Boys soccer: Marynevych nets hat trick as Grayslake Central rallies for win

As they substituted in during Thursday night's soccer match, Grayslake Central's Damian Makowski and Grayslake North's Alex Pacholec gave each other handshake and shared pats on the back.

It spoke to the friendly rivalry between the District 127 rivals.

In the end, freshman Daniel Marynevych netted a hat trick to lead host Grayslake Central to a 3-2 win in the Northern Lake County Conference opener.

"Against our rival, it's a different type of play. I've never had this feeling in my life," Marynevych said. "It was a crazy game, great all around and North did great. But I believe we were the better team and we deserved that win. My teammates helped me out with crosses and rebounds."

The Knights held a 2-1 lead into the second half. But Marynevych tied the match at in the 51st minute on a rebound. He then headed in the game-winning goal in the 72nd minute off a cross from Makowski.

Marynevych's 3 goals gave him seven on the season and hiked the Rams' record to 3-5.

"This win is big. It's the first step in conference," Grayslake Central coach Tom Hamilton said. "North pushes us every time we play them. They work hard and you have to give them credit for that."

Grayslake Central knew it had to up its work ethic in order to overtake Grayslake North.

"Second half, we knew we had to settle down and play our style," Hamilton said. "We knew off the ball we had to outwork them."

GC took the lead in the 13th minute, when Marynevych tapped the ball in off a Thomas Ramsey corner kick.

The Knights (1-5-1, 0-1) responded in the 30th minute. Omar Cordova put the ball into the back of the net off a setup from Connor Smith. Logan Holevas' free kick started the play.

Cordova assisted on the second goal, which came from Sam Inmon in the 48th minute and put Grayslake North ahead 2-1.

"It's always going to be a test and it doesn't matter what the records are coming in," Grayslake North coach Adam DeCaluwe said of the rivalry. "Both of us, if you look at our schedules, we played tough teams to begin with. We wanted to test ourselves. We're not getting what we're hoping for, and we're struggling a little bit. We have to find the belief on both ends."