Tough way to go out

Jacobs defender Kenny Finn (front) runs past Boylan Catholic defender Jerry Carlson during the IHSA Class 3A Barrington Sectional match Wednesday at Barrington High School. Boylan won, 5-0, ending the Golden Eagles’ season. (Daniel J. Murphy - dmurphy@shawmedia.com)

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BARRINGTON – In some ways, this was the moment of truth for the Golden Eagles.

The Jacobs boys soccer team found itself in a state championship-type test in the IHSA Class 3A Barrington Sectional semifinals Wednesday night.

While entering the contest with a .500 record, the Eagles looked to put a scare into Boylan – the undefeated defending state champs.

“We came in here and expected to win,” Jacobs senior Brad Cleveland said. “As good as they are, you have to expect to win every single game. It just didn’t turn out the way we planned it.”

Jacobs managed to step up its play in the second half, but it was too little, too late, in a season-ending 5-0 loss to the Titans.

Boylan hasn’t lost in 48 matches, a streak that dates to Sept. 4, 2010.

The Titans (26-0) advanced to play Warren in the sectional final at 6 p.m. Friday.

The Blue Devils edged out Lake Zurich, 1-0, with a goal in the final 30 seconds in the other semifinal.

Led by its talented senior class, Boylan imposed its will early with a pair of quick strikes within the first eight minutes of the match.

Boylan’s Ken Tryggestad put Jacobs (11-12) in an early hole less than three minutes into the contest.

Brian Didier added a breath-taking tally five minutes later when he placed a high shot perfectly in the corner for a 2-0 lead.

The Titans controlled possession throughout the first half with a nifty passing game and relentless assault on the Eagles’ end.

“In the first half, they beat us in almost every 50-50 ball,” Cleveland said. “And they controlled the game throughout.”

Ryan Howe’s long throw-in led to another score when Kevin Hastings found a way to knock it in to give Boylan a 3-0 advantage at the break.

“The boys were ready. They believed. They wanted it,” said Jacobs coach Anthony Cappello, whose club lost to Boylan, 2-0, earlier this season. “If only those first 20 minutes would have started differently. They’re a great team, but I don’t know if we gave ourselves an opportunity.”

Not only did the Titans shut out Jacobs, but they also held the Eagles without a shot on goal in the first 43 minutes of the match.

“Our philosophy is high-pressure defense,” Boylan coach Chris Mera said. “Good defense creates good offense, and I think we showed that in the first 10 minutes and got two quick goals.”

Junior midfielder Erik Soto gave Jacobs its best chance to break through when he blasted a shot that sailed wide early in the second half.

The Eagles battled Boylan a bit more evenly in the second half before the Titans finally added a score by Howe with 20:44 left. Tyler Robinson found Mitchell Lotko for the final tally with 12:30 remaining.

Boylan goalkeeper Tim Dobrowolski needed only three saves to notch the shutout.

Although Jacobs fell short of its postseason dreams, Cappello credited his seniors for leading the program to its first regional title since 2008.

“They changed the culture of the program,” Cappello said. “Winning the regional was awesome and it was a testament to how badly the seniors wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. They weren’t satisfied with the regular season.”