Boys soccer: Crown Point notches first DAC win vs. LC since 2002
By Michael Osipoff 648-3137 or mosipoff@post-trib.com August 15, 2012 11:20PM
Lake Centrals' Trevor Clapman tries to hold off Crown Point's Martin Mitreski in the first half Wednesday evening at Crown Point High School | Jeffrey D. Nicholls~Sun-Times Media
Updated: September 17, 2012 1:13PM
CROWN POINT — The 2011 Class 2A state champion opened its 2012 season in strong fashion.
Crown Point topped Lake Central 3-0 on Wednesday night, in a matchup of the last two state champs as the Indians took the title in 2010.
The Bulldogs (1-0, 1-0 Duneland Conference) had edged Lake Central 2-1 in a regional semifinal last season, but Wednesday’s win was their first in the regular season against the Indians since a 1-0 decision in 2002, ending a nine-game DAC skid to them. The Indians (0-2, 0-1) suffered just their second conference loss in their last 31 games.
“It’s good to start off the season this way,” said Crown Point coach Mike Bazin, who won his debut after three seasons as a Bulldogs assistant. “It’s unfortunate both sides have to play this early. It used to be the culminating event. But that’s how it is since the schedule change (last season, including the reconfiguration of the postseason with the advent of class soccer).
“I’m very happy with our performance, no complaints, except not scoring in the first half.”
Indeed, the Bulldogs — who had thought they were scheduled to begin the season on Monday at Lowell, before a miscommunication led to the game being moved to Thursday — scored all of their goals in the second half.
Crown Point broke a scoreless tie with 30 minutes left in the game, as Martin Mitreski scored on a diving header off a cross from Carmelo Morales.
Nico Garcia-Vicente, returning from a knee injury that prematurely ended his 2011 season, gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead with 19 minutes remaining. His shot crossed the goal line just before an Indians defender could clear it.
And Alex Fenn added a goal with less than six minutes left, a blast from distance.
“The first half was more about them missing a little bit,” Lake Central coach Jereme Rainwater said. “They didn’t have the finishing touch in the first half. Even though they didn’t score for 50 minutes, they still had a lot of opportunities.
“It appeared my guys didn’t have the legs they did on Monday (in a 4-2 loss to Andrean). I don’t know if it was because it was the first day of school, and they had to get up at 5:30 for the first time. But there are no excuses, because that’s a very good Crown Point team. ... Three (Garcia-Vicente) and 11 (Morales) are as good as I’ve ever played against.”
