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Lake Park draws with Riverside-Brookfield

Senior Jacey Kent was the leading scorer for the Lake Park girls soccer team last season.

Even though the fourth-year varsity player started at center defender for Tuesday's season opener, she still provided plenty of offensive punch.

Kent's goal with just 1:38 left on her rocket free kick from 25 yards out created a 1-1 nonconference tie with Riverside-Brookfield in Roselle.

"Doing that for my team, I felt honored," said Kent, who will continue playing at Carthage College. "We played throughout the game with a lot of heart. It meant a lot because I knew that the girls wanted it the entire game."

The Lancers return just three seniors from their 10-8-3 team of 2015, and only Kent and midfielder Jazmine Davis started. They also had three players sidelined Tuesday, resulting in Kent playing defense for first-year coach Anthony Passi, an assistant coach in the program the past 15 seasons.

"Jacey's got a dangerous left foot," Passi said. "Jacey's a solid player. Our goal is to get her in that defensive midfield or attacking midfield (position) so we can generate more offense."

The Lancers were outshot 12-8 overall and 7-4 in shots on goal. Kent also had the Lancers' only other shot of the second half, a strong 35-yard free kick in the 60th minute that Riverside-Brookfield goalie Emily Graham caught with her arms raised.

Lake Park gained some momentum with less than 13 minutes left behind a flurry of two corner kicks and a dangerous cross. Sophomore Brianna McAloon created the free-kick foul by hustling for a loose ball.

"When I looked at their wall, they were jumping and I knew that if I could get it either underneath them and on the inside of them, that would be good, or if I hit it hard enough, the goalie's not going to be able to stop it," Kent said.

The diving Graham could not stop the blast. Riverside-Brookfield coach Danny Makaric was disappointed the opportunity was even created.

"I really was not pleased with what the ref called because it was 50-50 on the ball," Makaric said. "But hey, it happened. It's too bad we didn't win. We played a decent game."

Riverside-Brookfield returns five starters from last year's 13-7-1 Class 2A team that won the second regional title in school history by beating Glenbard South in overtime.

Sophomore Allie Kucera, who had 27 goals in 2015, scored with 28:41 left in the first half off a centering pass by Esther Annoreno - but after Lake Park junior goalie Katherine Vitale stopped Kucera's penalty kick just 5:41 into the game.

"We didn't generate a lot of offense," Passi said. "I think the big thing is we never stopped. We just never gave up. I think they're happy walking off the field with a 1-1 tie."

Kent should help the young team grow offensively. Besides her free kicks, she took all six corner kicks and also has a dangerous throw-in.

"The girls look to me as someone that can get the play going," Kent said.

The next question is if the Lancers can keep things going Wednesday night in their DuPage Valley Conference opener at powerful Naperville North.

"This is only our starting level and we can only grow from here," Kent said. "We just have to get ready, use our momentum from today to push to get another win, tie."

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