Lake Zurich goes directly to title match

Lake Zurich's boys soccer team was having trouble scoring Friday night.

So Nick Janus used a direct approach.

The Wisconsin recruit blasted a direct free kick into the back of the net and Lake Zurich added another goal to give the Bears a 2-0 win over Edwardsville in the Class 3A state semifinals at North Central College in Naperville.

Janus' 23rd goal of the season snapped a scoreless tie in the 48th minute and helped propel Lake Zurich (21-4) into today's 7 p.m. state championship match against Lyons (25-3), which also won by a 2-0 count, over New Trier.

Edwardsville finished 18-4-4.

"I give a lot of credit to Edwardsville. They were big and physical," Lake Zurich coach Mike Schmitz said. "Edwardsville pushed us to the limit. Our boys might have been a little frustrated. But the important thing was that we were getting chances. We just had to keep playing and, eventually, one would go in. In the second half, we came out quicker and more determined."

Janus said he and teammate Joe Corral practice free kicks every day in practice.

"I just gave it a shot and it had some wind behind it," Janus said. "I usually go far post, but this time I wanted to go near and it worked out. We usually get a lot of goals off set pieces, like headers. It was our first (goal off a) free kick all year. I've hit three cross bars before so it was nice to get one."

Edwardsville thought it tied the game in the 56th minute when Adam Flaugher put the ball into the net off a teammate's corner kick, but Flaugher was ruled offside.

Tim Kreutz scored an insurance goal for Lake Zurich in the 75th minute. He netted his 20th of the season after taking a pass from Colin Rathe and slotting a shot inside the near post.

"It might have been an important one because Edwardsville was putting pressure on us," Kreutz said. "I saw the whole back post open and I kind of aimed for the back post. It just kind of went in at the front post. You hit it hard and hope it goes in."

Bears keeper Tyler Raineri made 1 save in earning another shutout.

"We played an opponent that was unbelievable," Edwardsville coach Mark Heiderscheid said. "Lake Zurich was incredible in the air. Their size and strength level to the center spots was enormous."

Lake Zurich and Lyons met earlier this season in the quarterfinals of the Pepsi Showdown, with Lyons winning 1-0 in penalty kicks.