Boys soccer: Round Lake tops Lakes, clinches league title

It took a half to get going, but Round Lake's boys soccer team continued its impressive roll Thursday.

The Panthers used a four-goal outburst to beat Lakes 4-0 and lock up the inaugural Northern Lake County Conference championship.

Round Lake is 11-0-3 since a season-opening loss to Dundee-Crown in the North Shore Shootout in Lake Forest. The Panthers (11-1-3) are 6-0 in the NLCC and will look to cap an undefeated run through the conference when they host Grant next Tuesday. Round Lake won the last two titles in the North Suburban Conference Prairie Division.

"We're still taking things one game at a time," Panthers coach Hugo Tellez said. "We're a different team this year. We're more balanced. We're a team of two halves. We find ourselves in the second half and understand what we need to do. We're finishing at a higher rate."

Round Lake will get a big test on the road Friday night when it takes on state-power Morton.

Against Lakes (7-7, 4-2), Vladimir Manriquez broke the scoreless tie in the 42nd minute after taking a pass from Christofer Gomez. Manriquez hit a shot that caromed off the far post into the back of the net.

"I just saw the ball coming and thought I would hit it," Manriquez said. "I saw the goalie shaded to the left side and hit it. I hit with the outside of my foot so it would curl to the opposite side.

"I was pretty lucky that the post was there," he added, smiling.

The Panthers scored again in the 58th minute, when Alejandro Sotelo scored his 23rd goal of the season off an assist from Manriquez.

Erik Alvarez found the back of the net off Sotelo's assist in the 64th minute to make it 3-0, and Alejandro Galindo netted a goal off an assist from Ricardo Orozco.

"The first half we did well and got a few good counters," Lakes coach Kevin Kullby said. "(Round Lake) is a very good team. Each and every one of their players is suited for the game of soccer. I thought we defended well, and it was disappointing to give up that many goals. We're pretty much a good defensive club. Give (Round Lake) the credit. Hats off to them."