By Jason He & Gargoyle sports staff
Posted Monday, Oct. 23, 2006, The OG, sports

MONTICELLO — The most successful season in Uni soccer history ended today as the Illineks fell 2-1 to Warrensburg-Latham in the Monticello Class A sectional championship game. The Cardinals will advance to the IHSA state quarterfinals Friday at North Central College in Naperville.

With the loss, the Illineks finished 17-4-1, the best record in school history. No Uni soccer team had played for a sectional title until today.

“We had great chances, but it wasn't to be,” head coach Bill DeJarnette said. “That's how it works out in life — sometimes you get the wins you want, sometimes you don't.”

While many players were downcast after their loss, tears were outnumbered by applause and commendation from Uni fans for an accomplished season.

“Way to stand up, play a hard game — well done,” DeJarnette told the team as fans cheered.

Senior Michael Belmont, the area's leading scorer, ended his stellar career by netting his 30th goal of the season with 29:02 left in the game. Belmont's goal, which came on a breakaway, narrowed the Cardinals' lead to 2-1. It also ignited a furious surge on the part of the Illineks, who suddenly displayed a renewed sense of confidence.

The team was also energized by the large and loud contingent of Uni fans who traveled to Monticello, including about 100 students who were excused early from school to attend the game.

The Cardinals began the scoring with 2:18 left in the first half. They increased their lead at the 30:56 mark of the second half. It's worth noting that Warrensburg-Latham (340 students) co-ops with Maroa-Forsyth (367 students) in soccer, meaning that Uni faced an opponent with a student population of 707, close to the upper limit of 735 that a Class A school can have.

After Belmont's goal, the Illineks had two more outstanding scoring opportunities. With about 21 minutes left, Belmont beat W-L's keeper but hit the goalpost with his shot. Five minutes later, at the 16:01 mark, junior Mike Renner had a clear shot on goal that veered just wide of the net.

2006 VARSITY RECORD: 17-4-1 overall, 4-0 ECIC
(Home games in bold)
Aug. 26: Blue Ridge (Uni Soccer Shootout), W 6-0
Aug. 26: Oakwood (Uni Soccer Shootout), W 5-2
Aug. 26: Fisher/Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (Uni Soccer Shootout), W 7-2
Aug. 29: Judah Christian,* W 2-0
Aug. 31: at Mahomet-Seymour, W 2-0
Sept. 5: Fisher/GCMS, W 3-0
Sept. 7: at Decatur Christian,* W 12-0
Sept. 9: at Sullivan, W 9-1
Sept. 12: Oakwood, W 3-2
Sept. 14: at Iroquois West, W 7-1
Sept. 19: Decatur Lutheran,* W 4-1
Sept. 21: Champaign Central, W 2-1
Sept. 25: at Warrensburg-Latham, L 2-0
Sept. 28: at Danville Schlarman, L 2-0
Sept. 30: Urbana, L 5-1
Oct. 3: Unity, T 1-1
Oct. 5: at Catlin (Salt Fork), W 2-0
Oct. 10: at Normal Calvary Baptist,* W 5-1
Oct. 12: at Monticello, W 4-0
Oct. 16: Sullivan (at U of I, Monticello sectional), W 6-0 * *
Oct. 19: St. Thomas More (at Monticello H.S., Monticello sectional), W 6-2 * *
Oct. 23: Warrensburg-Latham (at Monticello H.S., Monticello sectional), L 2-1 * *
*East Central Illinois Conference opponent
* *As the No. 1 seed, Uni was the home team in all sectional games