It’s been a ground-breaking season for DeLaSalle -- the team is making its first state finals appearance and has won an eye-opening 26 games.

Coach Francisco Martinez has an infinitely skilled possession team on his hands in his 10th season at the helm.

“They’re definitely enjoying this,” Martinez said. “We told them ‘You’re in the Final Four now, so just go out and have fun’. We just have to keep doing what we’ve been doing.

“This is a team I’ve been looking ahead to for four years. So, I’m not that surprised they’ve had success.”

The Meteors (26-1-2) take on Prairie Ridge (19-4-1) in the Class AA state semifinal 3:15 p.m. Friday. The winner will play for a state title Saturday against the semifinal winner between Lemont (23-3-1) and Althoff (24-4-0).

DeLaSalle’s lone loss this year came in an early-season shootout to fellow state finalist Lemont.

“In the Windy City tournament, it was a very physical game. We lost in PKs,” said Martinez of the 3-3, 5-3 shootout quarterfinal loss. “I told them after the game that it would either break us or make us, and after that game they just played their hearts out.”

Lemont went on to finish second in the 32-team tournament, and DeLaSalle won the fifth place match.

Another key game came on Oct. 10 in a 2-0 Chicago Catholic League cross-over win versus Mt. Carmel.

“I had never seen them play a full 80 minutes of soccer the way they did in that game,” Martinez said. “They were motivated, focused, and locked in. That’s a rivalry game for them and something they’d been waiting for.”

A 3-1 win over Lincoln-Way Central in a BodyArmor championship match Sept. 29 also provided confidence for the Meteors.

DeLaSalle won easily in regional games against Noble Street and Back of the Yards, before winning a pair of double overtime wins against Solorio (3-2) and St. Ignatius (4-3) in sectional play.

In the Elite Eight, the Meteors hosted the supersectional and took down DePaul 3-0 to punch their ticket to the state finals.

The Meteors’ midfield features sophomore Christian Flores, who is a commanding presence. His running mate in senior Brandon Olvera. “When Brandon Olvera is playing well, we’re winning,” Martinez said. “He’s amazing.”

Another key center mid in the rotation is senior Fidel Orozco. Add speed on the outside in sophomore Josh Lawson and an infinitely dangerous junior in Alex Panduro, and DeLaSalle’s midfield is loaded for bear.

Panduro has notched 34 goals and 14 assists to lead team that has had 19 different players score at least one goal this year. Mario Ramirez can play anywhere on the field for Martinez, and he’s second in scoring with 19 goals and 16 assists.

“It’s just amazing what (Panduro) can do with a ball,” Martinez said. “And (Ramirez) demands so much attention from other teams that it frees up space for (Panduro). They complement each other so well.”

Agustin Ortega has added nine goals and eight assists, and Lawson has seven goals and nine assists. 

The Meteors have gotten six goals apiece from Flores and Olvera, and five from Antonio Als.

Martinez doesn’t take his defensive third for granted.

“I’ve never had a defense or a goalie like we have this year,” he said. “Jahir Anaya has been amazing in net.”

Anaya has only given up 12 goals in 25 games. His backline features a calm, confident sweeper in Christian Edwards, and an experienced stopper in Jon-Philip Tiller. Juniors Christopher Dingle and Cesar Solano key the backline on the outside for a team with 20 shutouts in 28 games.

Martinez will obviously watch film on Prairie Ridge to pick up tendencies, but he’s not about to fill his players’ heads with too much unnecessary information.

“We don’t want them getting caught up too much in what the other team is trying to do,” Martinez said. “We’ll do our homework but mainly we want to try to make (Prairie Ridge) worry about us.”