Kreutz sets up LZ for NSC Lake crown

Most forwards usually don't want to pass up scoring opportunities.

Then there's Tim Kreutz.

The Lake Zurich sophomore forward doesn't mind dishing the ball off if it creates a better scoring chance for a teammate.

"As a forward, I usually look to shoot, but I like to pass," Kreutz said. "I just look for the players who make the runs through the gaps. They make the runs and I play the ball."

Kreutz assisted on both Lake Zurich goals Thursday, as the Bears shut out host Stevenson 2-0 at the Vernon Hills Athletic Complex to clinch the North Suburban Conference Lake Division.

Reid Bergstrom and Eric Pothast scored for Lake Zurich (14-3-2, 6-0), which extended its winning streak to 11 games.

Stevenson (10-4-2, 4-1-1) had its seven-game unbeaten streak stopped.

Lake Zurich will meet up with the Prairie Division champion Lakes (11-7, 6-0) for the NSC championship in the Lakes football stadium at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

"It's nice to win and we did exactly what we've been talking about," Lake Zurich coach Mike Schmitz said. "It's nice to finally see them play a game where everything came together. Defense, goalkeeping, midfield, forwards -- all played to their strength. It was a team effort."

The game was scoreless at halftime.

"At the half, I told the kids just to relax," Schmitz said. "I told them if you knock it around good things are going to happen."

Bergstrom scored the first goal in the 44th minute. The sophomore Pothast added an insurance goal off a Stevenson defender's leg in the 69th minute.

Kreutz's 2 assists gave him 8 on the season.

Lake Zurich's keeper Taao Scarnato made 8 saves and picked up his ninth shutout of the season.

Stevenson senior star Colin Pekovitch started on defense, but moved up to forward and had a couple of scoring chances.

"It was a tough game," Pekovitch said. "Once I got moved up, I noticed they've got a sound defense. They moved a couple of guys back. I thought we got a little unlucky with our chances, but it was our toughest opponent in conference this year."

"I'm totally pleased with our effort," Stevenson coach Mark Schartner said. "Sometimes it's a game of luck. I thought we played hard enough to win. Lake Zurich is an amazing team."