Forget Rebuilding, Lemont Soccer Enjoys The Now

 It was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Lemont boys soccer program.

Last year, the Indians were senior-heavy with standouts Kyle Spoo and Nick Drez leading the way. This fall, the team only had three seniors on its roster, and only Kyle Koehler, Nick Tiedt and keeper J.C. Remiasz had received a substantial amount of playing time last season.

So, not a whole lot was expected out of the Indians. But, there they were at Lincoln-Way West on Tuesday night competing for the opportunity to advance to state. There was no doubt that the superior team won the supersectional.

It's simply Peoria Notre Dame's year. The Irish are listed in national polls. They've got all-state players in Vince Cicciarelli and Cody Gilfillan. And they've won 22 in a row.

Notre Dame is hungry for its third state title since 2004 and, while the Indians kept it close for 40 minutes, eventually the Irish proved to be way too much to handle.

"To be honest with you, we didn't think we'd get here this year," Lemont coach Rick Prangen said. "Our goal, ultimately, was to win a regional title and be happy with that and go from there. I thought we played a great game against Washington, a so-so game against Bremen then played against arguably the best team in the state."

Graduation will sop up Remiasz, a four-year player, as well as forward Tony Diorio and Brandon Sabanov, the hero from Saturday's sectional title game.

"I couldn't be prouder of the guys," Prangen said. "I thought this was going to be a rebuilding year and last year when we played Peoria we had a heck of a lot more technical ability. This year was all about heart and determination and it says a lot about a team as young as we are to get here."

Lemont started five underclassmen on Tuesday and, with back-to-back Elite Eight appearances and plenty of experience returning next fall, there will be expectations for the Indians to make it three straight such appearances next year.

The seed has been planted for Lemont to make a run at its first state finals appearance since 2007.

"I thought we'd have a big hole, especially defensively with some of the guys we lost," Remiasz said. "The guys stepped it up, especially (Connor) Cunningham and (Andrew) Chialdikas playing new spots. They read the game well."

Cunningham and Kyle Koehler lead a solid core of juniors, including Mike Walus, Kasparas Jasenauskas, Lukas Siliunas and Nick Tiedt, who will be back for the Indians next season. Sophomores Kyle Hamann and Tommy Gasiencia and freshmen Clint McAllister and Chilaldikas also will continue to play crucial roles in 2011.

"As a whole it was a great year for a very young team," Prangen. "You can't buy the experience to play against one of the best teams in the country. It was a tremendous season for Lemont and we've got three seniors and then everybody else is coming back."

And they'll look to get back to their third straight supersectional.