Grayslake North adds to best-ever start

There are many reasons behind the impressive beginning by Grayslake North's girls soccer team, but it's safe to say "luck" is not among them.

The Knights are off to their best start in school history, having recorded a 12th straight victory to help them go unbeaten in their first 14 matches.

"It's not an accident to go 14 games unbeaten," Grayslake coach Adam DeCaluwe said. "These girls are impressive. They don't stop, and they work for each other. They just go about things the right way. The results are following suit."

South Dakota-bound Sammie Villwock scored the game-winner Thursday to lift Grayslake North past Lakes 1-0 in the second round of pool play in the Lakes tournament in Lake Villa.

The senior midfielder/forward already has a team-best 18 goals and 9 assists for the Knights (12-0-2, 2-0). She came back from a two-year prep absence, playing club soccer only in that span after scoring 10 goals as a high school freshman.

"It's fun to back to be playing with my friends," Villwock said. "Never thought this season would go this way since we lost a number of seniors from last year. But it's going good. I think we've got a lot of good team chemistry, and we're good friends outside the field. On the field we just jell together. We just all communicate well with each other. We don't get down, and we pick each other up."

Villwock scored the lone Knights goal off an assist from freshman Lauren Davis in the 24th minute.

"I was a little nervous at first and kept my composure," said Villwock of the goal. "I was able to cut it across the goalie for a good shot."

Knights keeper Megan Davis earned the clean sheet as she made 6 stops and benefited from plenty of defensive support.

Lakes (7-2-1, 1-1) had its chances to score but wasn't able to find its finishing tough. Their best opportunities seemed to come in the first 20 minutes.

"It was a good battle," Lakes coach Kevin Kullby said. "We had some chances, but when you don't finish them, then it could come back and haunt you. But give (Grayslake North) credit. They played hard to the ball and they were relentless. We had to be a little sharper on our touch to create more chances. for us. In that moment we gave up a goal, we weren't paying attention. We still did an outstanding job defensively throughout the game.

""For the most part it was an even game. (Grayslake North) had the better of it by winning the 50/50 balls. But at the same time we had some moments that we could've had a better play, or a better shot makes it a goal (in the first half)."

Lakes finished out pool play against Waukegan while Grayslake North's next foe is Woodstock North at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

The championship game is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The winner of Grayslake North/Woodstock will face Saturday morning's Mundelein/Vernon Hills winner in the title game.