Cristo Rey St. Martin Downs Chicago Christian 2-0
Cristo Rey St. Martin advances to a state semifinal after beating Chicago Christian in the Class 1A Lisle Supersectional at Benedictine.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Soccer
Cristo Rey St. Martin defeated Chicago Christian 2-0 in the Class 1A Lisle Supersectional on Monday night at Benedictine. Carlos Benitez and Cristian Callejas scored one goal each, one in each half, as Cristo Rey St. Martin moved on.
Why it matters
The win sends Cristo Rey St. Martin to a state semifinal while ending Chicago Christian's run in a sectional final the program had never before reached. Chicago Christian won its first sectional title this fall, a milestone for a school that has been around for 100 years.
Cristo Rey St. Martin finished 11-8-2 and Chicago Christian finished 18-9 on the season. Crew Maloni led Chicago Christian with 11 goals and 14 assists, while Jack Sawyer made nine saves in the loss.
The players
Chicago Christian
A Chicago-area private school founded about 100 years ago that won its first sectional title this fall.
Cristo Rey St. Martin
A Chicago-area Catholic college-preparatory school that advanced to the state semifinals after its supersectional victory.
The details
Cristo Rey St. Martin took a 1-0 lead, and Chicago Christian was caught on a counterattack that produced the second goal. A red card to a Cristo Rey St. Martin player with 28:16 remaining gave Chicago Christian a man advantage, and Callejas scored off a rebound after his own initial shot was stopped.
Timeline
Monday night: Cristo Rey St. Martin defeats Chicago Christian 2-0 in the Lisle Supersectional at Benedictine.
Thursday: Cristo Rey St. Martin plays Belleville Althoff in a state semifinal at 5:30 p.m. at Rockford Guilford.
Season Trajectory
Chicago Christian's first sectional title and run to the Lisle Supersectional final mark a notable season for a program that had not previously reached this stage in the Class 1A state series. Cristo Rey St. Martin's advance to a state semifinal keeps it in contention for the Elite Eight, the final stage before a state title.
Cristo Rey St. Martin's state semifinal on Thursday is the next game for its fans to track. Chicago Christian's season ends at 18-9, and Maloni's 11 goals and 14 assists are the statistics most likely to be cited by local coaches and players.
The takeaway
A single supersectional result can end a season that represents a first for a program, so readers following high school soccer should track each round of the state series closely. Cristo Rey St. Martin's Thursday semifinal will decide whether it reaches the Elite Eight.
What happens next
Cristo Rey St. Martin plays Belleville Althoff in a state semifinal at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Rockford Guilford.
Further reading
Find more coverage in the Soccer section of our Chicago sports pages.
