into penalties,” he said. “Our five shooters against theirs, with us having Jose, there was no doubt in our minds.
“It was like me and ball and I was shooting into an open net.”
Flores also made a spectacular leaping save off a shot by senior midfielder Dylan Maksa in the second OT. Rodrigo Hernandez, a senior forward, praised his teammate.
“Jose is a great goalkeeper,” Hernandez said. “We know he is always going to protect us and keep us in every game.”
Even with Lincoln-Way Central holding the lead for most of regulation, Flores never lost his confidence.
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“When we got that goal,” he said, “everybody just went off and we got stronger. At about the three-minute point of the second overtime, I knew penalties were coming.
“It was time for me to step up.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.