Campton United nips Fire Juniors on PKs in U-17 finals

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By Curt Herron

After dropping three straight state title matches, including the last two to the Chicago Fire Juniors, Campton United's U-17 Navy squad was looking for some revenge on Sunday.

Campton finally got what it has long been seeking but it didn't come about without a struggle in the Illinois Youth Soccer Association's U-17 State Cup at Sportscore Two in Loves Park.

Coach Mark MacKinnon's squad had to play the final part of the second half and two overtimes while a man down due against the Fire Juniors team due to a red card.

But Campton would not be deterred on this day, even after it gave up the equalizer to the Development Academy squad with less than two minutes remaining in regulation play.

The frustrations of the past three years were finally erased during the penalty kicks, where Campton made all four of its attempts while the Fire connected for a pair of goals.

Brady Wahl, Eric Russell, Noah Anthony and Chris Tomek all converted in the shootout for Campton while keeper Nate Esler wrapped things up when he deflected an attempt by Will Butler.

It capped a long and hectic day for both squads, who saw their match delayed and also moved to another field as the result of storms earlier in the afternoon.

Both teams will now move on to the Region II championships, which will be held in Beavercreek, Ohio from June 25-30. Campton won the regional title a year ago.

Click to hear coach Mark MacKinnon interview

After falling behind in the opening stages of the match, the Fire responded with the next two scores to grab a 2-1 advantage at the halftime break.

While things were looking up for coach Trey Bradberry's Fire at that point, Campton used a pair of scores to regain the lead and maintained for much of the rest of the way.

The Fire had the best chances during the overtime periods but Esler stopped a pair of good attempts to assure that the outcome would be determined by penalty kicks.

Click to heat Nate Esler interview

In the shootout, the Fire got a score from Chad Rigg to open the PK's but Horacio Sanchez was wide on the next try before Keegan Balle converted on his team's third attempt.

But Campton took the early advantage when Wahl scored and then went up 3-1 following Tomek's goal to put the Fire in a difficult position in the match-deciding sequence of kicks.

It was obviously a tough pill to swallow for the Fire, which featured some players who had won five straight State Cup titles, the first three coming with the Naperville Lightning.

Click to hear coach Trey Bradberry interview

Things got off to a great start for Campton when Dylan Tucker connected following an assist from Noah Anthony less than two minutes into the match.

Rigg tied things up during the 14th minute off of an assist from Butler and the Fire moved in front six minutes later when Maurice Watkins scored thanks to an assist from Rigg.

That's the way things stayed until the final half, when Campton tied things at 2-2 in the 50th minute after Tucker and Anthony teamed up again for a score.

Click to hear Noah Anthony interview

Campton moved back in front during the 55th minute when Wahl sent a pass to Tomek, who connected to give his team their first lead since the early going.

It looked like that goal might stand as the difference but Rigg found the net for the second time late in the match when he headed in a deflection of a try by Sean Mogan.

After holding off the Fire through two overtime periods, Campton felt upbeat going into the PK's with Esler in the net and Wahl quickly set the tone with the initial goal.

Click to hear Brady Wahl interview