After last season’s shortcomings in the Class 1A State Championship game, Normal U-High left the confines of Central Illinois looking for a different ending to their season.
With 14 seniors and 114 goals this season, the Pioneers faced a similar foe in Chicago-based Cristo Rey Jesuit in the 1A State Championship matchup in Hoffman Estates on Saturday.
Thanks to leading goalscorer senior Noah Molitor, the Pioneers left the Chicago suburbs with their second state title and the most wins in a season in program history after a 3-0 thumping of the Cristeros.
“I'm just proud of the guys, the way they conducted themselves this year on the field, off the field, they were a close knit group,” Pioneers head coach Jeremy Stanton said. “Stuck together when things were going well, when things weren't going well, and really stuck to the details this year.”