Senior Carter Hutchens takes aim against St. Thomas More. Gargoyle photos by Sindha Agha (click to enlarge)

Senior Stephen Prochaska moves past a Saber defender. (click to enlarge)

Hutchens heads a ball as he and eight classmates celebrate Senior Night with a 2-1 win over STM. (click to enlarge)

URBANA — It was a big day for Uni boys soccer on Thursday as the Illineks played their final varsity home game of the regular season against crosstown rival St. Thomas More, and celebrated Senior Night soon afterward.

Uni put the icing on the cake on with a 2-1 victory that wasn't as close as the score indicated, with the Illineks outshooting the visiting Sabers 17-4 in the first half and 20-7 for the game.

The nonconference victory also avenged last year's 7-0 pounding at the hands of the Sabers.

In that contest, STM scored six goals in 15 minutes to put the game away by the 28th-minute mark. Jackson Hayes, who scored three goals for STM against Uni as a sophomore, was held scoreless this year.

The Illinek varsity is now 10-6-1 overall while remaining 3-0 in the East Central Illinois Conference.

The Uni offense got off to a strong start, with junior Dan Lilly scoring in the first minute, dribbling the ball through midfield and beating five defenders en route to his 25th goal of the season.

The Sabers responded in the 17th minute with a counterattack up the middle of the field, leading to a goal by Jeremy Towns.

But Uni would regain the initiative in the 28th minute with Lilly scoring another goal, this one set up by a well-played pass from senior Carter Hutchens.

The score would remain 2-1 for the rest of the game. Lilly now has 26 goals for the season, 10 shy of the school record set by Al Renner in 2005.

Junior goalkeeper Nile Hamer finished the contest with 12 saves. His STM counterpart, Jonathan File, also had 12.

Tensions ran high in the game as four yellow cards were handed out. St. Thomas More players received yellow cards in the 20th minute (John Tabb), 46th minute (Hayes), and 73rd minute (Matt Semple), and a Uni player (Eddie Diazmuñoz) received a yellow card in the 42nd minute.

Nevertheless, Uni overcame all obstacles to seal the victory on Senior Night.

The nine seniors honored were Holden Bucher, Clement Dossin, Carter Hutchens, Jeremy Kemball, Noel Knox, Carl Pearson, Russell Prochaska, Stephen Prochaska, and Miguel "Teddy" Zamora-Mills.

In JV action, Uni tied the visiting Sabers 0-0. The JV record is 2-4-3 overall, 0-1 in the ECIC.

The Illineks have one more varsity game — Saturday at Normal Calvary Baptist — before they begin the Class 1A regional playoffs Tuesday against Oakwood.

If Uni beats Normal Calvary, the team will win the ECIC championship.

The Illineks enter the playoffs next week as the No. 2 seed in the seven-team Danville Schlarman regional; Oakwood is No. 7. Uni will host the 4 p.m. game at the U of I Intramural Fields, First and Stadium, Champaign.

If the Illineks win that game, they will play the winner of Tolono Unity vs. Judah Christian in a second-round contest scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at Danville Schlarman.

More Photos: Senior Night at Uni vs. St. Thomas More

Head coach Phil Anders (left) and Uni's seniors get ready for the postgame ceremony. Gargoyle photos by David Porreca (click to enlarge)

Senior Holden Bucher (18) gets talked up by junior Eddie Diazmuñoz.

Senior Clement Dossin is in good spirits after listening to junior Nile Hamer (right).

Junior Dan Lilly (20) immortalizes senior Carter Hutchens (17) with a poem. Besides Lilly, juniors Neil Pearson and Ben Lee penned odes to their senior teammates.

Senior Jeremy Kemball receives flowers from head coach Phil Anders.

Junior Jasper Maniates-Selvin looks up to senior Noel Knox (7).

Junior Eric Fritzsche (16) expounds on senior Carl Pearson's stellar qualities.

The poets were working overtime on Thursday: Neil Pearson reads his poem in honor of Russell Prochaska.

Senior Stephen Prochaska waits for his flowers.

Senior Miguel Zamora-Mills looks on as junior Ben Lee reads the third and final poem of the night.

Phil Anders addresses the team.

A final look at the Illinek senior class.

Uni vs. St. Thomas More at a Glance

Varsity outcome: Win (2-1)

Varsity record: 10-6-1 overall, 3-0 East Central Illinois Conference

Uni scoring

• 1st minute: Dan Lilly (25th), unassisted
• 28th minute: Dan Lilly (26th), Carter Hutchens assist (3rd)

Goalkeeping

• Nile Hamer (Uni): 12 saves (5 in first half)
• Jonathan File (St. Thomas More): 12 (7 in first half)

Shots on goal

• Uni: 20 (17 in first half)
• St. Thomas More: 7 (4 in first half)

JV outcome: Tie (0-0)

JV record: 2-4-3, 0-1 ECIC

Next contest: Away against Normal Calvary Baptist, Saturday, Oct. 11

For complete schedule and results, visit the OG Scoreboard.