Crystal Lake South Wins Penalty Shootout, Will Face Central for Sectional Title
Kaleb Nunnally converted the deciding penalty kick in darkness after the stadium lights failed, sending the Gators to Friday's sectional final against Crystal Lake Central.
By Matthew Brooks ·
LOVES PARK, Ill. - Kaleb Nunnally lined up for a penalty kick Tuesday night without ever having taken one in a game. The Crystal Lake South senior defender sent a left-footed shot into the top of the net, ending an IHSA Class 2A sectional semifinal against host Boylan after a 0-0 draw through two overtimes.
Boylan and South had each converted three penalty attempts. A Boylan shot off the crossbar by Ryan Anderson gave South its fifth attempt, and Nunnally converted to send the Gators forward. Before the shootout, stadium lights at the field went out, leaving players and fans in near darkness for roughly 15 minutes.
South goalkeeper Noah Dunteman made nine saves across regulation and overtime, then stopped Boylan's third shootout attempt. He also saw Ryan Anderson's attempt strike the crossbar. South coach Brian Allen, in his 20th year leading the program, said he put Nunnally on the spot because the team trains penalties in practice. "Kaleb is one of the most composed, confident individuals and the whole team trusts him," Allen said.
Crystal Lake South, now 15-5-2, advances to the sectional final at MercyHealth Sportscore Two in Loves Park. The Gators will meet Crystal Lake Central, which beat Geneva 2-0 in Tuesday's first semifinal. Central got goals from Alfredo Rojas Perez in the 27th minute and Nathan Gray in the 73rd minute. Goalkeeper Ian Gumecindo made five saves for the shutout. Geneva, a No. 1 seed in its bracket, held an 8-2 corner kick advantage but could not convert its chances. "We know the margins are thin when you get to this stage of the tournament and not tucking away a couple of opportunities early and then them scoring really changed the tide," Geneva coach Blake Hughes said.
The sectional final will be the first time South and Central have played each other for a sectional title in Allen's 20 years as coach. Central, now 16-4-2, is chasing its first sectional championship since 1997. Geneva finished its season at 18-3-2.
The match kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday at MercyHealth Sportscore Two in Loves Park.
Source: Berwyn Suburban Life · original report published
More Sports · Cicero news · Report a business · Got a Story?
