Round Lake sharp in Shootout

The season has started out with a couple of Shootout victories for Round Lake’s boys soccer team.

That’s not to be confused with shootout victories — these first two wins have been anything but close.

The Panthers won their second straight convincing game with a 4-0 shutout over host Lake Forest in the North Shore Shootout semifinals Thursday.

“This is a great tournament, and we weren’t able to go to the Pepsi Showdown,” said Round Lake coach Hugo Tellez. “These teams here are real good teams. I think going out after this tournament, you realize how good you are as a team.”

Round Lake (2-0) will appear in the tournament final against North Suburban Prairie rival Lakes (3-1, 2-0) at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lake Forest.

Lakes won Thursday in the other semifinal, 3-2 over Highland Park.

Mauricio Salgado scored a goal and assisted on two others, freshman Freddie Ramirez scored twice and Edgar Nieto netted the other goal. Cesar Garcia also picked up an assist.

“I play in the center midfield and I look for the forwards,” said Salgado, who already has 3 goals and 4 assists. “A lot of the seniors left from last year — I have to take a lead role, and it’s harder to show everybody what to do and lead in practices. It’s a little different this year.”

Ramirez scored his first 2 goals in his second high school game. Ramirez scored off an Salgado end-line pass in the 17th minute and added an unassisted goal in the 20th minute.

Nieto scored off the leg of Salgado in the 46th minute, and Salgado scored one of his own in the 72nd minute with an assist from Garcia.

Panthers keeper Jose Martinez made 7 saves in earning the shutout and had help defensively from the back line of Abraham Moror, Fermon Martinez, Edgar Rodriguez and Balam Mara.

Ÿ The Eagles (3-1) got past the Giants 3-2 with a 3-2 edge in penalty kicks. Lucas Istvanek scored the winning kick. Ramon Marin and Calem Arnwine had the other two.

Trevor Ray scored Lakes’ 2 goals in regulation. One came on a header that finished a corner kick from Marin in the final minute of the first half. Ray scored in the 60th minute, again with a helper from Marin.

“Over the last few games we’ve created a lot of chances, but we’re not finishing,” said Lakes coach Kevin Kullby, whose team has won three straight days after starting the season with a 4-0 loss to Stevenson on Monday. “In some ways, we played some very good defense (against Highland Park).”