Richmond-Burton Advances to Fourth Straight Sectional Soccer Final

Richmond-Burton boys soccer advanced to its fourth consecutive sectional title game with a 3-2 victory over No. 5-seeded Latin on Tuesday. The decisive goal came with one minute and 30 seconds remaining in the second half, securing the win for the No. 2 Rockets in the Class 1A Cristo Rey St. Martin Sectional semifinal.

The team entered the second half trailing 1-0 after Latin’s Jack Hale scored with 21:08 left in the first period. Senior midfielder Nick Kyes equalized with 13:46 remaining in the first half. He received the ball just past midfield, outran three defenders, and flipped the ball over Latin goalkeeper Reed Levin with his left foot.

Johann Boentges, a senior, gave Richmond-Burton the lead at the start of the second period. Freshman Oliver Boentges, Johann’s younger brother, delivered a cross from a corner kick. Johann let the ball bounce once before shooting it past Levin. Oliver added the third goal for the Rockets with 27:29 left on the clock to extend the lead to 3-1. Gabe Rivera of Latin pulled one goal back with 9:34 remaining, scoring off a free kick by Will Reshefsky.

The Boentges brothers are part of a team that includes another set of siblings, junior Brayden Mumbower and freshman Brody Mumbower. The Rockets wear T-shirts with the word “family” printed on them. Oliver Boentges earned his starting position this season after working his way into the lineup. Johann said he is grateful to have his brother on the team, noting that they have played in the backyard for years but never on the same high school squad.

Senior goalkeeper Easton Wold made 10 saves for the Rockets. He collided with Latin’s Landry Silvers during the first goal conceded, and both players were checked for concussions before returning to the game. Brayden Mumbower made several defensive stops and takeaways late in the match as Latin pressed for an equalizer.

Richmond-Burton has lost its last three sectional final appearances. The team will play for the championship title at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Waukegan. Their opponent will be determined by the outcome of the other semifinal between No. 1 Cristo Rey St. Martin and No. 2 Kelvyn Park. Coach Casey DeCaluwe noted that the team struggled early in the season but has improved since then.

Johann Boentges credited teammate Jake Severson for creating the space needed for his goal. Severson picked off a defender during the corner kick, leaving Johann open to receive the cross. The Rockets’ record stands at 15 wins, 7 losses, and 1 draw.