Lakes works a little OT to knock off Wauconda

Finding motivation has become easier than expected for Lakes’ girls soccer team thanks to text messages.

First, it was a regional championship for the Eagles — and now a couple of overtime victories.

Lakes got past Wauconda 2-1 in overtime Friday night on a goal by Sarina Umlauf to win the Class 2A sectional championship on its home field.

Lakes captain Ashley Neubeck sent an important text message to her teammates Friday morning.

“I sent out a text (reading) ‘keep your heads up, play your hardest and play as a team,’ ” Neubeck said. “It’s a (reminder) for us to keep our heads up. I kind of learned it from our captains last year, to keep things positive.”

Everything is positive lately for the Eagles, who captured their second sectional championship in three years to earn a return trip to the Elite Eight.

Lakes (11-13) will play Marian Central (18-9) in the Barrington supersectional at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Marian Central shut out Freeport 3-0 in the Burlington Central sectional final.

“I knew it was going to take great goals to win it,” Lakes coach Kevin Kullby said. “What a tremendous game, and it’s one of the best victories I’ve been a part of. We don’t give enough credit to the bench with the attitude and positiveness. They never lost faith.”

Kullby asked Sarah Dreyer, who hasn’t played the last three games, to come onto the field in the final few minutes of overtime. Dreyer made the kick of the game, setting up Umlauf’s golden goal in the 87th minute.

“We were getting very tired,” Kullby said. “I knew (Dreyer) had that kind of kick to put the ball nicely in the box. To her credit, she got the kick to a perfect spot near the far post.”

That’s right where Umlauf finished a shot to the back of the net.

“I was running when the ball was kicked,” said Umlauf, a sophomore who had 2 goals against Antioch. “Honestly, I really didn’t think I would score it. I got a foot on it and was excited to see it go in.”

Neubeck recorded her 11th goal, scoring the first goal for the Eagles, in the 15th minute off a service from Rebecca Hill.

But Wauconda (15-4-3) tied the game at 1-1 in the 27th minute. Melanie Prudhomme scored her 24th goal off an assist from Ahissa Bustos.

“Our girls played well,” said Wauconda coach Terry Stevig, whose team had a great season, winning a regional and earning a share of the North Suburban Prairie title. “I thought we had as many chances to score as (Lakes) did.”