Carter Hutchens in action last year against Danville Schlarman in Uni's Class A sectional semifinal victory. Gargoyle photos by Dave Porreca (click to enlarge)

Senior midfielder Noel Knox was one of three Illineks to be named to The News-Gazette's preseason Nifty 50. Holden Bucher and Dan Lilly were the others.

Carl Pearson drives past a Warrensburg-Latham player last year.

Russell Prochaska disrupts a Danville Schlarman opportunity in the sectional semifinals last October.

Holden Bucher (10) was an ECIC all-conference pick in 2007.

Dan Lilly, shown in action against Teutopolis in last year's Class A sectional final, is expected to be one of the ECIC's top scorers.

URBANA — When the 2008 Illineks take the field Saturday to begin their season in the annual Uni High Soccer Shoot Out, they'll have some lofty ambitions in mind.

"I really want to go to state this year, and I believe we can as long as we play hard every game and hit our stride at the right time of the season," says junior Dan Lilly, the team's center forward.

That's a big expectation to live up to. But last year, in head coach Phil Anders' first season, the boys were just one game away from playing in the Class A state tournament, losing 3-2 in the Monticello sectional final against Teutopolis. The year before, Uni also fell one game short of state, losing to Warrensburg-Latham 2-1.

After two close calls, this season should be one to remember. The IHSA has added a third class to boys soccer, with Uni assigned to the smallest of the new classes, 1A. The Illineks will face plenty of tough competition, but with seven returning starters forming the core of their squad, they should be one of the area's top contenders for breaking through to state.

Last season the Illineks went 13-9-1 overall, 3-1 in the East Central Illinois Conference, and were seeded No. 2 in their sectional. Three key factors to Uni's success were the now-graduated trio of forward Jake Seeley, defender T.J. Bozada, and goalkeeper Isaac Radnitzer. All three were unanimous all-conference picks, and Radnitzer was named to the Chicago Fire's all-state all-academic team.

This year the Illineks' strengths include Lilly and seniors Holden Bucher (left forward), Carter Hutchens (center midfielder), and Stephen Prochaska (center midfielder).

"I really don't think there is much that this year's team needs to improve in," says Lilly, who led the team in goals last year with 10. "I guess if I had to choose something, everyone's left foot can always improve."

Prochaska sees it a little differently.

"Our biggest fault last year was when one player would get frustrated and then take it upon himself to single-handedly try and beat the other team," he says.

Other seniors who are returning from strong 2007 performances include Prochaska's twin brother, Russell, as well as Carl Pearson, a tough defender, and Noel Knox, who scored the winning goal in Uni's 1-0 sectional semifinal triumph over Danville Schlarman.

The News-Gazette, in its preseason rankings this week, named three Illineks to its Nifty 50 list of top area players: Knox, Bucher, and Lilly. Last fall, Bucher and Lilly received all-area honorable-mention status from the paper, while Bucher made ECIC all-conference and Hutchens and Lilly earned ECIC honorable mention.

Given these key players, the boys should go as far, or even farther, than last season. Especially since a new player as stepped up to play on varsity: senior Clement Dossin. Dossin, who came to Uni from France, will be starting for varsity following his ineligibility to play last season because of student-athlete transfer regulations.

"We are excited to see him in action," says Hutchens.

The team will also have a strong group of players coming up from last year's JV, including junior Nile Hamer, who will replace the stellar Radnitzer in goal.

Illinek fans got a glimpse of Hamer's potential when he filled in for Radnitzer in a regular-season contest against Schlarman last September, coming up big with 10 saves in a 3-1 Uni victory.

The only possible downside going into the new season is Stephen Prochaska's hamstring injury from last year, which forced him to sit out several games. The team hopes his recovery period won't linger throughout this season as well.

Aside from this, the team has every reason to believe the 2008 campaign will be the breakthrough season Illinek fans have been waiting for: when a Uni soccer team advances to state. In fact, if that happens, it would be the first time that a Uni "ball team" — soccer, volleyball, basketball — has made it to a state tournament.

"I really only have fun out on the field when we play to our finest level, and when we accomplish this we have been successful in our games," Hutchens comments. "Winning makes it fun."

Come see the Illineks play and have some fun starting this Saturday at the annual Uni High Soccer Shoot Out, and witness a winning tradition. The Illineks have played in the Shoot Out for the past seven years and have won it each time.

The tournament has been a great way to kick off the season and showcase what the team has been working so hard at in the preseason. The Shoot Out will be played at DCR Soccer Fields on the corner of Lincoln and Florida avenues in Urbana.

The Illineks are scheduled to play Blue Ridge at 8:30 a.m., followed by Fisher at 11:45 a.m. and Oakwood at 4:15 p.m.