A total of 16 boys soccer teams, including some of the very best in the state, battled through a tough slate of competition at the Rivals Cup hosted by Manteno and Peotone throughout this past week.

By Saturday afternoon, only Manteno and Chicago Christian were alive for the championship. It was the first meeting for these two teams since Manteno beat the Knights in a shootout in last season’s Class 1A Manteno Sectional championship, but unfortunately for the Panthers, another win wasn’t in the cards.

The Panthers (10-5-3) scored the first goal about six minutes into the game Saturday, but Chicago Christian (13-5) tied it up two minutes later and pushed across a game-winner with about six minutes to go in the second half, holding on from there to beat the Panthers 2-1.

Although the

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