MACOMB, Ill. (WGEM) -- The final team standing in the Land of Lincoln when it comes to boys soccer is not one of the usual suspects.
In fact, for Macomb, its win over Blue Ridge on Saturday was the first sectional title in school history.
Double overtime and one round of penalty kicks weren't enough to decide a winner, so in sudden death penalty kicks Macomb goalie Blake Lowderman came through for his team.
First, he made the key save to start things off.
Then, he turned around and made the winning goal.
Macomb head coach Jeff Moore says he had full confidence in his decision to have Lowderman take the shot.
"When I went back and kind of went through the option of who wants to hit some PK's his eyes lit up," Moore told WGEM Sports.
"You want somebody who's got that kind of confidence and who wants to take the shot. He came through on both ends, defensively and offensively. "
Lowderman remembers the situation as it all unfolded and never thought twice.
"(Coach Moore) said, 'Blake you're taking the next kick, and I said alright.'"
"I shoot them in practice just messing around, but I've never taken one in a game. It went pretty good."
The Bombers must quickly shift their attention to the immediate future when Tuesday Urbana awaits in a Super-Sectional match-up for a ticket to the Class 1A Final Four.
"After some of these games I'm really happy but I don't think it's hit me that we've gotten this far," expressed junior forward Mark Harris.
"Farther than any other team in Macomb history. Its just awesome."
"Nobody wants to stop playing, I think that's the big thing," Moore said.
"We've had Corn Crib (and the state tournament) as the goal for quite a while here now, and they know they can do it."
"I think (Tuesday) night's game is going to be a lot like playing against QND with technical, strong players."
Macomb and Urbana get underway at 4 p.m. in the Urbana Super-Sectional.
The winner advances to Friday's state semifinals in Normal.
