Joey Francis Shines for Lemont with Remarkable Performance

Joey Francis captivated the crowd with an impressive display of soccer skills during Lemont’s decisive win Monday night. Though he’s not known as a gymnast, Francis celebrated his success with a back flip after netting his second goal against Hinsdale South. The senior midfielder came off the bench to score twice, contributing significantly to Lemont’s 6-0 victory in the Class 2A Chicago U-High Sectional semifinal.

“The adrenaline was racing,” Francis said, expressing his excitement about securing his first playoff goals. “I did whatever felt right.” His confident display was not in vain, as it propelled Lemont into the sectional final against the unbeaten host team scheduled for Friday.

Additional goals came from teammates Gabriel Zarycki, Max Plewa, John Robbins, and Andrew Guzy. Goalkeeper Benjamin Pokorny played a crucial role by making four saves, with defensive support from Plewa, Matthew Koutoulogenis, Mateusz Maka, and Christian Merkouris.

“Defensively, it was just about keeping our feet,” Plewa stated. “They had some shots, but they were mostly going over the net. We were locked in because it’s the playoffs. We know if we make a mistake, it can be the end of our season.”

Francis capitalized on the opportunity to shine after mostly watching from the sidelines last season. “I did not play that much last year, but this year has been much more active,” Francis admitted. “I’ve been waiting for this chance and I want to make a good mark for Lemont.”

Rafal Slomba, Lemont’s coach, acknowledged the energy Francis brought to the game. “We’ve been rotating the outside mid position and Joey was definitely ready. He played fantastic. He’s a kid who’s going to work hard, and that’s exactly what we need,” Slomba remarked.

Francis set the tone late in the first half by scoring from 15 yards out, giving Lemont the initial 1-0 lead. “The ball was kind of bouncing around,” Francis recollected. “I took a touch, looked up, and realized how close I was to the goal. I tried to capitalize with a left-footed shot, my off foot, which worked out well.” This goal spurred the team to perform even better in the second half, resulting in five more goals.

Francis, who started playing soccer at age five under his father’s coaching, attributes much of his passion for the sport to his family’s influence. “My dad kind of got me into soccer,” he shared. “He coached me in the rec league and the experience was incredible.”

His family’s support continues to be evident as they celebrate his impressive two-goal match performance, with back flips optional. “I scored two goals before against Richards, but the stakes were much higher this time,” Francis explained. “It felt a lot better in such a crucial game. It was great.”