In an Illinois State High School Association play-in match played under a grey October sky on the pitch of Gary Little Stadium, the varsity soccer Crusaders took on Thornton Fractional North. Junior midfielder Matt Sweiss scored to give the Crusaders a lead that they would take to half time. A penalty kick tied matters early in the second half and overtime seemed more than likely, until senior defender and tri-captain Brian Cragg kissed a free kick rocket off the bottom of the crossbar from just outside the penalty area to lift the Rice Men past the Meteors 3-2, and into the regional semi-finals.
