Second-half surge lifts Lakes into NSC title game
Trying to capture the Prairie Division championship in the North Suburban Conference, Lakes needed to come up with its best second half of soccer to get the job done.
And the Eagles needed to deliver that top-end effort against district rival Antioch.
The Eagles produced in style, scoring 4 second-half goals and soaring past Antioch 4-0 on Tuesday afternoon in Lake Villa.
"It was a great second-half performance," Lakes coach Kevin Kullby said. "The team really jelled. In the first half it was a toss-up. Antioch had some good momentum and they were dangerous on their corner kicks. They were also tough on their defense. In the second half, when we got the first goal, I think it changed and got us more focused. Every one of our goals was an excellent shot on goal. It was exciting to see a payoff."
Lakes (11-3-2) won the Prairie Division with a 5-0-1 record, finishing unbeaten for a second straight year. Antioch fell to 7-9-2 and 3-3.
The Eagles earned the title by finishing just ahead of Vernon Hills (12-7, 5-1). Lakes earned a date against Lake Forest in the NSC championship game at 6:15 p.m. Thursday.
"If (Antioch) would've tied us, it would've been tough to stomach, having beaten Vernon Hills early on and a tie with Wauconda," Kullby said. "This was a great performance by the team. It was one of the best 40 minutes of a half this year. It shows that we're the division winner."
After playing a scoreless first half, the Eagles' Nicole D'Ambrose put the first goal on the board with a header after a cross from Izzy Quaranta in the 44th minute.
"It felt right when I got it," said D'Ambrose of her 12th goal this spring. "(Quaranta) was able to place it perfectly. She did all the work and the ball was right there in front of me and I tried to hit it in."
Bella Pighini notched her 14th and 15th goals. The first came after a corner kick from Nicole Nitti in the 50th minute; the second was started by a a cross from Maya Schmitt and gave Lakes a 3-0 lead in the 68th minute..
"Sometimes I might want to take a shot, but with all the people around me I feel like someone else might have a better shot," Schmitt said. "I just look for the open player and it normally leads to a goal."
The last Eagles goal came in the 73rd minute when Briana Rosales scored off an assist from D'Ambrose.
Eagles keeper Kara Jones made 6 saves and earned her 10th shutout. She had plenty of help in the back from Alyssa Brey, Jenna Binckley, Nicole Denman and Nitti.
The Sequoits were very much in the match, especially in the first half.
"We had a great first half, but we never put two halves together," Antioch coach Marni Polakow said. "If you don't do that against a good team, then you lose. We're just looking ahead to the regionals. If you win, then you can look forward for the next day."