With nine seniors and over 50 goals gone from last year’s Class 1A runner-up, this fall was supposed to be a bit of a rebuilding project for the Timothy Christian soccer team.

But somewhere along the way, the Trojans had other ideas.

Sitting with a record under .500 for most of the 2009 campaign, the squad went on a magical playoff run that culminated with a 2-1 four-overtime victory over Gibault Catholic on Saturday in the Class 1A state championship game at North Central College.

Like he has done so many times over the past two years, Corey Phillip scored the game-winner on a great individual play with 8:30 left in the fourth extra session, giving the Trojans their first-ever boys state title.

“It is incredible,” said Phillip, the team’s leading scorer with 20 goals and 16 assists. “Our star from last year, Jake Schemper, was in the stands and he thought second in state would be the best we ever did. Well we proved him wrong.

“I was tired, everyone was tired. But at halftime and all of the periods after that, our coach told us that they were more tired.

“Every team has its ups and downs. Everyone plays better teams then them and worse teams then them. Playing the  bigger schools during the season, I think that helped us.”

Mike Pizzello had knotted up the contest with 5:06 left in regulation when he one-timed a perfect crossing pass from Nate Middel into the back of the net.

“Nate gave me a great ball,” Pizzello said, who finished with 12 goals and 10 assists this fall, “and I knew I had to put it away for my team.

“It is a sigh of relief. Winning state is just great. It is a load off of everyone’s shoulders.”

Matt Reinholz had put Gibault on the board shortly before halftime on a header off of a cornerkick.
“I am ecstatic right now,” said sophomore forward Nick Groenewold. “We’ve gone above and beyond this postseason.”

Groenewold scored a goal a day earlier in the team’s 2-1 victory over Peoria Christian in the semifinals. This time around, David Kuenzi tallied the game-winner in the second extra session off a free kick.

“I am very excited,” said sophomore midfielder Nolan DuBois. “I can’t believe we won. To come back at the end of the game and score with five minutes left is incredible.”

With the seven game winning streak in the postseason, Timothy Christian ended the year with a 15-12 record.

“We are a young team and they grew up right before our eyes,” said TC head coach Rudi Gesch, who is in his third year as the head of the program. “We peaked at the right time.

“They have an outstanding program over at Gibault. We’ve been fortunate to hand them their only two losses in like 40 playoff games the last two years.”

Looking ahead, the Trojans appear to be in prime position to make a third consecutive trip to state as they lose only seven players from their postseason roster of 22. But having said that, the senior grouping of goalie Aaron Foster, Kuenzi, midfielders Jon Workman, Middel and Brad Wieringa and defenders Kyle Anderson and Dae He Cho will be tough to replace.

“Last year started things off for us,” Gesch added. “We want a culture here where we expect to win and do what it takes to win. This group said if they did it last year, why can’t we do it now.

“It is amazing sometimes how God works I guess. Last year’s team collectively was more talented on paper. But the way things unfolded, if we advanced out of the regional, I thought we’d have a shot. I thought we matched up with Gibault.

“We are trying to build a program. To take second and first in three years, we will take that. I think it is a testament to the kids and the school and this community.”