PEORIA – Several local high school girls’ soccer teams achieved significant victories this season, with Peoria Notre Dame, Morton, and Dunlap all securing regional championships. These triumphs mark important milestones for their respective programs as they advance to the next stage of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) playoffs.
The Notre Dame High School girls’ soccer team, competing in IHSA Class 3A for the first time, powerfully claimed the Moline Regional title. They delivered a dominant 7-0 performance against Joliet West in the championship match held at Browning Field. This win represents the program’s inaugural Class 3A regional championship. With an undefeated record of 22-0, Notre Dame is now set to compete in the Normal Community Sectional semifinals on Tuesday at 5 p.m. Their opponent will be the victor of the Minooka vs. East Moline regional final.
Morton’s girls’ soccer team demonstrated exceptional skill, defeating Richwoods 4-0 to win the Class 2A Richwoods Regional championship. Claire Ceresa was the sole goal scorer for the Potters, netting all four goals. This victory marks Morton’s fourth consecutive regional championship and extends their remarkable unbeaten streak to 22-1-1. Notably, this also extends their shutout streak to 17 games, equaling an IHSA record. Morton will play in the Morton Sectional semifinal on Tuesday, May 26, at 4 p.m. against the winner of the Mahomet Seymour vs. Champaign Central regional title match.
Dunlap’s team secured a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory against second-seeded Washington in the Class 2A Metamora Regional championship game. After Washington equalized with a penalty kick in the second half, Mia Williams sealed the win for Dunlap with a left-footed shot from 30 yards out, sailing over the goalkeeper’s head with only three minutes remaining in the second overtime period. Dunlap (12-4-7) will proceed to the Morton Sectional semifinals on Tuesday at 6 p.m., where they will face the winner of the Normal University vs. Normal Community West regional final.
In other regional action, Peoria Christian’s season concluded in the Class 1A Chillicothe IVC Regional title match, losing 1-0 to Monticello in a penalty shootout (4-3). Violet Hynek, Sarah Lempesis, and Addy Lovell successfully converted their penalty kicks for Peoria Christian (14-5-1), but it was not enough. Monticello advances to the Rock Island Alleman Sectional semifinal.
Geneseo triumphed in the Class 1A Geneseo Regional, shutting out Canton 3-0. Geneseo will now face Bloomington Central Catholic in the Rock Island Sectional semifinals at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Canton concluded their season with a 9-9-3 record.
Additionally, the Class 1A Princeton Regional title match between Princeton and top-seed Rock Island Alleman was rescheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m.
