Wauconda will play for crown

Wauconda's boys soccer team needed a burst of 2 goals with less than two minutes between them early in the second half to break away from a 1-1 tie with Crystal Lake Central (5-9) at halftime of their Lakes regional semifinal contest on Tuesday.

The No. 2-seeded Bulldogs maintained their lead for the remainder of game, something that had been a problem for the team in earlier games.

“We've been playing a number of games this year from behind, Wauconda coach Terry Stevig said. “It was nice to get out in front.

“We've got a core of older guys. I think there's an intensity within them, knowing it could be over quickly. Luckily for us, we were ready to play.

Wauconda's Eric Morales scored the go-ahead goal in the 45th minute into an open net after a rebound. It came right after Christian Avitia had a shot on goal that was pushed a side by Crystal Lake Central keeper Vidal Garcia (8 saves).

“The keeper was well off to the side, said Morales, who got his first goal of the season. “I saw the net was open and hit it to the corner. I had some fear of missing it, I guess it was kind of some luck to get it.'

Less than two minutes later, Rogellio Gonzalez scored with an assist from Luis Rodarte to put Wauconda ahead 3-1.

“You can't give up goals like that, Crystal Lake Central coach Jay Schwarzrock said. “We just didn't do a good job of clearing the ball. We were a step behind them and didn't match (Wauconda's) energy. I don't think they outmatched us. But we needed to win the ball in the middle (early in the second half). We ended up on the defensive end of it.

Wauconda got its other goals from Rodarte and Valentin Ramirez.

The Tigers got goals from Andy Hernandez, assisted by Garrett Davis in the first half, and from Cam Cooper in the second half.