Night to remember for Knights, Rosas

It was a memorable night for Freddy Rosas and the Grayslake North boys soccer team.

Rosas posted his first career hat trick and the Knights clinched a share of their first Fox Valley Conference Fox Division championship.

Grayslake North downed District 127 rival and host Grayslake Central 4-1 on Thursday.

The Knights (13-5) have a 7-2 FVC Fox mark with one game remaining. They host Crystal Lake Central next Tuesday. Grayslake North also has a one-game advantage over Prairie Ridge (6-3), which plays Grayslake Central next Tuesday. The Wolves stayed a game back with a 3-1 victory over Huntley on Thursday.

"There are no celebrations until we win it all," Grayslake North coach Adam DeCaluwe said. "We really don't want to share it. We'd rather win it outright.

"I think the kids got up for it (against Grayslake Central) and put everything on the line. We wanted to match their intensity and we did a good job of it."

Rosas entered the game with just 1 goal, which he netted in the Knights' season-opening tournament against St. Charles East at Grant.

"We came out hard in the beginning," Rosas said. "Coach (DeCaluwe) always says to shoot, shoot, shoot. I've never really shot during the season and I finally took some shots. I'm usually the one to give out assists."

Rosas scored twice in a 44-second span starting in the 10th minute. He first finished a cross by Julio Zamora and then converted off an assist from Jorge Gomez.

"You just give a lot of heart and give it your all," Rosas said.

Rosas added another goal in the 61st minute, dribbling past a couple of defenders before firing in a shot.

Jimmy Ramirez scored the Knights' final goal off a James Gianneschi assist.

Asa Goldsmith scored the lone goal for Grayslake Central (3-17, 2-7).

"It was a good game until (Grayslake North) got the first goal," Grayslake Central coach Mike McCaulou said. "We struggled early getting organized in the back."