Community beat the top-seeded Minooka Indians 2-1 on Oct. 28, avenging a 7-0 regular-season loss and earning a spot in Saturday’s IHSA sectional final at Peoria Notre Dame.

“We knew coming into the game it was going to be a strong mental battle,” senior forward Logan Lelm said. “Conditions weren’t great, but that’s Ironmen weather.”

Minooka (19-2) went in front late in the first half on a tip-in from senior Andrew Calderon.

Community answered after the break when Lelm redirected a shot from senior Joyce Lubika to make it 1-1—his 23rd of the season.

Lelm credited the group behind him for keeping the Ironmen in the contest.

“Our back line had so many great clearances to stop goals,” Lelm said.

But the defensive play of the match came from goalkeeper Kai White.

“Our keeper made a great double save,” Lelm said.

After White dove to block a low shot, the senior stopped an attempt on the deflection aimed at the top of the net.

Senior Believe Avida delivered the game-winner, a floating strike off a midfield free kick that found the net for a 2-1 lead Community protected the rest of the way.

Head coach Mr. Matt Chapman said the Ironmen’s attack leans on a trio of proven finishers: Lelm, Avida and Lubika.

“Logan has been fantastic and he’s been consistent all season… combined with Believe and Joyce,” Chapman said. “A lot of teams have at least one great finisher, we have three, and we’re very fortunate to have that.”

The production matches the praise: Avida has 19 goals and 11 assists on the season, Lubika 15 and 14, and Lelm adds 8 assists to his  goals.

Beyond the box score, Chapman pointed to the Iron’s defensive growth down the stretch, highlighting the play of Isaiah Matthews, Ethan Lelm, Braxton Orrick, Griffin Tierney and Grant Modine.

“It’s been a steady improvement all year long,” Chapman said. “They’ve established a lot of chemistry, and they’re just doing a great job this time of year,”

Community (18-3-4) meets the Collinsville Kahoks (13-10-1) in the sectional championship at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 1 at Peoria Notre Dame, a site Chapman said which gives the Ironmen a small edge.

“Those long bus rides… do take a toll sometimes,” Chapman said. “We’re still sleeping in our own beds.”

Collinsville enters on a surge after eliminating Edwardsville (10-8-2) and O’Fallon (11-7-2)—teams that beat the Kahoks twice each in the regular season.

“That’s impressive that they were able to do that,” Chapman said. “They’re very hard working, very scrappy. That’s a hot team right now, and so we got to be ready.”

A win would give Community its first sectional title since 2017 and send the Ironmen to the Nov. 4 supersectional, which they would host against Naperville North (21-0-4) or Naperville Central (16-2-1).