Lancers have sights set on Midwest District title

This time, there was no collapse.

When the College of Lake County women's soccer team played Elgin on Sept. 17, the Lancers led 2-0 in the second half -- only to watch Elgin score 3 unanswered goals. Elgin also took the first meeting between the teams 4-2.

On the road Saturday at Elgin, the Lancers won the match that really mattered.

CLC broke open a scoreless tie with 3 second-half goals for a 3-0 victory in the state championship match.

For the second consecutive season, the Lancers will play Schoolcraft College for the Midwest District title. The match is 11 a.m. Saturday in Livonia, Mich.

"We played our game for 90 minutes instead of just 45," was how CLC coach Dawn Vickers explained the victory.

Elgin had a significant wind at its back in the first half but was unable to break through. That's why the 0-0 tie after 45 minutes almost felt like a victory.

"We chose to put the pressure on ourselves in the first half," said Lancers freshman Ally Yarc. "We didn't have to deal with the wind in the second half. We could play our own game."

Yarc (Libertyville), freshman Ingrid Johnson (Lakes) and sophomore Melanie Rasor (Mundelein) all notched goals for the Lancers.

"Their goalkeeper had the toughest time punting (against) the wind," Vickers said. "We kept the ball on the ground and that was a huge factor."

CLC will have to play its best match of the season and then some to defeat Schoolcraft (15-1), ranked No. 3 in the latest NJCAA Division I poll.

When the two teams played Sept 1, Schoolcraft whipped the Lancers 9-1. Since that loss, CLC has won 14 of its last 15 matches.

"Upsets are always possible in the playoffs," Vickers said. "We're capable of playing with anybody."

Yarc said the first Schoolcraft match feels as if it took place more than a year ago.

"We were missing some girls and we hadn't played together much," she said. "We're a totally different team."