Boys soccer: Lake Park slips past Streamwood to return to state
The last installment of a five-match, 14-day thrill ride ended Tuesday night for Lake Park in glorious fashion when the Lancers lifted the championship trophy at the Class 3A Conant supersectional in Hoffman Estates.
With their 1-0 victory over Streamwood, the Lancers (21-3-3) advanced to the state semifinals at 5 p.m. Friday where they will meet top-rated and two-time defending state champion Naperville North at Hoffman Estates.
"I know I was a little nervous before earlier in the day (with) so much at stake, and knowing this could be our/my last game of my high school career," said Matteo Costa, whose goal in the 57th minute settled the contest against 10-man Streamwood (18-5-3).
The Sabres valiantly played a man down for the last 44 minutes before having their hopes dashed for good.
"It was tough going a man down on a call that we didn't agree with, (but) the guys left it all out on the field tonight, and that's something I was very proud of, and in a couple of days, they will feel the same way as well," said Sabres coach Matt Polovin, who was looking to bring his club to the state tournament for the first time since 2014.
It took all of six minutes before the match was delayed by storms that quickly moved through the area - causing both clubs and a big crowd to run for cover to await the all clear.
Nearly one hour later play resumed with both sides back to testing the other to see who could pry open their opponent in its own end.
"That first half was like a chess match (we) were making adjustments to their quick switches and use of width, while we played a little more direct (trying) to figure a way to beat their back line," Franco Presta said.
The Lancers seemed content to let the Sabres enjoy most of the possession during the opening period, keeping a wary eye on senior Alex Chavez as well as Bryan Mora.
Lancers goalkeeper Christian Lekki, who earned his 12th shutout of the season, came to the rescue for the Lancers when he turned away a point-blank effort from Jesus Limon in the 30th minute to keep the game scoreless.
The Sabres' red card came just before halftime on a foul against the Lancers' Jesus Juarez.
"That was a tough call, and one that I'm sure I would have contested as well, (but) we did a good job of getting Jesus free in their end which led to the foul," said Lancers coach Sean Crosby.
The steady rain greeted both sides at the start of a second half that saw Lake Park take advantage of their short-handed opponents with a high work rate and strong ball winning in the middle of the park.
"We knew if we continued to keep the pressure on to force them to defend more than they wanted to (that) a goal would soon come our way," Costa said.
It soon did indeed.
Presta was sent through with a marvelous ball from Gabriel Mendrano before having his initial effort turned away fearlessly by Sabres goalkeeper Hector Alfaro.
Presta stayed composed when he collected the rebound off Alfaro, and quickly played to his teammate Costa, who buried his close-range attempt past a diving Alfaro.
"I just trusted Franco would get me the ball," Costa said of his 12th goal of the season.
The Lancers will be making their second trip to the state tournament after bringing home a fourth-place trophy in 2013.