Lakes victimized by hot goalie

Hands down, Marian Central Catholic deserved a sectional championship Saturday.

Behind the outstanding efforts of goalkeeper Nolan Picchietti, the Hurricanes outlasted Lakes 2-1 in the Class 2A Grayslake boys soccer sectional final - which required 7 rounds of shootout kicks to decide the winner.

Picchietti was credited with 20 saves, including 3 unbelievable knockdown stops during the shootout, in which the Hurricanes prevailed 5-4.

Marian Central (17-4-4) advanced to the Loyola supersectional Tuesday at 5 p.m.

"It's surreal. I've never experienced this ever in soccer," Picchietti said. "It was the heat of the moment. My adrenaline was pumping full-blast. I don't think I've had an adrenaline rush like that in all my life.

"The ball hit my hand and I got a little bit lucky on the kick. It's pretty much a 50-50 shot. If I miss it, I miss it. If I save it, I save it. The kick is for the shooter to make and the goalie to lose. Making 3 saves was excellent for myself."

Lakes (16-7-1) had chances to put goals on the board, but each time the Eagles were turned away.

"We had every chance to win the game," said Lakes coach Kevin Kullby. "Their goalie just came up huge. You've got to give them credit, they're good. I believe we're a good team and we were very evenly matched. Nobody was going to budge.

"At times you have to be better than lucky and good. But you can't at times like these."

The Eagles thought they had won the game in the fourth overtime during the 114th-minute. During a flurry in front of the goal, a shot went off the crossbar and Tom O'Brien put the ball into the back of the net. But the played was ruled offsides.

Lakes took the lead in the final minute of the first half. Josh Oppenheim took a touch from William Lebavitz which came off a Steven Korosis corner kick.

"Will (Lebavitz) had a nice touch on it, he left it out there and I put it in with my left foot," Oppenheim said. "I thought we did well, but you can't win them all."

Marian Central tied the game in the 48th minute on Tyler Lundquist's penalty kick, awarded after a trip in the penalty area.

"In the first half, Lakes dominated the game," said Marian Central coach Michael Golda. "Lakes had us on the ropes and they got the goal late in the half.

"We told the kids (at halftime), you've got to battle back. Second half, we came out with a ton of energy. We got the look in the box, got fouled and converted the kick. It seesawed back and forth. Our keeper stepped up big time."