RANTOUL – The Route 136 soccer rivalry was a closely-contested one on Thursday as Fisher/Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley won 2-0 over Rantoul/Paxton-Buckley-Loda.
“It was a great win,” Fisher/GCMS head coach Caleb Aldridge said. “They played very well today. They brought all the energy and they were disciplined the entire game, which I think carried us over to the end.”
Goalkeeper Cameron Kaeding made multiple saves for the Bunnies (4-3-2) to help pitch his team’s second shutout of the 2025 season.
“He was my man of the match,” Aldridge said. “He kept us in the game the entire time. His leadership from the back is always appreciated.”
“We’ve got to put them away,” Rantoul/PBL (4-7) head coach Sam Casco added. “If we don’t put them away, they’re going to put them away on you.”
Drew Iverson gave Fisher/GCMS the lead with an unassisted goal in the first half on which he dribbled the ball past Rantoul/PBL goalkeeper Colton Seder before kicking into a wide-open net.
“We appreciate his work ethic up top,” Aldridge said.
Jose Santos then scored a second-half goal off an Iverson assist.
“He was in the right place at the right time. He did what he was supposed to do,” Aldridge said. “(Rantoul/PBL is) a really good team, well organized with lots of good players.”
“We could have done better. It was a disappointing way to play,” Casco said. “Much improvement is needed. All we can do is keep on working hard and try and get better. I do not like how we’re playing. We fell off in the beginning of the season. It’s a mentality thing.”
With Alexis Perales, Axel Cruz-Robledo and Jaden Andrades out with injuries, it has been difficult for the Eagles.
“We’ve got guys trying to fill their spots right now,” Rantoul/PBL assistant coach Wesley Quimby said. “It’s a tough job for them, but they’re doing their best.”
After hosting Iroquois West on Saturday and Grant Park on Monday, Fisher/GCMS will play at Manteno next Thursday before hosting Tolono Unity and Hoopeston Area on Sept. 29 and 30, respectively.
“We’re excited to keep building off this and continue playing well the rest of the season,” Aldridge said.
Meanwhile, Rantoul/PBL will play at Monticello on Tuesday before hosting Stanford Olympia on Wednesday and Tolono Unity next Thursday. The Eagles will then host Urbana University High School on Sept. 29 before playing at Bloomington Central Catholic on Sept. 30.
“It’s going to be a tough one,” Casco said. “Hopefully, we start picking it up.”