Big birthday for Smyth

It was an 18th birthday to remember for Kyle Smyth on Thursday night.

Smyth earned an unexpected gift by getting his first-ever goal and giving Grayslake North a victory.

The Knights got past Johnsburg 2-1 in a Fox Valley Conference Fox Division game in Grayslake.

"It was an amazing feeling to score the game-winning goal," Smyth said. "Definitely, it was a great experience and I wasn't expecting it."

Smyth, a senior, came off the bench and scored the decisive goal in the 64th minute to break a 1-1 tie. James Gianneschi set up the goal by picking up the assist.

"I ran to the ball and it bounced off my chest," Smyth said. "I shot it and it went in."

The Knights (11-5) stayed in a tie with Prairie Ridge for the Fox division lead at 5-2 with 3 games remaining. The Wolves beat Crystal Lake Central 5-1 on Thursday.

Grayslake North travels to Prairie Ridge on Tuesday. Johnsburg is now 7-8 overall and 4-3 in the division.

"Johnsburg plays well," Grayslake North coach Adam DeCaluwe said. "When things don't go right, we've got to find our way. We worked things around and played the right way. When you work as a team you get good results."

The Skyhawks took a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute when Michael Dombrowski scored.

Just a couple of minutes later, the Knights' Julio Zamora scored his eighth goal off a cross from Patrick O'Gorman.

Grayslake North keeper Nolan Peek made 7 saves, including a point-blank stop in the final 20 seconds to preserve the victory.

"It comes down to the team who has a little bit of luck getting the result," Johnsburg coach Rob Eastland said. "It was a good exhibition."