Max-imum effort: Frericks’ save on first PK in shootout carries QND to sectional semifinal win

CHILLICOTHE, Ill. — The value of Max Frericks’ presence in goal can’t be overstated or undersold.

He’s a game changer.

The Mendota boys soccer team became the latest to realize so Saturday in a penalty-kick shootout to decide who plays for a Class 1A sectional championship.

The 6-foot-3 Quincy Notre Dame senior goalkeeper stopped the first attempt by the Trojans’ Johan Cortez. Then Frericks took and buried the Raiders’ fourth attempt, finishing off a 4-1 shootout victory at Chillicothe IVC’s turf field to keep QND’s state title defense alive.

The teams had played to a 1-1 draw through 80 minutes of regulation, and both scored in the second of two 10-minute periods of overtime, leading to the shootout.

“That was one hell of a game,” QND senior forward Leo Cann said. “Finding a way to win and advance is what the postseason is all about.”

The Raiders (11-10-2) will face Peoria Christian (21-4-2) at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Chillicothe IVC for the sectional title. The Chargers eliminated Rock Island Alleman with a 4-0 victory in Saturday’s second semifinal.

“We keep on winning and we keep on going,” Frericks said. “That’s all that matters.”

Frericks received a red card midway through the second half of the regional championship victory over Monmouth-Roseville last Wednesday for an illegal double touching. Upon further review, the foul wasn’t worthy of a red card, so the referee erased it from his report, admitted the mistake and paved the way for the Illinois High School Association to give Frericks a reprieve from a one-game suspension.

That put him back in the net Saturday.

“This game is a totally different game without Max in the goal,” QND coach Greg Reis said. “From his goal kicks to his punting ability to his ability to put the ball down on the ground and drive the ball down the field, especially with today’s conditions with the wind, it was massive having him in there.

“Max has been there for two years. He’s been the man. He has the leadership back there. I put a lot of faith in Max. He’s been doing a hell of a job for us all season long.”

He stood tall when it mattered most.

Cann scored on a direct kick from just outside the penalty area with 6:36 remaining in the second overtime period to put QND ahead 2-1. With just 1:35 remaining, Mendota tied it as David Casas buried a header off a Cortex corner kick, leading to the PK shootout.

Cann stepped up first for QND and buried his PK. Frericks then stonewalled Cortez.

“I can read the player and I’ll watch him during the game and see which way he kicks the ball,” Frericks said. “Most technical players go a certain way. So I read them, and whichever way I read them, I just go.”

As big as that emotional surge was in the moment, Cann knew not to get too wrapped up in the one-goal advantage.

“It’s usually about the second or third PK when I start thinking, ‘OK, we might be in this,’” Cann said. “There can always be a miss. There can always be a slip. Especially on a windy day like this, the ball was moving. Still, that save was huge.”

Rylan Fischer made the Raiders’ second attempt, while Mendota’s Issac Diaz hit the crossbar and had his shot ricochet out. QND’s Brody Jones and Mendota’s Cesar Casas each made their PKs in the third round. That allowed Frericks to step out and take the fourth PK, which he buried to set off a celebration.

But it was the save on the first PK that set the stage for the victory.

“It makes it a lot easier on our group, especially since we were going first,” Reis said. “Luckily for us, we were able to finish them all.”

Frericks sensed the Raiders had the emotional edge after the save.

“It gives all the other PK takers for us a big confidence boost,” Frericks said. “Not that somebody could still miss one and we move forward, but a little pressure is taken off their shoulders so they can go bury all the rest of them.”

That’s all QND needed to stay afloat.

“We feel we can still make a run at the state championship,” Frericks said.