Grayslake North, Lakes and Stevenson advance

Goals by Sintayehu Meyer and Jake Hensley allowed host Grayslake North’s boys soccer team to upset regional top-seed Prairie Ridge 2-1 in the teams’ Class 2A regional final Saturday.

“Our boys gave a great effort, responding very well after giving up an early goal and going behind early on,” Knights coach Adam DeCaluwe said.

Sophomore keeper Dean Jones made 6 saves and got help from senior defender Colin Griever, who cleared a ball off the line, as Grayslake North (10-14) earned a berth in Wednesday’s 4 p.m. sectional semifinal against Harvard at Grayslake Central.

Prairie Ridge scored six minutes into the match, but Grayslake North answered soon afterward. The Wolves tried to clear a corner kick, but Meyer collected the ball and hit what DeCaluwe called a “beautiful shot driven low and hard” past the keeper.

“The boys showed a lot of character and responded quickly,” DeCaluwe said.

Before the half ended, the Knights netted the go-ahead goal when sophomore Gavin Amburn set up Hensley, who headed the ball into an empty net.

“(Play) the remainder of the game was good from both teams,” DeCaluwe said. “While we looked liked the better team throughout the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half, Prairie Ridge definitely put us under a lot of pressure throughout the final 20 minutes of the second half.”

Lakes 3, Johnsburg 0: Brian Werchek scored twice, and Kevin Ray made 10 saves in earning the clean sheet, as the Eagles won a Class 2A regional final on their home field.

Ramon Marin also scored for Lakes (15-4-4), which earned a berth in the Grayslake Central sectional. Nick Powell, Caleb Arnwine and Lucas Istvanek had assists.

Stevenson 1, Waukegan 0: The Patriots won their own Class 3A regional, as keeper Quentin Low recorded his 14th shutout.

Stevenson (16-3-1) will next play Fremd at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a sectional semifinal at Conant.