By Randy Whalen

The season started well for the Joliet West boys soccer team. 

Which is really good, considering the Tigers graduated 16 seniors from last season's squad.

Their record has leveled off, with a series of tough Southwest Prairie Conference losses. But they hope to regroup for the always big crosstown matchup with Joliet Central tonight (Thursday, October 1). 

"It's always a big one," Joliet West coach Alan Stewart said of facing the Steelmen.

The Tigers won last year's crosstown matchup 2-1 on Senior night. That was one of five SPC wins last season, as they finished 9-11-2 overall. 

But this season has brought a lot of close conference losses. That includes one in the most recent game. That was on Wednesday, September 30, a loss at Yorkville. After a 1-1 tie in regulation, the Foxes (7-5, 2-4) prevailed 4-3 in the shootout session. 

It was the third SPC loss in a row for Joliet West (6-8-1, 2-5). The previous two were 1-0 at Minooka on Thursday, September 24, and 1-0 to Oswego East on Monday, September 28 at home. 

Despite the recent road bumps, the Tigers feel they can get back on track and compete for a regional title at the end of the season. 

"Two losses in conference were in PK's," said Stewart, who also saw the team fall 4-2 in the shootout round after a 1-1 tie in regulation on Thursday, September 10, to host Plainfield East. "We have just been inconsistent this year. Which makes sense after losing so many starters. But we also start seven or eight underclassmen.

"So I am hoping that this season will be a good learning opportunity for our younger guys."

It already is. Joliet West opened the season on Monday, August 24, with a 6-1 victory over St. Rita. That was part of the Windy City Ram Classic, which was hosted by Reavis, but this game took place at Lockport. 

In that game, senior Jaden Alipio scored three goals and junior Brayden Golebiowski added two. 

In the next game, the Tigers hung in for a while, but then fell 6-2 on Thursday, August 27, to host Lockport. Junior Alan Martinez scored the Joliet West goal less than two minutes into the second half to cut the lead to 2-1. But the Porters (9-3-1 through September 30) countered with a goal 39 seconds later and pulled away.

"I saw the keeper wasn't on line, so I took the shot," Martinez said of his goal against Lockport. "So I took the shot. If we have a chance, we have to be able to be ready to take a shot.

"I moved up to the varsity as a freshman, and what I like about this team is that we don't give up. It just shows how dedicated we are to the school. We've got a long way to go, but we learn from our mistakes."

Joliet West won the next two games in the tournament to start the season 3-1. Those were 4-1 over Downers Grove North and 1-0 over Hinsdale South. 

While the Tigers have lost some SPC games in PK's, they also have a nice win in one. That was a 3-1 victory in the shootout after a scoreless tie in regulation over Plainfield South on Tuesday, September 22, at home. Senior Anthony Pena was huge in net for Joliet West with a trio of saves. 

In the postseason, the Tigers will be at home to start. They are in the Class 3A Edwardsville Sectional. But because the area in it is so big, it is divided into a pair of sub-sectionals. The two schools that host regionals are Rock Island and Joliet West. 

Also in the sub-sectional are East Moline United, Joliet Central, Minooka, Moline, Plainfield Central, and Plainfield South. As of October 1, the schedules weren't released yet. The Tigers hope they can regroup and win a regional for the fourth time in school history. They won regionals in the fall of 2017, 2019. and 2022.

"We have talented players," Martinez said. "I believe if we have the right mindset, we can hoist a regional plaque and make history for the school."