Lancers' comeback stuns Warriors

In need of a spark, not to mention a goal or two, Lake Park just so happened to have exactly the right people to get the job done.

Trailing 2-1 at Waubonsie Valley late in a key Upstate Eight Conference match Tuesday, the Lancers were awarded a free kick with about 6½ minutes left to play. That's when Chris Gajda unleashed a rocket that just dipped under the crossbar to tie the boys soccer contest.

Less than a minute later, the host Warriors (2-6-2, 1-3-1) were whistled for a push in the box, and Lake Park was awarded a penalty kick. Up stepped senior defender Kevin Hughes, who was a perfect 4-for-4 on PKs this season. When Hughes beat Warriors keeper Kit Carson with a low rocket to the right side of the net, it was 3-2 Lake Park, and the Lancers (7-1-3, 1-1-1) were on their way to a big comeback victory.

"I don't even think about anything," Hughes said. "I just pick a corner and put it in."

While Hughes' fifth consecutive PK conversion may have been the game-winner, he was equally impressed with his teammate's equalizer.

"It was nasty," he said of Gajda's score.

For Gajda, who also assisted on Lake Park's first-half goal by Edwin Castro, it was a case of practice paying off.

"We practice free kicks all of the time," he said. "It's something we're always working on. On that one I just dipped it under the crossbar."

The late scores left a young Waubonsie squad frustrated. Not only had Waubonsie Valley held its 2-1 lead ever since Ryan Dotson scored the second of his two goals with 13:36 left in the first half, but the hosts had some close-range golden opportunities to pad the lead in the first half that came up empty.

"We had opportunities to extend the lead but we were not able to do it," Waubonsie Valley coach Angelo DiBernardo said. "(The Lancers) may have turned the level of intensity up a little bit in the second half. However, we gave it away."

Dotson, a freshman, opened the night's scoring with an unassisted goal midway through the first half. Castro's goal brought the Lancers even with 14:50 left in the half, but Dotson answered quickly for a 2-1 Warriors lead with 13:36 left in the half.

"Any time you can beat Waubonsie it's a good thing," said Lake Park coach Norm Hillner, whose program had not knocked off the Warriors since 1995. "It's nice to win out here."

-- Stan Goff

Girls golf

Naperville Central 187, WW South 191:ŒNaperville Central has experienced its fair share of growing pains this fall, but the period of baby steps may be over.

The Redhawks welcomed two-time defending DuPage Valley Conference Wheaton Warrenville South to their home digs at Naperbrook Golf Course in Plainfield.

With its top-two players, senior Katie Stephan and junior Liz Kent, leading the way with a 44 and 45, respectively, Naperville Central turned back the Tigers 187-191.

"This is a classic rebuilding year," said Naperville Central coach Jane Thompson, whose team evened its league record to 2-2 while improving to 2-5 overall.

"Experience is your best teacher, and it's been a baptism by fire."

Molly O'Connor was the medalist with a 41, but the ball-striking clinic she displayed could not save WW South, which fell to 5-3, 2-2.

In fashioning the low score for Naperville Central, Stephan used the par-5 seventh hole as her signature moment on the warm and breezy afternoon.

The senior used an aggressive second shot to find the neck of the green fraught with danger, and she converted a 7-footer for the up-and-down birdie.

"I played it exactly where I wanted to," Stephan said.

The Redhawks' No. 1 player could have been even lower, but several of her putts that had a desirable line fell short of the target.

"That was the summary of the day," Stephan said. "I had the line but not enough oomph to get it there."

Backed by the third-lowest round of the afternoon by playing companion Kent, the Redhawks took the lead on the strength of varsity newcomers Carolyn Wong, Emma Ondik, Katharine Gausmann and Jacqui Hart.

Wong, a freshman, carded a 47, and the Redhawks' collective scorecard was reached when the latter trio all come home in 51.

For WW South in general and O'Connor in particular, the dual meet was the epitome of what could have been.

O'Connor took a mere 19 strokes during the course of her round, only to have five 3-putts derail an otherwise brilliant display of driving and iron play.

The junior drove the second green -- a 283-yard, par-4 -- and reached the par-5 seventh in two shots, only to walk off both greens with pars.

"My lag putting was not very good," O'Connor said. "It was particularly frustrating to be on greens under regulation and not being able to finish with a birdie. My only struggle today was my putting."

Sarah Skurla had a 48 for WW South, and Lisa Thornquist, Lauren Davis and Amy Wood all posted 51s.

-- Kevin McGavin

Girls volleyball

Naperville North d. Glenbard North:ŒColleen Ward spiked 8 kills, Nrithya Sundararaman landed 5 and Diana Rechenmacher served 4 aces for the Huskies (15-1, 5-0), who cruised to a 25-11, 25-13 DuPage Valley Conference sweep.

Benet d. Joliet Catholic:ŒThe Redwings (14-1, 2-1) suffered their first loss of the season in a 25-19, 25-23 East Suburban Catholic Conference match. Natalie Patzin recorded 9 kills and Ariana Mankus and Jessica Jendryk added 8 apiece in the defeat.

Downers South d. Addison Trail:ŒChristine Bowe, Emily Toth and Mo Oestermeyer knocked down 6 kills apiece for the Mustangs (10-3, 3-0), who remained unbeaten in the West Suburban Gold with a 25-8, 25-17 victory. Addison Trail (6-12, 2-1) received 6 kills from Kristina Ciaglia.

Wheaton Academy d. Luther North:ŒMaggie Johnson pounded 11 kills as the Warriors (9-6, 3-0) served their way to a 25-9, 25-15 Private School League sweep.

Wheaton North d. West Aurora:ŒThe Falcons (8-7, 3-2) earned a 25-21, 25-5 DuPage Valley Conference victory powered by Amy Groesbeck's 7 kills, Liz Lee's 6 kills and Jesse Smith's 20 assists and 2 aces.

Hinsdale Central d. Glenbard West:ŒThe Red Devils (9-9, 1-2) used Mary Crofton's 9 kills and Liz Golden's 21 assists and 4 aces to win 25-13, 25-23 in the West Suburban Silver.

Glenbard South d. Yorkville:ŒDarah Preston's 10 kills, Amanda Fisch's 8 kills and 3 aces and Alicia Engelhardt's 14 assists helped lift the Raiders (8-8, 2-3) to a 30-28, 25-21 triumph in the Western Sun Conference.

Fenton d. Ridgewood:ŒThe Bison (5-10, 1-1) fought back to post a 19-25, 25-21, 25-19 Metro Suburban Conference win behind Jayme Biagi's 6 kills, 4 aces and 2 blocks, Sam Rubright's 6 kills and 3 blocks, and Lauren Stanek's 21 assists.

Timothy Christian d. Westminster Christian:ŒBethany Hoving served 11 points including 2 aces, Brittany Buikema lofted 14 assists and Kimmy Vos smacked 7 kills for the Trojans (3-8, 2-0), who kept their Private School League record perfect with a 25-12, 22-25, 25-8 victory.

Hinsdale South d. Leyden:ŒThe Hornets (9-6, 3-0) stayed unbeaten in the West Suburban Gold with a 25-13, 25-15 triumph led by Joanna Giampoli's 8 kills and 4 blocks and Liz Gbur's 22 assists.

Lisle d. Seneca:ŒThe Lions (6-7, 4-1) went the distance to pull out a 22-25, 25-23, 25-20 Interstate Eight North win fueled by Sara Urban's 9 kills and Annie Antonsen's 10 assists and 5 kills.