Boys soccer: Sotelo, Round Lake step it up in Shootout consolation game

Alejandro Sotelo has competed alongside some talented boys soccer players in the Round Lake program over the years.

Last year, for instance, he was a part of a one-two combination with all-stater Freddie Ramirez, who has graduated.

And now Sotelo is taking a leading role for the Panthers. As a senior, he's already showing his scoring capability, having scored 4 goals in three games this past week.

He scored twice in leading Round Lake past Lakes 3-1 in the consolation championship of the North Shore Shootout on Saturday morning in Lake Forest.

"I really don't think about scoring goals, I just want to help my team win," Sotelo said. "We want to things game by game and get Ws.

"I got a chance to work with (Ramirez) and other players, too. I got a chance to learn their styles of play and try to contribute with the way I play. I just want to make my own style of play better. I had watched (Ramirez) since I was an eighth grader, and in other games over the years."

The Panthers lost their tourney opener to Dundee-Crown on Tuesday but defeated Deerfield on Thursday to reach the consolation title match.

"This tournament is our first games," Round Lake coach Hugo Tellez said. "We wanted to move people around to adjust. These kids are learning and I've got a lot of new guys up here. Our leaders are the ones that are taking charge. We had a good win"

Round Lake scored in the seventh minute off the leg of Antonio Fonseca, with an assist from Kevin Estrada.

Sotelo scored the first of his 2 goals in the 44th minute for a 2-0 advantage..

Lakes cut the lead to 2-1 when Cam Beezley found the back of the net after a pass from Jake Keenan.

Sotelo added one more goal a few minutes later with an assist from Fonseca.

"I liked the way we played," said Lakes assistant coach Clemente Lima, filling in for Kevin Kullby who was out for a family obligation. "The game was very competitive. Round Lake was quicker than us and had better passing than us."

• Carmel responded after a shootout loss against Lake Forest on Thursday in a big way - with six second-half goals.

Robert Rao netted a hat trick as the Corsairs ran past Dundee-Crown 7-2 in the third-place match Saturday.

The other goal-scorers for the Corsairs (3-1, 2-1) were Michael Alemu, Austin Ehren, Chris Galla and Reed Wilson.

• Lake Forest Academy won the tournament championship game over host Lake Forest 4-1.