BURBANK – No team wants to allow a goal in the opening five minutes of play and a score in the final minute of regulation, however both happened to Hinsdale Central in the Class 3A Reavis Sectional final against Morton on Friday.

While that bad one-two punch is usually difficult to bounce back from, it was just the latest challenge that the Red Devils overcame in their quest to advance to the final week of state competition after opening the season with a 1-6-1 record.

Demonstrating the same type of resilience that has now led them to a 13-2-0 run of success since the rocky start, coach Michael Wiggins' team was able to contain the dangerous Morton side, which is ranked 17th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, and then execute perfectly in four rounds of penalties to capture the Reavis Sectional title.

The dramatic victory gave Hinsdale Central (14-8-1), a Top 25 honorable mention team, its second sectional title in three years as well as its sixth overall and fifth since 2007 for Wiggins, who has led the program for 23 seasons.

The Red Devils advance to face second-seeded Lockport, a 3-2 winner over no. 1-seed Lincoln-Way East in the Joliet West Sectional. The Morton Supersectional is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 5) in Berwyn. An Elite Eight victory would assure the program of its fourth IHSA trophy and first since 2014, when Hinsdale Central captured the Class 3A championship.

"Today was really about these boys and playing against a program like Morton," Wiggins said. "We couldn't have any more respect for Morton, and we know historically that they are just so hard to defeat. 

“Every single one of their players is just so good. When we came back and got the tying goal and then found ourselves with the 2-1 lead, it was not anything that was surprising for us, it wasn't anything that we couldn't do. It was just a matter of hanging in there, and they did. Boy, did they ever.

"We spend a lot of time on set pieces and obviously penalty kicks are a part of that. Credit to Martin (Contreras). He is just such a good goalkeeper. And we have so many guys who contributed in so many different ways. There are just little stories within the big story that just makes you so proud of these guys. 

“They've never stopped grinding it out, and they come out every day. They've listened and worked for each other, and we've watched them have a lot of fun. They've really done well, and we're just proud of them."

The veteran Red Devils coach felt that a six-match winning streak that followed their rough start demonstrated that his squad was more than capable of accomplishing something special this season.

"When you have a tough start, nobody feels the pain more than the coaches, because we coach because we enjoy seeing the kids do well," Wiggins said. "And so, when they're struggling, we're struggling. As coaches, we never changed the effort. And we didn't change the time that we were putting in and the scouting, practice planning and discussions and on and on. 

"For us, it was a matter of just trying to figure out how we could get the boys back to center. And not let the big moments get too big and the low moments get too low. 

“Where I really felt like I saw things change was when we played three ranked teams in a row with 
wins over Oak Park and River Forest, Naperville Central and Lyons. And I'm not sure that we've ever done that, so it's a credit to our guys that they were able to do that."

Hinsdale Central evened things at 1-1 in the 64th minute when senior Kostas Zamalaitis scored from about 10 yards on the flank. In the 75th minute, senior Alex Barbu directed a pass toward the net, and classmate Austen Szurgot was there to head the ball in to give them a 2-1 advantage.

Although demoralized by allowing two late goals, the Mustangs (13-6-4) were determined to get the equalizer. After sending in several threatening chances, they finally connected with 44 seconds remaining when senior Angel Rodriguez scored his second goal of the match with a short attempt that followed a deflected attempt by senior David Perez.

"I honestly think that we were the better team today, and that we were the best team in the state, and this was our year," Perez said. "I couldn't ask to do this with any other team but these guys. These guys are like family, and I love them to death.

"I'm so proud of this team. We busted our butts off all season, and we gave all that we could. Our chemistry was amazing. Everybody got along. We all liked each other, and we all loved playing with each other. Everybody on this team is a top player and could perform at a very high level."

Morton had most of the best opportunities during the two 10-minute overtimes but Hinsdale Central senior goalkeeper Martin Contreras came up with several big stops. That forced the sides to determine who would advance to the Elite Eight in a shootout, which was the first for both teams this season.

Szurgot and Perez exchanged goals in the first round before senior Denis Altman connected to put Hinsdale Central up 2-1. Morton junior Alexander Barrera went over the net to end the second round, Zamalaitis made it 3-1 and then Contreras came up with a diving stop that denied junior Dario Cisneros, who assisted Rodriguez on the game’s opening goal in the fifth minute. Barbu connected on the subsequent attempt to end the match.

"We just never gave up," said Contreras, who along with classmates Enzo Cinque and Szurgot are the lone returnees from the 2022 sectional championship team. "Our first goal was to win conference, and we kept getting united. We started connecting with each other, and we gained chemistry. 

"Our quality is that we never give up. No matter if we're down, we're going to keep trying. Sadly, they scored that last-minute goal, but we just kept our heads up. I was a bit sad, but the game was still going on, and I was like ‘We can't finish like this.’ So, we went to penalties, and we got our win."

Morton, a program that has been playing the sport for over a century, was seeking its eighth sectional title since 2011, when current coach Jim Bageanis assisted Mike Caruso for a team that won the Class 3A championship. The Mustangs, who have won 14 sectionals overall, hoped to get back to their home turf for the supersectional match to help them advance to the Finals for the first time since 2021, when they finished fourth.

"Our kids played their butts off," Bageanis said. "We showed a lot of character coming back and not quitting and getting that equalizer. We had a lot of chances, though, and we could have put a few away, possibly in the overtime, let alone in the second half. 

"But credit to them, they played an excellent game. They scored some goals and their keeper made two key saves in the first half. I'm proud of our guys and proud of the team. They gave us everything that they had. I couldn't ask for anything more than that."

Hinsdale Central began to apply more pressure following the break as Barbu sent in a try that was cleared by junior Nicolas Zaragoza before Zamalaitis and junior Antonio Azzo got off shots that were hauled in by sophomore keeper Miguel Jimenez. 

Morton responded with threatening attempts from senior Yahir Aguilar and Cisneros before Hinsdale Central sophomore Arhaan Saini was denied from close range shortly after the hour mark. The Red Devils pulled even at 1-1 in the 64th minute when Zamalaitis sent in a shot from the side that eluded Jimenez. 

In the final 10 minutes of regulation play, Morton junior Aaron Nevarez got off an attempt that was deflected away by Altman. Hinsdale Central took its first lead in the 75th minute when Barbu sent a pass in front of the net, and Szurgot was there to head the ball in to give the Red Devils a 2-1 advantage.

"On my goal it was a great buildup, and Alex crossed it in. I was lucky to be in the correct spot and put it into the corner," Szurgot said. We tried to hold them off but them scoring in the last 40 seconds really killed us. We knew that we were in the game the whole time, and it was sad that we gave up that last goal. 

“But bringing it into overtime, we knew that we had to give all the rest of our energy. Then we capitalized in penalties. We're always practicing on them, and it's pretty consistent with the guys so everybody is pretty confident.

"Starting off 1-6-1 was pretty heartbreaking. We were sad. We had no energy and also some kids weren't playing the correct positions. We just weren't playing as a team. Once we moved some kids around and we were playing the correct formation, then we started to get things going and then our team brought together the chemistry and the grit. And that's when we just expanded our team. Now we're on a 13-for-15 win streak. It's great and keeping this streak going in playoffs is unbelievable.

"I like our grit and our chemistry. The players on and off the field are very close. Everybody is very supportive, even if they're not getting the minutes or those who are playing the whole game. Our coaches are great. We're all in as one team, and I feel like that makes us a better team. We're playing as a team, and that's what high school soccer is all about."

Morton looked for the equalizer. Sophomore Alfredo Campos was thwarted on a long liner. With Hinsdale Central trying to hang on to the final whistle, the Mustangs assured that the match would go to two overtime periods. After Perez had a shot deflected, Rodriguez put in the carom from close range. 

In the first overtime, Mustangs senior Enrique Ayala sent in a shot from the side that keeper Contreras hauled in. A bit later, Perez redirected a dangerous corner kick that he punched away.

"During the game, I should have done more in my opinion, I should have finished those chances that I got," Ayala said. "This team and how they play and how they move around the ball, it's the best that I've seen ever since my freshman year when I was on varsity.

"I realized that the way we moved the ball, the way that we connected and the way that we knew how to move in space was very good. We played more futbol, actual soccer, today. When we play soccer, it looks good. It looks pure. How we played as a team, I think, was the best in the state."

The Mustangs kept up the pressure in the second overtime. Good tries from Ayala and Rodriguez were both denied by Contreras. Shortly after, Szurgot sent in a long free kick that was turned away. Perez directed another long free kick to Ayala, whose close-range attempt was cleared by a defender.

In both sides' initial reliance on penalties to determine a winner, the Red Devils went up 1-0 as Szurgot connected. The Mustangs tied it at 1-1 when Perez found the net. Altman gave Hinsdale Central a 2-1 edge prior to Barrera sending one over the crossbar.

Zamalaitis boosted the Red Devils' advantage to 3-1 on his team's third try, and Cisneros was denied by a diving Contreras right after that. Barbu ended things with a successful effort to wrap up his team's second sectional championship in three years and deny the Mustangs from becoming the eighth program to win 15 sectional titles.

Morton grabbed the early advantage when Cisneros sent a pass to Rodriguez who connected from close range in the fifth minute to account for what would be the lone score for nearly an hour.

Both sides had good opportunities near the midpoint of the opening half. Senior Yahir Aguilar was denied in the 19th minute for the Mustangs, and Szurgot sent in a long free kick in the 23rd minute.

Morton had a couple of chances to add to its early advantage in the 38th minute when Cisneros sent a pass to Nevarez, whose header was deflected away. On the subsequent corner kick from sophomore Alfredo Campos, Barrera was thwarted from close range by Contreras.

While there was understandable disappointment from Morton, the good news for the perennial power is that 22 of the 30 players listed on the postseason roster will return. The eight Mustangs seniors who concluded their prep careers are Moises Malavaez, Rafael Ramirez, Christian Valadez, Anyelo-Jose Viveroa-Tovar, Aguilar, Ayala, Perez and Rodriguez.

Interestingly only one no. 1-seed, Elgin, survived to the Class 3A Elite Eight. Hinsdale Central, the lowest seed remaining of any class, continues its quest.

"We're very proud of ourselves," Hinsdale Central junior Milan Puri said. "We're very happy that we were able to put up a good fight against Morton, which is a very good team. They're class, the way that they're able to connect and their coaching and players. It felt good knowing that coming from that 1-6-1 start that we were able to rally back and get the team together. We knew that it was rough at the start, but we were able to come back. Now we are here.

"When our confidence started building, we started connecting more as a team outside of the field. I think that this is a special group. I like our communication on and off of the field. It's a different kind of vibe and effect that we get when we are able to play off one another on and off of the field. It's something special. We've been able to create it to where we are today, which is amazing."

Starting lineups

Hinsdale Central
GK - Martin Contreras
D - Braden Tingler
D - Enzo Cinque
D - Denis Altman
D - Milan Puri
MF - Alex Barbu
MF - Michael DiTomasso
MF - Antonio Azzo
MF - Austen Szurgot
F - Matt Gantar
F - Kostas Zamalaitis

Morton
GK - Miguel Jimenez
D - Nicolas Zaragoza
D - Rafael Ramirez
D - Dario Cisneros
D - Christian Valadez
MF - Yahir Aguilar
MF - David Perez
MF - Alfredo Campos
MF - Moises Malavaez
F - Enrique Ayala
F - Angel Rodriguez

Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Martin Contreras, sr., GK, Hinsdale Central; Angel Rodriguez, sr., F, Morton; Austen Szurgot, sr., MF, Hinsdale Central; Kostas Zamalaitis, sr., F, Hinsdale Central

Scoring summary

First half
Morton: Angel Rodriguez (Dario Cisneros), 5'

Second half
HC: Kostas Zamalaitis (unassisted), 64'
HC: Austen Szurgot (Alex Barbu), 75'
Morton: Angel Rodriguez (David Perez), 80'

First overtime
No scoring

Second overtime
No scoring

Shootout
Hinsdale Central: Austen Szurgot (goal, 1-0), Denis Altman (goal, 2-1), Kostas Zamalaitis (goal, 3-1), Alex Barbu (goal, 4-1)
Morton: David Perez (goal, 1-1), Alexander Barrera (over, 1-2), Dario Cisneros (saved, 1-3)