CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – Achieving victory in the regional semifinals might not seem monumental to everyone, yet Tuesday night’s triumph carried tremendous significance for the Danville boys’ soccer team.

The Vikings emerged victorious against Centennial, clinching a 5-4 win in penalty kicks after the match ended in a 1-1 draw, even after two ten-minute overtime sessions. This success not only lifted the team’s record above .500 but also marked the first time since 2016 that they have finished a season on a high note.

The win held additional layers of importance.

Junior Shaw Black netted the decisive goal during the penalty shootout, while senior Liam Rome delivered an outstanding performance, making numerous saves throughout regulation and contributing both defensively and offensively in the shootout by stopping several penalty attempts and scoring one himself.

Rome’s remarkable display becomes even more noteworthy considering he was not the team’s regular starting goalkeeper. The usual goalie was sidelined due to illness. So, when did Rome learn he would be stepping into the net for the postseason opener?

“On the bus ride [to Champaign,]” he said. “I played goalkeeper a couple times growing up but when you get told you’re going to play in the semifinal it’s a different experience. I had to step up, and I sure did.”

Bigger than Rome’s ability to step in and do a winning job, the team is playing for a dear friend.

“Gritton on three,” the Vikings said when breaking the huddle after their regional semifinal victory.

The crying call, which they’ve been shouting out for roughly a month, is in memory of Danville athletic director Gary Gritton. He passed away in September.

“A lot of those kids had him as baseball coach,” Danville head boys’ soccer coach Ron Sillings said. “They’ve been with him for almost their whole school age.”

“It was heartbreaking to hear of his passing,” Rome said. “Just to know what we can do this and have a historic season to [memorialize] him and keep his name out there – It’s amazing.”

“He was at every one of our games basically, supporting us when nobody did it at our school,” Black said. “[When I] Heard the news [of Gritton’s passing] it was just bad. We just made it an honor to support him, because he supported us. And now he’s gone, but we have to keep playing in his memory.”

Danville will play against Mahomet-Seymour in the regional championship on Saturday in Champaign, set for a 12 p.m. start.