URBANA — The last time the Illineks played Warrensburg-Latham, the weather was bitterly cold and a trip to the IHSA Class A state tournament was on the line. The Cardinals won that Oct. 23 game 2-1, bringing an end to the high school careers of Uni standouts such as Michael Belmont, Martin Granick, and Jeremy Pillow.

On Monday the Illineks and Cardinals met again, but the circumstances were much different. Besides the warmer weather and lack of playoff pressure, Uni's lineup featured only two field starters from last year's game: seniors Jake Seeley and T.J. Bozada. Senior goalkeeper Isaac Radnitzer was also back, but that was it.

Warrensburg-Latham, however, looked very similar to the team Uni faced 11 months ago. The Cardinals had lost only four seniors from a squad that went 17-0-1 in the regular season and 21-1-1 overall, reaching the Class A quarterfinals.

Back on the field were players such as forwards Mike Gut and Andrew Smith, both of whom scored more than 20 goals last year, and midfielders Brett Sobol and Zach Hawthorne.

"They were the exact same team, which was really annoying," Bozada said. "They still had No. 13 [Smith], who scored both their goals last year. He was the guy making the breaks all the time. They still had their No. 3 [Gut]. Those two were just a dynamic duo. It was the exact same team. They worked the same. They built everything up the same. It reminded me too much of the game last year."

Another similarity: The Cardinals brought an undefeated record into the contest. At 11-0, their regular-season undefeated streak had reached 29 games.

That streak is now up to 30 after Warrensburg-Latham defeated the Illineks 2-0. But for almost 65 minutes on Monday, it looked like Uni could pull the upset.

In the first half, with the wind at their backs, the Illineks controlled possession almost evenly with the visitors. The Cardinals began with an aggressive attack but were frustrated repeatedly by Uni's defense, led by Bozada and Radnitzer.

The Illineks managed two shots on goal in the first 40 minutes, while the Cardinals launched five. At times the Warrensburg-Latham players were visibly — and audibly — unsettled, snapping back at each other.

But the Cardinals came out in the second half and dominated possession for the rest of the game. Uni didn't get a single shot on goal in the final 40 minutes and had few possessions beyond midfield.

Still, Warrensburg-Latham needed almost 25 more minutes before getting on the scoreboard. Radnitzer made 10 saves in the half, including one that ended a sequence of Cardinal scoring opportunities directly in front of the Uni net with about 27:45 left in the game.

With 18:30 remaining, Radnitzer made another impressive save, coming out to meet a shot that began as a corner kick.

"At the start of the second half, they definitely came out with a different ferocity than the first half," Bozada said of the Cardinals. "They had been beating away for the first 25 minutes of that half before they actually connected. Although I would have liked to hold it off all half, they had been having chances for most of the game."

The Cardinals finally scored at 15:34 when Gut followed through on a pass from fellow senior Jon McKean.

But if the visitors thought the floodgates would open, they were wrong. The Illinek defense continued to hang tough in the face of considerable pressure. With 8:08 remaining, the Cardinals scored their only other goal thanks to the teamwork of senior mids Hawthorne and Sobol, with Hawthorne setting up the shot and Sobol driving it past Radnitzer.

By game's end, Warrensburg-Latham's undefeated streak remained alive, but the Illineks had shown they could play with a tested and elite opponent.

"They obviously lost a lot of experience — that Belmont kid and the other one [Granick] who gave us trouble," Cardinal coach Kevin Emery said of Uni. "But they do a lot of things well. They could make some noise in the Monticello sectional."

Warrensburg-Latham is the No. 2 seed in the Rochester sectional, while Uni is the second seed in the Monticello bracket. If the two teams meet again, it would be in the state tournament.

To Bozada, Monday's game indicated the things he and his teammates need to work on before heading into the postseason.

"There’s a lot of disconnect between forwards and defense," he said. "It seems that as we get more frustrated we get less of a defensive mindset. Now, that might just be my bias as the last man back seeing that we get less and less help. We definitely need to maintain functionality and order throughout the game regardless of how it’s going."

According to the IHSA's postseason schedule, the Illineks will host 15th-seeded Mt. Carmel in the first round of the playoffs on Oct. 12. The match is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

If Uni wins that game, the team would play again on Oct. 16 against the winner of the Oct. 13 Catlin Salt Fork (No. 10) vs. Monticello (No. 7) match. Judah Christian is the sectional's No. 1 seed.

For Warrensburg-Latham, the latest victory continued the team's remarkable rise under Emery. In his first season (2003), the Cardinals went 1-16. They improved to 14-7 in 2004, went 10-7-2 the next year, and had their breakout season last fall.

For the Illineks, now 8-5-1 overall, the contest showed they have the defensive skills to compete with the area's best in Class A. Now the task is to put all the components together into a complete game.

The Illineks will have another chance to see how they compare with top-notch competition later this week when they visit Class AA Urbana on Saturday. The varsity game is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

"The problem with our team has always been consistency," Bozada said. "So we just need to work on getting that up, making sure that every game we play we’re at our best. Once sectionals begin, we have a fair chance of making it to the finals. And, honestly, nothing would make my year like ending Judah’s."

MORE PHOTOS: UNI VS. WARRENSBURG-LATHAM

Junior Carl Pearson (28) races Warrensburg-Latham's Andrew Smith (13) for the ball during the first half of Monday's game. Senior Sam Imlay (4) is in the background. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Senior T.J. Bozada (6) breaks up a scoring attempt by Warrensburg-Latham's Mike Gut. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Sophomore Dan Lilly (20) disrupts a Warrensburg-Latham possession. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Senior Jake Seeley (2) was one of only two returning Illineks who started in the field against Warrensburg-Latham last year. T.J. Bozada was the other. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Senior Julian Hartman (21) tries to slow down Warrensburg-Latham's Matt Wombacher. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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

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Jake Seeley moves downfield. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Junior Holden Bucher makes his way through heavy traffic. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Senior goalkeeper Isaac Radnitzer had another stellar day, keeping the Illineks in the game with 15 saves. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Carl Pearson (28) beats Matt Wombacher to the ball. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Dan Lilly tries to push into Warrensburg-Latham's territory in the second half. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Sophomore Eddie Diazmunoz takes possession. Dan Lilly (20) and Holden Bucher (10) are in the background. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Carter Hutchens tangles with Warrensburg-Latham's Andrew Smith. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Julian Hartman collides while going for the ball. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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Defender T.J. Bozada battles with Warrensburg-Latham's Zach Hawthorne in the first half. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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As Zach Hawthorne (8) gets off a shot, Isaac Radnitzer makes one of his 15 saves against the Cardinals. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

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T.J. Bozada clears the ball out of Uni's zone. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

THE SEASON SO FAR

2007 BOYS SOCCER VARSITY RECORD: 8-5-1 overall, 2-1 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; Holden Bucher 1; Sam Imlay 1; Jake Seeley 1
• Uni assists: Sam Imlay 2; David Hjelmstad 1; Stephen Prochaska 1; Jake Seeley 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 1
• Uni assist: Holden Bucher 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 1 (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; Holden Bucher 1 (season total: 2)
• Uni assists: Holden Bucher 1 (season total: 2); Neil Pearson 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; Dan Lilly 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; 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
• 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
• Uni assists: Carter Hutchens 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 1 (season total: 3)
• Uni assist: Noel Knox 1
• Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 25
• JV game: Central 4, Uni 0

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

• Story: see above
• 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)

Next opponent: Urbana, Sept. 29, at Urbana High School (directions); varsity game to begin at 10 a.m.

* East Central Illinois Conference game