Szczepanek lifts Warren past Lake Zurich

Daniel Szczepanek has scored many goals for Warren's soccer team this season.

But none of them are bigger than the game-winning goal he produced in the final 31 seconds Wednesday night in Barrington as Warren eliminated Lake Zurich 1-0 in a Class 3A sectional semifinal.

Warren (20-3-3) will get its next shot at reigning state champion Rockford Boylan at 6 p.m. Friday at Barrington. Boylan (26-0) bounced Jacobs 5-0.

Szczepanek scored the game-winner on a header on a feed from Patrick Schultz.

“As long as we got one at the end, that's all that matters,” said Szczepanek, who has 19 goals and 20 assists this season. “I've scored a lot of goals, but that was the most important goal this season. Luckily, I was there to put it in.”

The play was slow to develop but the Blue Devils' finishing touch made it work in their favor.

“I saw Patrick playing the ball and I hoped he would've played it earlier,” Szczepanek said. “So I set back and recycled and hoped I would get the ball. Then he played me the most perfect ball I could ever get.”

Schultz, normally the Blue Devils' sweeper, made a run in the final minute and wanted to make something out of it in order to prevent an overtime session. Schultz ended up with his second assist.

“Tony (Severini) hit the ball down the line for me,” Schultz said. “I was surprised the keeper (Jeff Kreutz) didn't come out for me. I had some time to take a touch on it. I saw Danny at the back post and hit him (with the cross). It all felt like slow motion with the time going down.”

Warren and Lake Zurich had met previously this season. The Blue Devils won the first meeting 3-1 in the Barrington tournament, but the Bears were without their keeper in that contest. In their other regular-season meeting, the game ended with a 2-2 tie.

“We knew a goal can happen at any time with time left on the clock,” Warren coach Jason Ahonen said. “We were able to find the back of the net.

“It was a conference opponent, and that was huge. We play in one of the toughest conferences north of Chicago, if not in the state. Lake Zurich is a quality squad and we're a quality squad. It came down to who was going to finish their chance. Big players step up in big games.”

Warren goalkeeper Brady Walsh recorded his 12th shutout and made 3 saves.

Kreutz had a great effort with 11 saves and helped keep the Bears in the match.

“I thought we played well and for the last 15 minutes, we had a lot of chances,” Lake Zurich coach Mike Schmitz said. “We didn't put a shot away. Unfortunately, one breakdown cost us the game. Our guys played their hearts out.

“This group was a fun group of guys who enjoy playing the game. It's a shame because everyone feels like your season ends a little early, and we're no different. Maybe we let this one slip through our fingers a little bit. Warren is a good team, too.”