Warriors advance to sectional final

Beachler brothers lift WC

LISLE – It's often said in soccer that when you put the ball on goal, good things will happen. Ryan Beachler and Westminster Christian proved that axiom correct on Saturday night as the Warriors won their Lisle Class 1A Sectional semifinal against Petone 3-2 at Benedictine University.

For 16 seconds midway through the second half, the momentum in the match belonged to Peotone. The Blue Devils had come from 2-0 down to knot it up at 2 with 27:13 still on the clock. Then, on a seemingly innocuous run to the far left corner on Petone's side of the ball, Ryan Beachler lofted the ball about 20 yards towards the goal.

Clearly shocked by the oncoming ball, Petone goalie Tom Malia stumbled back from the left post to tip it, but inadvertently knocked it into the back-right corner of the goal with 26:57 remaining.

"I was just trying to hope for someone to make a run back there," Ryan Beachler said. "I just launched it back there and the keeper missed it.

"I had a burst of energy. I wanted to get to the ball."

Added Westminster coach Mike Richardson: "Ryan was the difference in the game today. Our game plan was to have him come forward as he saw space. That was him just doing it himself. Who knows (if he was shooting)? Let's call it a shot. It went in. We'll go to the next round with that one."

The Warriors got their first two scores from Ryan's brother, Josh Beachler.

"Ryan and Josh Beachler both really stepped up," Richardson said. "They made the adjustments. They play wherever the team needs them. We call these guys are utility knives. You pull it out, 'OK, I need a screwdriver.' That's kind of how we look at it."

The Warriors (17-3-1) had to survive some late pressure from the Devils (22-4) but were able to keep their composure in the back to secure a chance at a State Finals berth.

Westminster next meets Timothy Christian on Tuesday night. In the earlier semifinal, the Trojans needed a penalty shootout before finally knocking off F.W. Parker. Timothy Christian won the shootout 3-1 after a 1-1 draw through four overtime periods.

Westminster got on the board just under nine minutes into the match. After collecting a pass from Ishmael Yemoh, Ryan Beachler sent the ball to Josh Beachler eight yards from goal. On his second touch, Josh Beachler slotted it home to put the Warriors up 1-0.

Westminster built a comfortable 2-0 lead with 7:57 left in the first half with Josh Beachler again the goal scorer. After a long throw-in from the far-right corner was batted around in the box for a few seconds, Josh Beachler fired it into the back of the net.

"I was just in the right place at the right time and just finished it," Josh Beachler said. "Ishmael had a great flick off the throw-in. It bounced around and I hit it in."

The Warriors' breathing room didn't last long into the second half however, as Peotone began to take advantage of throw-ins deep in Westminster's territory. With 35:11 left in the contest, Kyle Robinson cut the lead to 2-1, heading it in from inside the box and off a Westminster defender.

Less than eight minutes later, the Blue Devils tied it up at 2, scoring off an Ethan Arendt header following another throw-in.

While held off the score sheet, Westminster's main scoring threat, Yemoh, provided the bulk of the Warriors' chances late in the match.

Scott Sutarik captured seven saves in the match for the Warriors.