Manteno’s Gio Zuniga added to his impressive collection of game-winning goals.
The junior scored the lone goal in the Panthers’ 1-0 home victory over Peotone on Oct. 1 in a rainy Illinois Central Eight matchup. Freshman Landon Flanigan picked up the assist. Sophomore Cayden Lacher recorded the shutout with eight saves for the Panthers (11-6, 3-2).
With no seniors on the 21-man squad, Zuniga has stepped up big-time this season.
“Gio has had a very good year,” Panthers coach Oscar Farfan said. “He’s had a lot of game-winners for us this year. In big moments, he’s been there for us and stepped up for us.”
The collection includes a hat trick in a 3-2 win over Beecher, the winning goal in a 2-1 win over Reed-Custer, a pair of scores in a 2-1 win over Herscher and what turned out to be the winner in a 4-1 win over Morris.
His favorite?
“Herscher,” Zuniga said. “With five or six minutes left, I got two goals, so that one stands out.”
Heading into this week’s action, Zuniga led the Panthers with 11 goals, junior Brady Ruff had nine and sophomore Santiago Andrews five. Junior Levi Kummelehne had six assists, Jake Krisko five and Ruff had four.
Before the Peotone game, the Panthers found out they picked up the top seed in Sub-Sectional A of their own Class 1A sectional. Peotone (7-7, 1-3) picked up the second seed in Sub-Sectional B.
Beecher was seeded fourth in Sub-Sectional B.
Golfers advance
In girls golf, Manteno finished second in the Class 1A Seneca Regional with a 416. Sophomore Olivia Bukowski led the Panthers with a 99, junior Genevieve Kvasnicka had a 102, junior Ava Fundukian added a 104 and freshman Palmer Payne added 111.
Beecher junior Fiona Hagen-Storbeck advanced individually with a 106.
At the Class 2A Andrew Regional, Crete-Monee freshman Isis Langer qualified individually with a 95.
On the boys side, at the Class 3A St. Laurence Regional at Green Garden, Crete-Monee advanced to sectional play with a second-place finish of 335, 13 shots behind champion St. Laurence.
Freshman Matthew Tinkler led the Warriors with a 79, senior Terrence Blevins Jr. fired an 81, senior Joseph Huante and 85 and senior Bruce Milburn a 90.
At the Class 1A Dwight Regional, Beecher tied for third with a 349 but did not advance because of a tiebreaker against Prairie Central. Beecher senior Charlie Nowak (82), sophomore Jacob Benck (87), junior Michael Defank (90) and freshman Domenick Anaclerio (90) qualified as individuals, along with Illinois Lutheran sophomore Brayden Van Es (84).
At the Class 2A Ottawa Regional, Manteno senior Landon Bukowski advanced as an individual with an 83.
Sectionals were scheduled for Oct. 5, and state meets are scheduled for Oct. 9-10 at various sites in central Illinois.