Lakes ousts Hampshire
Jonathan Stanley enjoys a pregame snack of peanut butter and jelly and apples before he gets going on the soccer field.
His special nosh is working to perfection, as Stanley scored 2 goals to help lift Lakes to a 4-0 triumph over Hampshire in the Class 2A Lakes sectional semifinal Thursday night in Lake Villa.
Stanley, the team scoring leader with 17 goals this season, has recently been carrying Lakes (10-9-5) netting 6 goals in three postseason games.
Stanley opened the scoring in the 19th minute on a rebound off an initial shot from Bojan Zgonjanin.
Stanley added another in the 47th minute with a header off a Scott Brugioni corner kick for a 2-0 lead.
“It was very difficult to head the ball because the winds were very strong,” Stanley said. “The ball was moving up in the air. I just got up high and finished it.”
The Eagles added 2 insurance goals. Brian Werchek one-timed a kick near the back post from a Zgonjanin service in the 51st minute, and Nathan McMahon scored the other in the 62nd minute.
Hampshire (16-7-1) had some scoring chances, especially in the first half.
But the Lakes defense of McMahon, Joey Istvanek, Matt Beadle and keeper William Hill (7 saves) combined to earn the shutout.
“It was heartbreak and disappointment,” said Hampshire coach John Gosling. “We knew coming in that we could play with them. We did that in the first half, but couldn't find the back of the net. Second half, we fell apart a little bit.
“We got this far, our second regional in a couple years and it was our best season. It's something to build on.”
Lakes will host Fenton (15-7-3) in the Class 2A sectional championship Saturday at 11 a.m.. Fenton downed Johnsburg 3-1 in the other semifinal Thursday.
“We're playing like we want to play at this time of year,” said Lakes coach Kevin Kullby “Perhaps we're a little more resilient depending what you're up against. Maybe it has to do with the tough schedule, but if you lose it doesn't matter. You can look at it at any angle you want. Right now we're playing some good soccer.”