Senior Hayden McTigue and his Lyons teammates watched as Lockport celebrated its dramatic, improbable supersectional victory across the field.
The Lions were the top-ranked team in the state, were the top-ranked team across the country by MaxPreps and had not lost a game all season.
In a blink, it was gone.
But McTigue knew that one loss didn’t take away from a brilliant season.
With a state berth on the line, Lockport defeated host Lyons 6-5 on penalty kicks after the teams played to a 1-1 tie on Nov. 22 in a Class 3A supersectional.
“Everything just worked for us this season,” McTigue said. “At the end of the day, it’s one game. It doesn’t define our season. It was an incredible season for everyone on the team. I have a lot of love for these guys.”
Senior Harrison Kittridge scored for the Lions (21-1-1). Junior goalkeeper Wolfgang Ketterling finished with four saves, adding two saves later in penalty kicks.
The shootout lasted eight rounds.
Lyons played a man up over the final 40:23 of regulation and both overtime periods but couldn’t bury a shot in a tie game.
“We just couldn’t score,” McTigue said. “Couldn’t score. They didn’t do too much. We just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.”
McTigue was a team captain along with fellow seniors Ari Chen and Rocco King.
Chen said the Lions embraced the spotlight, both locally and at the national level.
“Everyone on this team was a bunch of fighters,” Chen said. “We kept our heads in it. We were never satisfied. We came up a little short today, but we dominated (all season). We were aggressive and tried to give it our all.”
Lockport scored in the 23rd minute, just the third time Lyons trailed in a game all season.
Kittridge scored the equalizer in the 35th minute. Then Lockport was issued a red card in the final minute of the first half, the Porters playing a man-down the rest of the way.
Lyons had waves of shots in the second half but just couldn’t find the net. A goal was waved off due to an offsides call.
“Lockport was very tough in the box winning the ball,” Lyons coach Paul Labbato said. “We had our chances with as many corners, throw-ins and free kicks that went across the box. Lockport did a great job. Their goalkeeper played well. He was a difference maker.”
The Lions were seeking their first state appearance since taking third in 3A in 2023.
In PKs, McTigue, Cormac Moran, Maxym Sklaryk, Hayden Rout and Joao Piretti all converted their kicks. Ketterling made two diving saves in PKs.
Labbato said the team had too many positives to mention.
“Their work ethic and skill level was such a high level,” Labbato said. “It was so much about this group. It’s everything. They were great all year long.”
Lyons defeated Morton 3-1 on Oct. 30 in the Reavis Sectional championship and defeated St. Ignatius 6-2 on Oct. 27 in the semifinal.