What it will take for Notre Dame to get back to the IHSA boys soccer state finals
WASHINGTON — It was a huge victory, but now it's ancient history.
That's the mindset of the Peoria Notre Dame boys soccer team, which beat rival Morton 1-0 Saturday in a hard-fought Class 2A Washington Sectional championship game at Babcook Field and has had to quickly get refocused.
The Irish (20-3-1) will face Aurora Marmion Academy (10-8-5) at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Sterling Supersectional with a spot in this weekend's state finals at Hoffman Estates and a shot at their fifth all-time state championship on the line.
"We started talking about (the supersectional) game after the game Saturday," said Notre Dame senior center defender and co-captain Joel McIntyre.
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The Irish have spent some time going over Marmion Academy's strengths and weaknesses since their win over Morton, but they're more focused on themselves.
"If we play the way we can play, we can beat anyone," McIntyre said.
Overcoming injuries
Notre Dame has been playing well since a bump in the road earlier this season. Injuries to six starters caused some losses that knocked them off the perch of being ranked No. 3 in the nation.
Everyone is healthy now. The Irish needed all hands on deck to knock off Morton (18-4-5), which beat Notre Dame for the first time ever last season, winning 2-1 in double-overtime in the regional semifinals.
"Give Morton credit. They kept the ball out of their net more than most teams we've faced this season," McIntyre said about Saturday's game.
McIntyre plays club soccer with Central Illinois United. So do many Morton players.
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"Some of my best friends play for Morton," McIntyre said. "I never heard the end of it when they beat us (Notre Dame) last year. Now I'll get my chance to say a few things."
Notre Dame's win Saturday gave the Irish their 22nd all-time sectional championship, but their first since 2019.
There was no state series in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and thanks to Morton, the Irish didn't make it past their first state series game in 2021.
Notre Dame's state championships came in 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2012. More recently, the Irish were state runners-up in 2015 and 2018.
Scouting the supersectional opponent
Marmion Academy, Notre Dame's supersectional opponent, has a misleading record because the Cadets have played a tough schedule including several Class 3A teams.
"I'm sure they will give us a battle," said Notre Dame coach Mike Bare.
Marmion Academy beat Lemont 1-0 Saturday in the Glen Ellyn Glenbard South Sectional championship game, eliminating the team that knocked off defending Class 2A state champion Rockford Boylan 4-0 in the sectional semifinals.
Boylan beat Morton 3-1 last year in the supersectionals en route to the state championship.
Lemont (14-4-7) came into the sectional championship game against Marmion Academy with 15 shutouts and a 12-game unbeaten streak.
Steve Stein can be reached at (248) 224-2616 or stevestein21@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpartanSteve.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA boys soccer: Peoria Notre Dame supersectional, one win from state
