State of euphoria
Kajtezovic scores winning goal in OT as Lockport rallies from 2-0 deficit in final 10 minutes to reach finals
When senior forward Danny Kajtezovic capped a stunning comeback to make Lockport history, he also made sure the chaotic story of his high school career will have a fairy-tale ending at state.
Kajtezovic transferred from Tinley Park after his sophomore season. COVID-19 wiped out the postseason his junior year, giving him just one chance at a playoff run with the Porters.
“It feels great,” Kajtezovic said. “I was at Tinley Park with a 2-13 team and never had a chance to get past the first round of the playoffs. Now, I’m going to state.
“I never knew I was going to get this far in high school soccer, but here we are.”
Kajtezovic scored the game-winning goal in overtime Tuesday night as Lockport rallied from a late two-goal deficit to stun Collinsville 3-2 in the Class 3A Bloomington Supersectional.
Lockport (19-1) clinched the first state trophy in program history and will play York (21-2) at 5 p.m. Friday in a state semifinal at Hoffman Estates.
Collinsville (21-4-2) led 2-0 with under 10 minutes to go before the Porters scored twice in 16 seconds to tie it.
Kajtezovic made sure the comeback would be completed when he volleyed in a cross from Dominic Williams in the fifth minute of overtime.
“Dom had a nice run on the far side and I made a nice cut and run in, and between the goalie’s legs it went,” Kajtezovic said. “It feels amazing. We just wanted it more than them. They started better, but we finished better.
“In the locker room, we got some special snacks that really got us going. They were fruit snacks.”
Danny Jimenez started the rally with 9:58 to go when he pounced on a rebound and tapped it in after Nathan Blazewski’s shot went off the post.
“We wanted to put one in
the back of the net because this is huge for us,” Jimenez said. “This is history for our school. We don’t have a banner in our gym for soccer and now we will.
“It changed the whole momentum
of the game. From there, we were all over them the rest of the game. They had nothing. It was a completely lopsided game after that. After we scored that second
goal, there was no losing that game.”
The second goal came just 16 seconds later. Kajtezovic broke down the left side of the field and played a cross to Williams, who finished from the center of the box.
Williams, who has played at defender all season, moved to forward with the Porters desperate for goals. He came up with the tying goal and the assist on Kajtezovic’s winner.
“Forward is my main position, but I’ve been playing right back the entire season,” Williams said. “It felt good to be playing my real position again.
“We took that momentum after the first goal. I’ve never been a part of anything like that. What a time for it. It’s just fantastic. That’s the Porter way. We never quit. We keep fighting until the last whistle of the game.”
Trey Peterson and Jimmy Crowder scored goals in the first half for Collinsville, but Lockport goalkeeper Pat Marshall made a key save on Adam Reiniger’s penalty kick in the 38th minute to keep the Porters in striking distance.
Marshall finished with six saves. “We always believe in them and they believe in themselves,” Lockport coach Chris Beal said.
“To pull it out like that, it just shows these boys have such great character. They don’t know when they’re beat.
“They’re willing to fight with everything they have. That determination and never-say-die attitude pulled it out yet again.”