And then there was one.
The 32-team 2024 Boys Windy City Ram Classic soccer tournament was chock-full of area teams, but only Marist survived the first three rounds to make it to the semifinals.
The RedHawks had an easy win in the first round with a forfeit over Mansueto on Aug. 28.
In the round of 16 the next day, they tied Oak Forest 1-1 in regulation and won on penalty kicks. Junior Aidan Mannion scored the lone goal in regulation and junior Noah McNeela had the assist.
Senior Tommy Doherty scored the lone goal in a 1-0 quarterfinal victory over T.F. North. Goalie Jack Heidemann had five saves in the shutout.
Marist is scheduled to face Lemont in the semifinals on Sept. 3 at Reavis. Andrew and Lincoln-Way East were slated to play in the other semifinal. The championship is scheduled for Sept. 5 at Reavis.
De La Salle advanced to the quarterfinals by surprising host Reavis, 3-0, in the first round and beating Joliet West, 2-0, to before falling in overtime against Lemont to drop out of the championship bracket.
Five different Meteor players scored in the victories over Reavis and Joliet West.
Sandburg, which stunned Bloom in the opening round, and St. Laurence both won first-round matches.
De La Salle’s Cesar Solano gets ready to throw the ball in play against Reavis in a 3-0 win at the Windy City Ram Classic tournament. Photo by Jeff Vorva