St. Viator lives it up against Lakes

Jackie Tumberger is one of many St. Viator girls soccer players who realize the Lions are for real in the Class 2A postseason tournament.

They sure showed it Friday, coming alive to score 4 of their 5 goals in the second half on Friday night.

"We have found so much life, it's unbelievable," Tumberger said. "This team has worked so much for it. For my senior year I can't ask for a better journey or a better ride."

St. Viator handed host Lakes a 5-0 shutout as the Lions captured the Lakes sectional title in Lake Villa.

St. Viator (19-8-1) next meets Sycamore in the Barrington supersectional at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Sycamore outlasted Freeport in the Hampshire sectional final Friday.

The Lions let their midfield play dictate play, especially in the second half, with Erin Renee Murphy, Ariana Kulinczenko and Kate Gavin. Meanwhile, Lions defenders Tumberger, Meghan McGrath and Kathleen Kane were causing problems for Lakes (21-7).

"It all starts from the back and goes through the middle," Tumberger said. "It's all about winning the headballs and the 50/50(s). It breaks down the entire game. If we can do that, then we can break down the entire game."

St. Viator got a key goal in the 24th minute. Meghan Malone set it up with a pass back from the left wing, and Samantha Gavin, left unmarked up top, sent a 30-yard shot into the upper corner.

"I had my team behind me and I knew I had to kick it," Gavin said. "I closed my eyes and it just went in. I just lasered (the shot). I didn't see anybody, but the goal and me. It was a good time to shoot."

The Lions maintained the 1-goal advantage at the break, but had to regroup a bit in the second half.

"We struggled in the first half and came out a bit flat," St. Viator coach Mike Taylor said. "We're lucky we didn't give up a couple of goals. I thought we were playing not to lose instead of playing the game to win it.

"At halftime, we talked about connecting more with the feet. We came back and had a good effort, putting four balls in the back of the net."

Taylor Skala made it a 2-0 game in the 51st minute. Skala hit a close range shot which was partially blocked by Lakes keeper Sarah Fitzpatrick, but Skala got the rebound and scored.

Then, the Lions added 2 goals in two minutes. Andree DiVito scored on a through ball that went off a Lakes defender in the 58th minute, and Skala quickly got another goal with an assist from Katelyn Hammarlund.

Gavin scored her second goal in the 73rd minute as Hammarlund assisted again.

"Lakes was a good team and gave us a great battle," Taylor said. "The score didn't reflect how the game turned out. We caught the breaks and (Lakes) didn't get the breaks they needed. We were able to capitalize on our shots."

The Eagles had their chances to score in the opening 10 minutes of play; Alex Neal had a couple of shots that missed the frame and went over the crossbar.

"I thought I might have pulled up too soon," said Neal, who finished her senior year with 37 goals. "Any one of those shots could've changed the game."

Lakes had one of its best seasons, coming one game short of what they accomplished last year with a trip to the Elite Eight.

"It was a great group, a special class that handled things with integrity," Lakes coach Kevin Kullby said. "Good teams make their situations happen.

"There's a big psychological advantage when you get a couple of goals ahead and you know the next goals are coming. That's soccer, and maybe another day we play better. We did play tremendous soccer all season."