Goebeler, Libertyville edge Round Lake

Tucker Goebeler got Libertyville's soccer team going by scoring his first goal.

His second goal finished that same come-from-behind effort and helped the Wildcats claim the North Suburban Conference boys soccer championship, as Libertyville rallied to edge host Round Lake 3-2 in 2 OTs on Wednesday night.

Goebeler's game-winner came in the 98th minute in the second of two-ten minute extra sessions. He got his foot on the ball in front of the goal after it was sent in by a Liam O'Connell free kick. The ball bounced off a few players before Goebeler provided the winning touch.

"Honestly, it was a lucky break," said Goebeler, who scored his sixth goal of the season. "It was a scramble in the box and the ball fell to me. I was just in a good spot and I was able to put it away. It was great to get it, and we've worked so hard all of this season. There's been a lot of ups and downs. It's just good to get this win."

Lake Division champ Libertyville (10-3-1) had beaten Prairie Division winner Round Lake 3-1 in the 2012 conference title game. This this time around it was a completely different game.

Round Lake (14-3) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first half, while the Wildcats had to rally to tie and score the other in the second overtime.

"That was a fantastic game," Libertyville coach Andy Bitta said. "It was unbelievable, I've never seen us down 2-0 and be able to come back and win a game. It felt like a sectional final or a supersectional game.

"It took a while to figure out how to play on this field. We played direct and changed formations, then we were able to play with (Round Lake). We had some awesome stuff out there. It was a great, fantastic game. Round Lake takes advantage of their home field."

Goebeler scored the Wildcats' opening goal after trailing 2-0 in the 25th minute. Liam O'Connell started the sequence with a corner kick. Goebeler hit a header that first caromed off the crossbar before Goebeler made good on a second opportunity to finish.

Luke Sanderson tied the game at 2-2 in the 70th minute with a shot from up top that deflected off a Panthers defender and found the back of the net.

The Wildcats had a shot at gaining the lead about a minute later, when a Libertyville player was pushed down in the penalty area. But Round Lake keeper Gerardo Nunez (8 saves) stopped a penalty kick to keep it tied up.

Freddie Ramirez scored both goals for the Panthers. He opened the scoring in the 12th minute after taking a pass from Alejandro Santello. Ramirez netted his second goal (and 22nd of the season) on a penalty kick in the 17th minute after he was taken down in the penalty area.

The Panthers nearly went ahead by 3 goals around the 20-minute mark, only to be denied twice on outstanding point-blank saves by Wildcats keeper Brant Kym (9 stops).

"We didn't take advantage of what we got," said Round Lake coach Hugo Tellez, who has been to the championship game four times in the last six years. "We settled with a 2-goal lead. We made some mistakes and gave them what they prepare for in set pieces. We gave them corner kicks left and right. It is what it is - we live and learn.

"We played our hearts out. Our guys came prepared to play. It could've gone either way."