Segura, Sequoits are off to fast start

Antioch High School forward Oscar Segura continued his fine goal-scoring run on Tuesday, hitting the back of the net twice in the Sequoits' 3-2 comeback win over Grant.

The Sequoits improved to 4-1-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference. The team trailed 1-0 at halftime before Noah Bohmann equalized from Segura. Later, the fleet-footed Segura came through as he has done all season. Kyle Systma and Jack Schwarz had the assists on Segura's goals.

"He is one of the fastest kids I've ever seen play," Antioch's first-year head coach Marni Polakow said about Segura, who leads the team with 7 goals. "If you put the ball at his feet, he doesn't lose any speed. He can create for himself and if you put the ball ahead of him, he can run onto it and finish that."

Polakow said her team came out after the break with more fire than it had in the first 40 minutes.

"We stepped up and started winning balls out of the air and we calmed down and started playing to feet," Polakow said.

The coach praised Systma and defender Robert Nogle for their ability to get their head to the ball, whether on an Antioch free kick or defending an opponent's free kick or corner.

"Both are good in the air," she said. "(The ability to do that) is just about going up there at the right time, timing the ball right, going body to body against another guy and then redirecting the ball."

With Segura putting the ball away up top, Systma and Bohmann have been the ones creating the goals for the Sequoits. Systma is the team's playmaker in the middle of the park, while Bohmann does his damage down the left wing. Bohmann led the team in assists through 7 games.

Nogle marshals the backline from the sweeper position.

"(Nogle) is the captain of the defense back there. He takes control and organizes the guys," Polakow said. "He's a fantastic player and is super smart playing back there."

Recap: Antioch defeated Westosha (Wis.) Central High School 3-2 on Monday. Andre Sippy, Zak Semitka and Aldo Arellano scored for the Sequoits. Bohmann had 2 assists and Robbie Denney had the other helper.

Bohmann scored on a direct free kick in Friday's 1-1 tie with Marian Central.

"So far, so good," Polakow said about her team's early-season play. "It's the kind of start you like to have. The kids have heart and fight. We've been down a couple times and come back to equalize and, in a couple situations, take the lead. I know there is huge fight in this team, and no quitting. They believe in themselves for all 80 minutes of the game."

Game Day: The Sequoits host Round Lake at 7 p.m. tonight and visit Wauconda at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday.

The Eagles improved to 5-3 with a 2-0 win over Mundelein on Tuesday. Tom O'Brien opened the scoring late in the first half and Matt Beadle scored a second-half PK after a Mustang player handled in the box.

"I'm proud of my team. I thought it was our best soccer of the year, so far," Lakes head coach Kevin Kullby said.

Lakes went 2-1 at last weekend's Muckwonago Tournament. After losing 3-0 to a fine Whitefish Bay squad on Friday, the Eagles posted wins over Milwaukee Hamilton and Oconomowoc on Saturday.

Steve Korosis, O'Brien, Beadle and Ryan Rudynski scored in the 4-1 win over Hamilton. It was the 6th goal of the season for Rudynski.

Mark Polanin and O'Brien found the net early in the 3-0 win over Oconomowoc. Korosis added a third.