In overtime, Lake Zurich's at a loss for state title

Lake Zurich's boys soccer team sought history Saturday night.

The Bears came close to achieving it, losing to Lyons 2-1 in overtime in the Class 3A state championship match at North Central College in Naperville.

"We had chances to put the ball away," Lake Zurich coach Mike Schmitz said. "Our guys may not be happy today, but some day they'll realize it was a pretty nice season and with a lot of nice accomplishments."

Lyons converted the game-winning goal on a corner kick. Billy McGuinness directed the ball into the net off his chest in the 84th minute.

Lake Zurich (21-5), which has never won a state title, joined Libertyville (1986) and Warren (2006) as other Lake County teams to finish second in the state.

"Lake Zurich was a great team and a handful," Lyons coach Paul Labbato said. "They're as good as anyone in the state."

After the game, captains Nick Janus and Tim Kreutz brought the second-place trophy over to their Lake Zurich teammates.

"It's been a roller-coaster ride. We've had ups and downs the entire season," Janus said. "We came out here and gave it our all. It could have gone either way.

"We wanted it so bad for Lake Zurich. We're proud making it this far."

The Bears lost to Lyons 1-0 in penalty kicks in the quarterfinals of the Pepsi Showdown earlier this season. They expected another tight match and got it.

Kreutz, a four-year varsity player, was thrilled just for the opportunity to play in a state championship game.

"Our expectations were to make it here," he said. "Being here as a senior is a dream come true. Everybody wants to get here. I'll keep my head up high. We had a great team and have a lot of memories. You can't ask much more from these guys."

Lyons notched the winner four minutes into OT. McGuiness scored his fourth goal off Zach Pearsall's corner kick.

"Great ball, driven in low," McGuiness said. "It's always a dangerous ball. I did my best getting free. I just got behind the ball, got something behind it and knocked it in the goal."

Lyons scored first in the 52nd minute, when Horacio Sanchez made a move around a defender and powered a 30-yard strike into the far corner of the net.

The Bears pulled even in the 60th minute. Eric Pothast flicked a header that hit under the cross bar and into the goal off a Kreutz throw-in.

"That was a dream," Pothast said. "It was awesome tying the game and it gave us some energy and momentum. It was huge coming back. Tim has a beast of a throw. He puts the ball in the box every time."

Lyons finished 26-3.

"The first 15 minutes was a learning experience. We were trying to figure out what Lake Zurich was doing," Labbato said. "Our defense figured it out and limited Lake Zurich's chances."