ROCHELLE — The culmination of emotion, excitement and a record-setting performance resulted in the Rochelle varsity boys soccer team’s biggest victory of the year on the final night of the regular season.

Rochelle hosted Sterling for Senior Night on Thursday, with senior Jessee Infante needing four goals to tie former Hub player Teki Vesjeli’s single-season goals record of 39 set in 2003. The Hubs led the Golden Warriors 5-0 at halftime behind two goals from Infante, and three consecutive scores by the senior forward in the second half gave him 40 for the season, allowing him to pass Vesjeli as Rochelle’s new record holder.

Furthermore, Rochelle went on to win 9-0 over the Golden Warriors to finish the regular season 17-0-1 and undisputed Northern Illinois Big 12 West Conference champions. It’s the first conference title since 2004 for the Hubs, who will play either Dixon or Sterling in the IHSA Class 2A Sterling Regional Semifinals on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 5:30 p.m.

“It’s awesome,” head coach Brad Male said. “These guys have worked hard all season. Getting a win like this while finishing the year undefeated in the conference and having an individual break the all-time goals record… Jessee worked hard all four years for me and to see him break that record was awesome.”

Rochelle has now won three straight games over Sterling dating back to the 2017 IHSA Class 2A Kaneland Regional Semifinals. Like many contests this season, the Hubs scored first when Infante put some moves on the Sterling defense before putting Rochelle ahead 1-0 in the 14^th minute. A handball against the Golden Warriors inside their penalty box led to a penalty kick for the Hubs, and Infante booted the ball in to give his team a 2-0 advantage in the 15^th minute.

The Hubs broke the game open with their third goal in three minutes when freshman Josue Orozco sped past the Sterling defensive line and delivered a perfect left-footed cross to his sophomore brother Brayan Orozco, who slid the ball into the Golden Warrior net in the 16^th minute. Orozco sent another cross into the Sterling penalty box that junior Max Torres headed in during the 29^th minute, and Infante assisted Josue Orozco’s goal in the 33^rd minute to help Rochelle lead 5-0 at halftime.

Sterling was unable to move the ball out of its territory for nearly the entire first half, and Rochelle continued pressuring the Golden Warrior defense in the second half. Senior Adolfo Flores sent a line drive from the midfield into Sterling’s net for a goal in the 43^rd minute, and then all eyes moved to Infante, who had 37 goals for the season prior to the second half starting.

Infante’s teammates made a conscious effort to get their captain the ball, and the senior continued to deliver like he has all season, scoring in the 44^th, 47^th and 51^st minutes to tie and eventually break the mark set by Vesjeli, who was present at Thursday’s game to watch the performance. Infante’s five goals are the most he’s scored in one game this season.

“I’m happy that Teki came out to support Jessee and the team,” Male said.

With the regular season now over, the Hubs will gear up for their regional opener on Tuesday. The Hubs are a combined 3-0 against Sterling (the No. 9 seed) and Dixon (the No. 7 seed) this year, and Rochelle (the No. 2 seed) is confident it can match up against either opponent in the semifinals.

“This win was definitely a confidence booster for these guys,” Male said. “We just need to keep taking things one game at a time and anything is possible.”