There is a different vibe this postseason for the Manteno boys soccer team.

Last year, the Panthers were relative unknowns, soared to an 18-4-2 record and went deep into the Class 1A playoffs before losing to Normal U-High in supersectional action.

This season, there is a change in the team dynamic.

“Last year we were the hunters, and we wanted to make our mark,” Panthers coach Oscar Farfan said. “This year we are the hunted because of the success we had last year.”

The Panthers (17-5-2) got through the first round of being the hunted as they won their second straight Class 1A regional title by topping Reed-Custer 3-0 at Momence on Oct. 25. This is the first time in program history the team won back-to-back titles.

Justin Foster, Ben Froeschle and Eric Eldridge scored goals, while Gio Zuniga and Quinn Campbell provided assists. Freshman goalie Cayden Lacher had two saves.

Five different players had a hand in the scoring and that’s been par for the course. Froeschle has developed into a scoring leader with 23 goals after regional play. Foster had 13, and Eldridge and Gio Arrigo 12 each. 

The Panthers were scheduled to face Chicago Christian Oct. 28 at the Coal City Sectional.

Peotone’s season came to an end in the regional final at Chicago Christian on Oct. 24 with a 1-0 overtime loss to the hosts.

The Blue Devils (16-6-1) reached the final with a 5-0 victory over Grant Park. Caleb Greenquist had two goals while Nate Wehrmann, Angelo Petrizzi and Patryk Krupa each added one goal and one assist. Goalie Tristan Drabik had four saves.

Closing the book on Wences

Beecher’s soccer team finished the season at 18-6-1 after losing 3-1 to Joliet Catholic in the Class 1A Illinois Lutheran Regional semifinals on Oct. 21.

Wences Baumgartner scored a goal and closed out a historic career with 187 goals, which places him eighth all-time in the nation according to the National High School Federation record books. Earlier in the season, he had passed former Crete-Monee star Carlos Posada for No. 1 in the state. Posada had 177 from 2007-11.

Baumgartner finished with 64 goals his senior season.

Running to sectionals

Manteno star sophomore runner Klarke Goranson won her second straight regional cross country title at the Class 1A McNamara Regional Oct. 25 at Kankakee Community College.

Goranson ran a time of 18 minutes, 7.62 seconds, more than 30 seconds ahead of Herscher’s Kelly O’Connor. Sophomore Lyla Nevel took fourth. Beecher’s Rachel Imig placed eighth.

The Panthers finished second in the meet with 57 points, three behind Chicago Christian.

In Class 2A, Crete-Monee junior Evelyn Stolzenbach had a top-10 finish, placing fifth at the Thornridge Regional.

Sectional meets take place Nov. 1.