'They laid the foundation': Dunlap's record girls soccer season ends in defensive battle

PEORIA — Dunlap's deepest run in the state girls soccer playoffs ended Tuesday in a defensive battle against Lisle Benet.

The Eagles battled through a scoreless match well into the second half before dropping a 1-0 decision to Benet in the IHSA Class 2A girls soccer supersectional at Wheaton St. Francis.

"We played really well, I'm really proud of them," Dunlap coach Peter Cenek said. "We put together a really good 80 minutes. Tonight the effort was there, we played a strong defensive game and really good through the midfield.

"Our forwards were doing some creative things and we were mixing it up offensively better than we had all season."

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Benet (21-4) got the game's only goal with 14:41 left. The ball came across from the left side and into the middle, and freshman Keira Petrucelli came in from the right side for an easy back-door goal.

Dunlap had a chance to tie with 94 seconds to play when the ball popped over a massive traffic jam in front of the Benet net and headed toward the crossbar.

Benet goalkeeper Shannon Clark leaped and snatched it from under the crossbar.

"Their defense was phenomenal, and their keeper was on everything that got through," Cenek said. "That was a great play, just reaction. It just wasn't our day."

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A few seconds later it was over, and the Benet girls raced around the field in celebration while Dunlap finished its remarkable season at 19-3-3. That marked the final high school outing for two key Dunlap seniors, midfielder Sammi Cenek and forward Lily Sutter.

"That's emotional, for the seniors its their last game," Cenek said. "I told these girls how proud I am. It was an historic season. I thanked every senior for what they did for the program, what they built.

"They laid the foundation for everything that follows."

And he also had to say goodbye to his daughter, Sammi, who notched a hat trick to help Dunlap win its first-ever sectional last week.

"I'm going to miss watching Sammi play on a daily basis," Cenek said. "To be with your daughter six days a week and watch her compete in a sport she loves, it's fun, it means so much.

"She was instrumental in changing our culture in this program, and I'm very proud of her."

Benet will move on to the IHSA State semifinals against Deerfield at 1 p.m. Friday in Naperville.

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA girls soccer: Dunlap stopped in 2A supersectional loss to Benet