ETHS boys soccer: Kits kick No. 1 seed to sidelines

Game plans rarely work to perfection in Illinois High School Association postseason play. But practice makes perfect — and Tommy Gilroy’s perfect throw-in to James Nicolaou worked like magic for Evanston’s boys soccer team Tuesday night at the Class 3A DePaul Prep Sectional tournament. The two ETHS co-captains combined for the winning goal in the 69th minute as Evanston upended No. 1 seed Chicago Taft for a 3-2 victory in the sectional semifinals. Coach Franz Calixte’s team advanced to the sectional title game for the first time since 2021. Now 13-6-1 on the season, the Kits will take on Saint Patrick, a 2-1 upset winner over Lane Tech, in Friday’s championship contest at 5:30 p.m. for the right to move on to next Monday’s Conant Super-Sectional. After surrendering a goal just two and a half minutes into the game to a powerhouse Taft team that entered the game with a 16-1-1 record, the Wildkits roared back behind a guy who’s earning the nickname “Mr. October” — Matt Gilroy,