Lake Central blanks Bulldogs, wins Duneland

Lake Central's Jake Lecea and Cody Barnes celebrate the Indian's first period goal against Crown Point.
(Jeffrey D. Nicholls/Post-Tribune)

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CROWN POINT — The makers of Bayer Aspirin might want to use Lake Central's boys soccer team in its next commercial.

The Indians’ offense could portray a big blue migraine that just pounds and pounds on your head and wears you to the point of surrender.

Monday night, Crown Point felt the headache of a 6-0 beat down at the hand of the Indians, as Lake Central celebrated its first-ever Duneland Conference title on the Bulldogs field.

Jake Lecea and Chad Rigg each had a pair of goals, while Corey Lee and Doug Peterson also tallied scores.

“(Lake Central) is going to put pressure on you, and I think we just panicked,” Crown Point coach Jeff Fairbaim said. “Everyone knows that Lake Central is the team to shape their teams after, and for them to go 7-0 in the conference is huge.”

The idea of winning the DAC title outright weighed heavy on the mind of the Indians (17-3, 7-0 Duneland Conference) prior to the game.

“We came out strong because we knew the Duneland was on the line,” Lecea said. “This feels nice because it’s the first time we’ve won the conference and it’s a real boost for the sectional."

Lake Central opened the scoring midway through the first half when Cody Barns headed a long pass to a streaking Lecea. Lecea had beat the defenders off the dribble and pinpointed a shot into the lower left corner of the goal. Later in the half, he beat goalie Christian Lomeli of Crown Point (6-7-1, 3-4) in a footrace to a loose ball just on the edge of the penalty box for an easy roller.

The Indians really busted it open midway through the second, though, with a flurry of three goals in a five-minute stretch, including the pair by Rigg.

“When these guys are that close to accomplishing a goal, they go for it,” said Indians coach Jereme Rainwater. “They gave a relentless effort, it was something we reiterated at halftime.”

Rainwater was pleased with his team’s discipline in terms of positioning, passing and patience. “We started working early the season on our shape, and then started talking about how we would attack,” he said.

“We did a lot of chalk sessions, so I’m really happy to see that they’re bringing what they learn in the classroom out onto the field.”