Tellez tallies twice for RL

It's Panther Pride, soccer-style.

Round Lake's boys soccer team is off to one of the best starts in its history.

The Panthers picked up their fifth win in seven games with a 3-0 shutout over host Antioch on Thursday night in a North Suburban Prairie Division match.

David Tellez scored a pair of goals for Round Lake (5-1-1, 3-0) and Cesar Garcia had the other. Gilberto Alfaro, Jose Martinez and Alex Murua had assists.

"I want people to realize we've got a pretty good program," Round Lake coach Mike Hruska said. "I'd like them to say Round Lake is solid every year."

Round Lake started turning around its program last year, going 10-6-2 to post its best mark in almost 15 years. The Panthers' hard work has put them in a great position to do even better this season.

"We had a camp this summer where the kids worked their tails off," Hruska said. "They've played together so much now. They know each other's moves and know how to move the ball. We really have 10 guys who can work the ball on the attack. It's a complete team effort."

Tellez put the Panthers ahead 1-0 in the 14th minute, scoring on a header off an Alfaro cross.

"I was going to use my feet, but I decided to use my head," said Tellez, who has 4 goals and also doubles as a kicker for the football team. "I'm a taller guy and decided to go that way."

Tellez added his second goal to make it 2-0 in the 37th minute by scoring off a pass from Martinez.

Round Lake scored an insurance tally in the 59th minute, when Garcia netted his fifth goal off a Murua assist.

Jose Landa earned the shutout for the Panthers, making 5 saves.

Antioch (4-2-2, 1-1) is off to a good start under first-year coach Marni Polakow.

"We played fantastic," said Polakow. "My defense played outstanding and it was the best game my sweeper Robert Nogle has played.

"I thought we took it to them in the second half. We might have come out and played scared. We just have to play our type of soccer."