Girls soccer: Lakes completes NLCC three-peat

Lakes Community put the finishing touches on another perfect season in league play following its 3-0 victory over host Grayslake Central Thursday night at William Eiserman Stadium.

Michaela Hopkins doubled, and another from Ella Sager helped Kevin Kullby’s club lift the NLCC championship trophy for the third consecutive year with its 7-0-0 record.

“The improvement from all of the players, plus the depth we have has been a big reason for our success thus far,” said a proud Kullby, whose Eagles (12-2-0) were 21-1-0 during the last three seasons.

“This team is real close, we have a real strong bond together, and that has helped us play as well as we have in all parts of our game,” said Sager.

Hopkins, through her sister CiCi and Caroline Klimas, netted the opener in the 18th minute.

Sager doubled the advantage just after the intermission, and later, Michaela Hopkins added her second with a sublime touch after collecting a terrific helper from Raina Schmitt.

The shutout was the 10th of the year for the Eagles, who recently were anointed the No. 1 seed in their sectional.

Next up for the Eagles is a regular season finale next week in Arlington Heights against St. Viator, who are the No. 4 seed in the same sectional.

Central, which finished its regular season at 8-9-0, and 4-3-0 in the NLCC, will meet crosstown rival Grayslake North, the No. 7 seed, in their regional opener at North on Tuesday, May 20.

“Lakes is a very good team, who had most of the play tonight, but we’ll have to put this game behind us, and get ready for Grayslake North,” said Central’s outstanding center back Peyton Hoffman.