Junior midfielder Cesar Cosio has gotten used to Mount Carmel's soccer team being overlooked on campus, with the Caravan's football program garnering most of the attention each fall.

Slowly, Cosio and his teammates have started to change that.

After Cosio scored the biggest goal in school history Tuesday night, the Caravan soccer team has firmly established its own place on the map.

The junior scored four minutes into overtime to send Mount Carmel to state for the first time with a 1-0 win over Washington in the Class 2A Lemont Supersectional at Lewis.

“It was the biggest goal of my life,” Cosio said. “It's an amazing feeling. The football team didn't do as well this season (missing the IHSA playoffs for the first time in 30 years), so we had to make the school proud. People at the school are looking at the soccer team as a great program now.”

Mount Carmel (20-4) will take on Jacksonville in a state semifinal at 1 p.m. Friday at Hoffman Estates.

The game-winning play began with Victor Valencia slipping a quick pass to Josiah Ash along the right sideline.

Ash played a perfect cross toward the far post, where Cosio crashed in and ripped a shot past Washington goalkeeper Jesus Lozano.

“I knew my teammates were going to make a play,” Cosio said. “I just had to get to that spot. It was a great cross from Josiah and I just had to finish it.”

The Caravan still had to hold off Washington (13-8-1) for 16 more minutes and the Patriots got a great look in the final minute.

Angel Arismendiz's pass set up Carlos Martinez, who blasted a hard shot on net with 45 seconds left. Sergio Valencia (3 saves) dove to knock it away.

“I was getting blocked off, so I didn't see it until the last second,” Sergio Valencia said. “I just said, ‘I've got to get this.' It's the most important save I've ever made.”

Sergio Valencia came up big twice in the first half, as well, diving to stop a Oscar Padilla shot then robbing Diego Larios' header.

Those were the Patriots' only chances until the final minute of overtime, though, as the Caravan controlled the second half.

Mount Carmel's defense, led by Giovanni Vargas, Manuel Cerritos, Axel Gongora and Victor Valencia, came up huge.

Ash also spent much of the second half on the back line.

“We got great leadership in the back from Cerritos and Gongora,” Mount Carmel coach Antonio Godinez said.

“Josiah helped us out a lot back there, too. It was a great team effort.”

There was a scary moment as Arismendiz suffered a blow to the head in the final seconds and was down on the field for several minutes after the game before being taken away to a hospital on a stretcher.

Mount Carmel's only previous supersectional appearance came in 2006, when it lost to Morton.

“This win means a lot for us,” Godinez said. “It means a lot for our families, the community and the school. (Football coach) Frank Lenti told me, ‘You've got to help us out. We can't do it every year. It's your turn.' We wanted to continue the tradition of excellence.”

Queen of Peace 25-25, Hancock 4-10: Maddie Fogarty had 11 digs and four aces to lead Queen of Peace (14-22) in 3A Cristo Rey Sectional semifinal.

Tinley Park 25-31, Manteno 18-29: Jackie Alberto totaled 15 kills and Kasey Nolan added 27 assists for Tinley (32-5) in the 3A Chicago Christian Sectional semifinal.

Joliet 80, Olivet Nazarene JV 49: Robbie Brooks poured in 14 points to spark Joliet (1-0).

South Suburban 91, Trinity Christian JV 58: Deante Cisero scored 21 points for South Suburban (1-0).

Governors State 83, Cincinnati (Ohio) Christian 64: Zaporia Smith's 21 points sparked Governors State in its season opener.

Joliet 75, Oakton 20: Deesha Brefford totaled 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals for Joliet (1-0).

Moraine Valley 67, Rock Valley 50: Michelle Borgen tallied 27 points, 14 rebounds, six steals and four assists for Moraine (1-0).

St. Francis 81, Bethel (Ind.) 59: Jordan Giddings scored 21 points for St. Francis (1-0), which also received 12 points, eight assists and five rebounds from Charnelle Reed.

Moraine Valley 5, Morton 0: Marbella Rodriguez contributed one goal and two assists for Moraine (13-2) in the Region IV semifinal for NJCAA Division I.

St. Francis 26-25-25, Governors State 24-18-11: Alyssa Bridleman had 14 kills for St. Francis (27-11, 16-3 CCAC South).

St. Xavier 25-25-25, Robert Morris 23-16-19: Helena Atton and Rory Manion put down 12 and 10 kills, respectively, for St. Xavier (23-16, 14-4 CCAC North).

Trinity Christian 16-25-25-25, Purdue Northwest (Ind.) 25-23-21-16: Rachel Verhage had 12 kills and 18 digs and Tina Massey had 12 kills and 14 digs to power Trinity Christian (24-13, 15-3 CCAC South). Tori Mantel tacked on 47 assists and 11 digs.

Net gains for local trio: St. Francis' Leah Alles was named CCAC Women's Volleyball Defender of the Week on Tuesday, the fifth time this season she's received that designation. In addition, St. Xavier's Helena Atton garnered CCAC Attacker of the Week accolades, while Trinity Christian's Tori Mantel was chosen CCAC Setter of the Week.

Steve Millar is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown. Freelance writer Josh Krockey contributed.