As one of Lockport’s top playmakers and leaders, senior midfielder Kacper Sikon is determined to be at his best in the biggest moments of the biggest games.

Sikon wants to be the one his teammates can lean on when they really need a spark. So far, he’s answering that call.

“I’d like to say I’ve scored in the deciding games,” Sikon said. “On Saturday, without my goal, we would have been tied. (Tuesday), without my goal, we would have been down unless we found another way to score in the second half.

“I’m grateful I’ve been able to score when it really mattered and when it was the deciding factor.”

Sikon came through in the second straight one-goal game for the Porters. His goal with 40 seconds left in the first half Tuesday night helped Lockport pull out a 2-1 overtime win over St. Laurence in a Windy City Ram Classic semifinal at Reavis.

Krystian Rafacz delivered the game-winning goal in overtime for the Porters (4-0). Chris Huizar added an assist and Benjamin Szudy made eight saves.

Lockport will take on De La Salle (4-0) — a 2-0 winner over Kankakee in the second semifinal — at 6 p.m. Thursday in the championship game at Reavis in Burbank.

Pauly Rzadkosz scored on a penalty kick for St. Laurence (3-1-1), while Vin Diesi finished with six saves.

Rzadkosz put the Vikings in the lead until Sikon’s huge goal right before halftime. He finished off a strong combination play as the ball went from Jacob Hareza to Jacob Milinis to Huizar to Sikon, who ripped it into the net.

Lockport’s Kacper Sikon (8) puts a shot on goal against St. Laurence during a Windy City Ram Classic semifinal game at Reavis in Burbank on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (James C. Svehla / Daily Southtown)

“It was an amazing adrenaline rush for me and the team as well,” Sikon said. “I ran and as soon as I turned around, I was just surrounded by all these guys. I thought I was going to get knocked over there with the amount of people surrounding me. It was great.

“Coming into the second half, we had momentum.”

Lockport coach Chris Beal is confident whenever Sikon gets a scoring chance.

“There are a few players that you want the ball to fall to and Kacper is definitely one of them,” Beal said. “He’s a senior and a leader. It was a great build-up play and Kacper was able to take one touch and finish. We know he can do that.

“You want your leaders to lead verbally and by their actions and he does both, scoring these big goals. The rest of the guys all look up to someone like Kacper.”

Lockport’s Hector Ramirez (18) moves the ball near the goal against St. Laurence during a Windy City Ram Classic semifinal game at Reavis in Burbank on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (James C. Svehla / Daily Southtown)

Sikon is thrilled to be producing after feeling a bit less than 100% in the Porters’ first few games this season.

“I’m coming off a little bit of a strained quad and hip flexor from over the summer,” Sikon said. “To get back on the field and score goals is exciting.

“It’s been aggravated and I’ve been feeling a pull every time I run, but it was way less bad in this game. I’m going to rest and recover and be ready for Thursday.”

Rafacz then produced the overtime winner on one of the easiest goals he’ll ever score, taking advantage of a St. Laurence miscue to come up with a steal before tapping the ball into an open net.

“I saw the goalkeeper and the center back kind of running toward each other,” Rafacz said. “I knew that if I pressed them there was no way they were going to get it out.

Lockport’s Kacper Sikon (8) works the ball toward the net against St. Laurence during a Windy City Ram Classic semifinal game at Reavis in Burbank on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (James C. Svehla / Daily Southtown)

“I just put my foot in there and the ball went through everyone and I just tapped it in.”

Of course, Lockport might not have been in overtime if not for Sikon.

“He’s just a brilliant player,” Rafacz said of Sikon. “He can take someone one-on-one. He can dribble. He can pass. He can shoot.

“He scored Saturday and (Tuesday) and he’s just been a big help in us winning these games.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/02/kacper-sikon-lockport-st-laurence-ihsa-boys-soccer/