Boys soccer: Libertyville passes Lake Zurich's tough first-round test

In starting another attempt at a boys soccer state title, Libertyville found out that even postseason openers aren't easy.

The defending Class 3A state champion Wildcats needed an overtime goal form Riley Hoff to get the victory as fourth-seeded Libertyville got past stingy No. 13 seed Lake Zurich 3-2 in the Warren regional semifinal in Gurnee on Tuesday night.

"It's crazy and the first games are always tough," Libertyville coach Andy Bitta said. "We played well at times but gave them too many restarts. That's how (Lake Zurich) can score, on throw-ins and restarts. We made them more dangerous than they should've been.

"Two goals is the worst lead, and we were dominating. All of a sudden, second half, they got more and more chances. There was not much we could do. Thank goodness we won."

After 80 regulation minutes, it was tied 2-2. The Wildcats (13-3) got the deciding goal after a nice run by Evan Rasmussen down the right side. He sent the ball ahead to Hoff, who broke free of a Lake Zurich defender and was left one-on-one with the keeper in the 89th minute.

"Rasmussen made a great ball through," said Hoff, who got his fifth goal of the season. "I just had to get to that ball. I was able to get a touch on it. We've been working on those combos all the time - we know each other and knew where each other would go. It was a good connection."

Libertyville got two goals in the first half. Ryan Wittenbrink scored on a free kick in the 30th minute, and Rasmussen scored with a pass from Hoff in the 40th minute - just 9 seconds before the break.

Lake Zurich (5-12-2) rallied with a pair of second-half goals. Trevor Niedzwicki scored off a flick pass from Andrew Kelly in the 61st minute. Then the Bears tied it in the 73rd minute as Kelly returned the favor off an assist from Niedzwicki.

The Bears had beaten the Wildcats in North Suburban Conference play. And coming close to winning was nothing new for Lake Zurich, which lost nine times this season by 1 goal.

"I thought we battled back," Lake Zurich coach Mike Schmitz said. "Just like we did all season, we came out and played hard. We kept pressing. We got the one, and then we got the second one.

"It's unfortunate that you give up the opportunity in the overtime. We showed good character against a really good team."