STERLING – The sectional semifinals have never been easy for the Kaneland boys soccer program.

After winning their two previous regional championships in 2004 and 2010, the Knights bowed out in the first game of the sectional round both occasions. In Wednesday’s IHSA Class 2A Sterling Sectional semifinal against Freeport, Kaneland, again, wasn’t at its best, but the result was different, and that’s all that mattered to the Knights.

Alex Gil’s goal off a header with 20:02 left in the second half proved to be the game-winner and Kaneland advanced to the first sectional championship in program history with a 1-0 win over Freeport.