[Note: This story was updated and expanded on Wednesday, Oct. 17.]

URBANA — Senior Sam Imlay scored the only goal the Illineks needed this afternoon as they defeated Monticello 1-0 in a Class A sectional quarterfinal game at DCR Complex Field No. 9.

The win propels Uni into a semifinal showdown Friday with Danville Schlarman, a 3-2 winner today over St. Thomas More. Friday's contest will begin 3:30 p.m. at Monticello High School, the sectional host site.

Uni entered today's game seeded No. 2 in the Monticello bracket; the Sages were seeded No. 7. It was the second time in less than a week that the two teams played each other. The Illineks closed out the regular season Thursday with a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over the Sages.

Sophomore Dan Lilly set up Imlay's goal in the 20th minute of today's contest. After moving into the right side of the Monticello box he passed to Imlay, who notched his second score of the playoffs. The senior also had a goal in Uni's 2-0 first-round win Friday against No. 15 Mt. Carmel.

The visiting Sages turned up the pressure in the second half, but the Illineks were able to maintain their discipline and contain Monticello.

"I think we kept our composure over a number of things — the physical play, not all the calls necessarily going our way," Uni head coach Philip Anders said. "I think they [the Sages] got a little desperate at times. They obviously play a game of kick-the-ball-upfield-and-run-after-it. We play a more controlled game.

"I got after them [his players] at halftime and said, 'If we keep playing like that, where we’re playing their game, we’re going to lose this game.' We have to be able to possess the ball. And I think we showed that at the end of the second half, when they had a number of people push forward and we were able to control the ball up the sides."

Senior goalkeeper Isaac Radnitzer and the Illinek defense earned their ninth shutout of the season. Radnitzer had 16 saves, eight in each half, including two superb stops early in the second half.

"You can’t complain with a shutout," Radnitzer said. "There are a few balls that I think I should have come out on, but I’m not complaining."

The Illineks got some bad news about midway through the second half when right midfielder Stephen Prochaska reinjured his hamstring and had to be helped off the field.

The junior has never really shaken the injury that first occurred Sept. 6 against Decatur Christian.

But Prochaska's replacement, senior Alex Zhai, played an outstanding game, denying Monticello several possessions late in the second half.

"Alex has been playing great," Anders said. "Alex at the end of the game was keeping us up in their half. I mean he was just attacking the ball. His footwork — he can take people one-on-one. He’s doing it. He’s playing very level-headed."

The Uni offense recorded 10 shots on goal, six in the first half. The team is now 12-8-1, while Monticello finished the year 9-10-1.

The Illineks are unscored upon in the postseason, and they have given up only one goal in the four games since junior Holden Bucher switched to the defensive backfield, joining senior T.J. Bozada and freshman David Hjelmstad.

Although Bucher left in the first half when his hamstring tightened up, he returned to play the final 40 minutes. Junior Noel Knox replaced Bucher while he was out. The backfield was tested throughout the game, but especially during the second half as the Sages tried to even up the score.

"The defense was solid," said Bozada, one of the team's senior leaders. "I was really happy with the way everyone stepped up, including Noel — who has never played defense in a varsity game — when Holden got hurt during the first half. In the second half we were definitely playing more defensive as a team, so we were just facing more offense from Monticello and we held them off completely. I was very happy."

The switch of Bucher to the defensive ranks occurred after Uni lost to St. Thomas More 7-0 on Oct. 4, a game in which the Illineks gave up six goals in just 15 minutes.

"Being able to bring Holden back and combining that with David’s natural skill and my experience — that’s just a really well-rounded back three," Bozada said, "and it’s obviously working well for us."

The Illineks are now just two games away from qualifying for the IHSA state tournament. If they win on Friday, they will play for the sectional championship — the final step before state — Monday at Monticello.

Uni played their semifinal opponent, No. 3 seed Danville Schlarman (11-4-2), earlier this season and came away with a 3-1 home victory. But that was on Sept. 14, and much has changed since then, according to Anders.

"Schlarman I think is better than the team we beat [in September]," he said. "Just watching their scores since then, I think they’ve fixed some things. I think they’re a stronger team."

Uni too is a stronger team, perhaps because of — rather than despite — the 7-0 St. Thomas More loss. That game forced the Illineks to focus on the basics of Anders' approach to soccer: covering the field as a team, moving around as a team, passing with precision.

"We’re doing very well," Anders said. "This is really quite an accomplishment. We’re going to the semifinals of our sectional. After the St. Thomas More game, if you asked me where we were going to go, at that point I was just concerned about winning game No. 1 [of the sectional]. Well, we’ve won two games in this now, and we’ll see. We’ve got our work cut out for us, but we do have a great opportunity. We could be there Monday in the final."

MORE PHOTOS: UNI VS. MONTICELLO

Senior midfielder Alex Zhai (5) collides with a Monticello player in a good example of how physical Uni's 1-0 victory was. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Even though he didn't score, center forward/center midfielder Jake Seeley (2) was a commanding presence on the field. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Junior Stephen Prochaska (19) was in the middle of the action until he had to leave the game because of a hamstring injury. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Senior T.J. Bozada was once again the leader of Uni's defensive backfield. The Illineks have been unscored upon in the playoffs. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Sam Imlay netted the game's only goal. It was his second score of the playoffs. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Sophomore Dan Lilly (20) puts pressure on Monticello early in the first half. A few minutes later, he set up Uni's score. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Dan Lilly gets ready to pass to Sam Imlay for the winning goal. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Sam Imlay's shot heads into the Monticello net. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Senior midfielder Julian Hartman (21) congratulates Sam Imlay after the score. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Stephen Prochaska brings up the ball. His brother, Russell, is behind him. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Julian Hartman looks for an open teammate as the fans watch. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Head coach Philip Anders talks to his players during halftime. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Freshman defender David Hjelmstad (9) gets in position against a Monticello attacker. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Senior goalkeeper Isaac Radnitzer sends the ball out of harm's way. He notched his ninth shutout of the season. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Coach Philip Anders helps Stephen Prochaska to the bench after the junior reinjured his hamstring. The injury dates back to Uni's Sept. 6 game against Decatur Christian. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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The recent switch of junior Holden Bucher (10) to defense has helped Uni contain its opponents. The team has given up only one goal in the last four games. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Left midfielder Julian Hartman takes possession. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Right midfielder Alex Zhai had a tremendous game, denying Monticello the ball several times late in the second half when the pressure was on the Illineks. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Alex Zhai schools his Monticello opponent, preventing a scoring opportunity for the Sages. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Holden Bucher (10) and his teammates celebrate the win moments after the final whistle sounded. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Isaac Radnitzer and teammates shake hands with the Sages. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Stephen Prochaska gets a lift from senior Grant Loos (far left), senior Geoffrey Beck (11), junior Kareem Sayegh, Holden Bucher, and junior Noel Knox (7) after the team went over to the Uni fans to thank them for their support. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Philip Anders talks to his team after the game. The Illineks will play Danville Schlarman Friday at Monticello High School in the Class A sectional semifinals. The game begins at 3:30 p.m. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

THE SEASON SO FAR

2007 BOYS SOCCER VARSITY RECORD: 12-8-1 overall, 3-1 East Central Illinois Conference
(home games listed in bold)

Aug. 25: Oakwood (Uni High Soccer Shoot Out), W 5-1

• Story: Illineks win first game of season-opening tournament
• Halftime score: Uni 2, Oakwood 1
• Uni goals: Dan Lilly 2 (season total: 2); Holden Bucher 1 (season total: 1); Sam Imlay 1 (season total: 1); Jake Seeley 1 (season total: 1)
• Uni assists: Sam Imlay 2 (season total: 2); David Hjelmstad 1 (season total: 1); Stephen Prochaska 1 (season total: 1); Jake Seeley 1 (season total: 1)
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 6

Aug. 25: Blue Ridge (Uni High Soccer Shoot Out), W 1-0

• Story: Sophomore's first varsity goal turns out to be game winner
• Halftime score: Uni 0, Blue Ridge 0
• Uni goal: Eddie Diazmunoz (season total: 1)
• Uni assist: Holden Bucher (season total: 1)
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 13

Aug. 25: Fisher (Uni High Soccer Shoot Out), T 1-1

• Story: Uni wins seventh consecutive Shoot Out title
• Halftime score: Uni 1, Fisher 1
• Uni goal: Eddie Diazmunoz (season total: 2)
• Uni assist: none
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 11

Aug. 28: at Judah Christian, L 5-0 *

• Story: Judah downs Uni
• Halftime score: Judah Christian 2, Uni 0
• Uni goals: none
• Uni assists: none
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 8
• JV game: Judah Christian 1, Uni 0

Aug. 30: Mahomet-Seymour, L 1-0

• Story: Mahomet-Seymour shuts out Illineks
• Halftime score: 0-0
• Uni goals: none
• Uni assists: none
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 18
• JV game: Mahomet-Seymour 3, Uni 1 (goal by Loic Hostetter, with assist by Eric Fritzsche)

Sept. 4: at Fisher, W 2-0

• Story: Illineks get back on scoreboard, defeat Fisher 2-0
• Halftime score: Uni 1, Fisher 0
• Uni goals: Stephen Prochaska 1 (season total: 1); Holden Bucher 1 (season total: 2)
• Uni assists: Holden Bucher 1 (season total: 2); Neil Pearson 1 (season total: 1)
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 5
• JV game: Fisher 4, Uni 2 (Uni goals by Richard Weisbach, with assist by Grant Loos; Loic Hostetter, with assist by Jasper Maniates-Selvin)

Sept. 6: Decatur Christian, W 3-0 *

• Story: Bucher leads Uni to 3-0 win
• Halftime score: 0-0
• Uni goals: Holden Bucher 2 (season total: 4); Jake Seeley 1 (season total: 2)
• Uni assists: Russell Prochaska 1 (season total: 1); Dan Lilly 1 (season total: 1); Seeley 1 (season total: 2)
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 3
• JV game: none

Sept. 8: Sullivan, W 2-0 (game called after first half due to lightning)

• Story: Uni wins game shortened by lightning
• Halftime score: 2-0
• Uni goals: Carter Hutchens 1 (season total: 1); Dan Lilly 1 (season total: 3)
• Uni assists: Jake Seeley 2 (season total: 4)
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 2
• JV game: none

Sept. 11: at Oakwood, L 2-1

• Story: Comets get payback, beat Illineks 2-1
• Halftime score: 2-1
• Uni goal: Jake Seeley 1 (season total: 3)
• Uni assist: Julian Hartman 1 (season total: 1)
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 11
• JV game: Uni 1, Oakwood 1 (unofficial match; Uni goal by Radnitzer)

Sept. 13: Iroquois West, W 4-0

• Story: Uni bounces back from Oakwood loss, shuts out Iroquois West
• Halftime score: 3-0
• Uni goals: Dan Lilly 2 (season total: 5); Jake Seeley 1 (season total: 4); Isaac Radnitzer (season total: 1)
• Uni assists: Carter Hutchens 1 (season total: 1); Julian Hartman 1 (season total: 2)
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 9
• JV game: none (intra-squad scrimmage)

Sept. 14: Schlarman, W 3-1

• Story: Hamer comes up big in first varsity game as Illineks down Hilltoppers
• Halftime score: Uni 2, Schlarman 1
• Uni goals: Dan Lilly 1 (season total: 6); Jake Seeley 1 (season total: 5); Holden Bucher 1 (season total: 5)
• Uni assists: Jake Seeley 1 (season total: 5); Dan Lilly 1 (season total: 2); Julian Hartman 1 (season total: 3)
• Uni saves: Nile Hamer 10
• JV game: Uni 2, Schlarman 1

Sept. 18: at Decatur Lutheran, W 4-0 *

• Story: Uni defeats Decatur Lutheran
• Halftime score: 3-0
• Uni goals: Dan Lilly 1 (season total: 7); Carter Hutchens 1 (season total: 2); Stephen Prochaska 1 (season total: 2); Sam Imlay 1 (season total: 2)
• Uni assists: Jake Seeley 2 (season total: 7); Sam Imlay 1 (season total: 3)
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 4, Nile Hamer 2
• JV game: none

Sept. 20: at Champaign Central, L 7-1

• Story: Central gets even for last year's upset
• Halftime score: Central 4, Uni 1
• Uni goal: Eddie Diazmunoz (season total: 3)
• Uni assist: Noel Knox (season total: 1)
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 25
• JV game: Central 4, Uni 0

Sept. 24: Warrensburg-Latham, L 2-0

• Story: Warrensburg-Latham's undefeated streak reaches 30 after downing Uni
• Halftime score: 0-0
• Uni goals: none
• Uni assists: none
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 15
• JV game: Uni 1, Warrensburg-Latham 1 (Uni goal by Noel Knox)

Sept. 29: at Urbana, L 5-0

• Story: Uni ends tough stretch by falling to Urbana
• Halftime score: Urbana 4, Uni 0
• Uni goals: none
• Uni assists: none
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 11
• JV game: Urbana 5, Uni 0

Oct. 2: at Tolono Unity, L 2-1

• Story: Unity upsets Illineks
• Halftime score: Uni 1, Unity 0
• Uni goal: Noel Knox (season total: 1)
• Uni assist: Jake Seeley (season total: 8)
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 7
• JV game: Uni 4, Tolono Unity 0 (Uni goals: Chris Mathy 3, Richard Weisbach 1)

Oct. 4: St. Thomas More, L 7-0

• Story: Illineks drop fifth straight
• Halftime score: St. Thomas More 6, Uni 0
• Uni goals: none
• Uni assists: none
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 4
• JV game: St. Thomas More 2, Uni 0

Oct. 9: Normal Calvary Baptist, W 5-0 *

• Story: Uni shuts out Normal Calvary Baptist, ends losing streak
• Halftime score: Uni 2, Normal Calvary Baptist 0
• Uni goals: Dan Lilly 2 (season total: 9), Carter Hutchens 1 (season total: 3), Jake Seeley 1 (season total 6), Holden Butcher 1 (season total: 6)
• Uni assists: Jake Seeley 2 (season total: 10), Alex Zhai 1 (season total: 1), Dan Lilly 1 (season total: 3)
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 5
• JV results: The junior varsity participated in the Monticello Tournament on Monday, going 0-2. The team lost to St. Thomas More 3-0 in its first match and 5-3 to Judah Christian in its second. In the Judah game, Noel Knox scored two goals and Jasper Maniates-Selvin one. Maniates-Selvin assisted on Knox's first goal; Loic Hostetter assisted on the other. Eric Fritzsche assisted on Maniates-Selvin's goal.

Oct. 11: Monticello, W 2-1

• Story: Uni ends regular season with win over Monticello; playoffs begin today
• Halftime score: Uni 1, Monticello 0
• Uni goals: Jake Seeley 2 (season total: 8)
• Uni assists: Dan Lilly 1 (season total: 4), Carter Hutchens 1 (season total: 2)
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 7
• JV game: Uni 1, Monticello 0 (Uni goal: Eric Fritzsche, assist by Richard Weisbach)

Oct. 12: Mt. Carmel, W 2-0 (Class A sectional first-round game)

• Story: Illineks open postseason with shutout victory, will host Monticello in sectional quarterfinals Tuesday
• Halftime score: Uni 1, Mt. Carmel 0
• Uni goals: Sam Imlay 1 (season total: 3), Julian Hartman 1 (season total: 1)
• Uni assists: Jake Seeley 1 (season total: 11), Sam Imlay 1 (season total: 4)
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 6
• JV game: none; playoff game (varsity only)

Oct. 16: Monticello, W 1-0 (Class A sectional quarterfinal game)

• Story: see above
• Halftime score: Uni 1, Monticello 0
• Uni goal: Sam Imlay 1 (season total: 4)
• Uni assist: Dan Lilly 1 (season total: 5)
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 16
• JV game: none; playoff game (varsity only)

Next opponent: Danville Schlarman (Class A sectional semifinals), Friday, Oct. 19, at Monticello High School (directions); game to begin at 3:30 p.m.

* East Central Illinois Conference game