The NJCAA Region 4 Division II Men's Soccer semifinal between Triton and Prairie State Nov. 4 in Chicago Heights was another drama filled match between the two rivals. In the end, 110 minutes was not enough with the game deadlocked at 1, penalty kicks were needed to decide the winner. And unlike the last playoff meeting in 2022 which saw the Pioneers move on in a shootout, this time around it was the Trojans who came out victorious by a 4-2 score.
The seventh seeded Trojans (13-4-4) will play at top seed Madison College (17-0-1) in the Region 4 Championship game Saturday (Nov. 8) at Noon in Wisconsin. The WolfPack cruised to a 5-0 victory over Elgin in their semifinal game. Madison defeated Triton at home in a hard-fought 3-2 contest Sept. 24 in teams' lone regular season meeting.
But for Triton head coach
Piotr Sliwa who has led the Trojans to three regional crowns while competing as a NJCAA Division III with the last being in 2019 feels his team is right where they belong as they attempt to win their regional title as a Division II program. Â
"We're back where we belong," Sliwa said of playing for the championship. "I thought all year, we were the best, if not one of the best teams in the region and when we played Madison during the year, their coach said to me afterwards that we'll see each other again in the final. He was right, the two best teams are in the final."
For the Trojans to pull off their third consecutive road playoff win, they will need more heroics from goalkeeper
Adam Jedrzejczyk.
"Adam has been our playoff MVP so far without question," Sliwa said.
The freshman from Oak Forest High School has been clutch for Triton and was brilliant in the win over Prairie State.
Enzo Dagatti gave the Trojans 1-0 lead in the 25th minute with his sixth goal of the season. Jedrzejczyk made an outstanding save to keep game 1-0 heading to halftime.
However, the Pioneers fought back early in the second half as Edger Perez scored the equalizer in the 60th minute. Prairie State built off that momentum and had two great chances late, but Jedrzejczyk stood tall in goal, including an acrobatic save in the final minute to force extra time.
Jedrzejczyk made another beautiful save early in the first 10-minute segment of extra time.
In the second 10-minute session, Triton had their best chance with three minutes left when Pioneer keeper Goncalo Tomas denied
Giovanni Alvarez on a free kick from 25 yards out.
Prairie State had one final rush in the closing seconds of extra time as Jedrzejczyk was able to make a diving stop with bodies scrambling all in front of the goal.
In penalty kicks after Dagatti and
Emir Heto struck in the first two rounds, Jedrzejczyk made his biggest save to maintain the Trojans 2-1 edge. Triton would remain on top 3-2 going into the fifth and final round before Alvarez scored the clinching goal as darkness was setting in to give Triton another thrilling playoff win to add to their history.
"This game was wild from the beginning," Sliwa said. "We had to play on a bad field and adjust, but that's what happens when you don't win enough games during the season to host. However, there nothing like winning on the road and we'll see if we can do it one more time Saturday."
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