LC downs CP again for sectional title

CROWN POINT -- The nature of the game -- at least a good portion of it -- was different from the last time the teams played, less than a week ago.

But the result remained the same.

But the result remained the same.

Lake Central topped Crown Point 6-1 in the final of the Crown Point boys soccer sectional on Saturday.

Lake Central topped Crown Point 6-1 in the final of the Crown Point boys soccer sectional on Saturday.

In the regular-season finale, the Indians had downed the Bulldogs 6-0 on Monday to wrap up the Duneland Conference title, on the very same field. Crown Point actually scored first on Saturday, before Lake Central scored six straight goals -- four in the second half -- by six different players, breaking open what had been a competitive game.

"We knew it was going to be a tougher game, because nothing is guaranteed now," said Lake Central goalkeeper Tony Halterman, one of 12 seniors on a deep roster. "We knew they were going to come after us. I'm just glad we get to keep on playing, make a run at it."

The Indians won their sixth straight sectional title. They will play Merrillville Sectional winner Griffith in the semifinals of the Merrillville Regional on Wednesday.

"Every year you talk about how much it means to you," Rainwater said. "Six in a row, it feels better every time. The kids put more work in every one and it's nice to see it pay dividends.

"Hats off to them (the Bulldogs). It's scary what (first-year coach) Jeff (Fairbairn) has done with them in one year. The final outcome was not a reflection of the game itself."

After the Indians (16-3) had fallen behind, freshman Manny Rios gave them a 2-1 lead, receiving a through ball from Adam Misirly and finishing with six-and-a-half minutes left in the first half.

"We were wondering where our goals would come from this season and our offense took off when we put him (Rios) in there," Rainwater said. "He's a big-game player as a freshman."

Geoffrey Bowman made it

3-1 by converting a penalty kick less than a minute into the second half, awarded when Jake Lecea was taken down in the box. Nick Czapla scored with 27-plus minutes left in the game, knocking in a feed from Nick Miljevic, and Lecea added a goal with nine-plus minutes. Corey Lee volleyed home Misirly's corner kick with seven minutes to complete the scoring.

"It seems like we have our legs longer than any team we play," said Rainwater, whose team implemented strength training this past offseason.

Crown Point (7-8-1) had stunned Lake Central with the game's first goal. Mike Lipton headed home Dan Relinski's corner kick with less than nine minutes elapsed, as Halterman smothered the ball but not before it had crossed the line.

"A little bit of panic set in," Rainwater said. "That's common with seniors at this time of the year. But we were able to regain our composure."

Said Halterman: "That really got us going. It's always about who gets the first goal. That got us going, and we answered right back."

Lake Central tied the score eight minutes later when Fabian Urquiza calmly slotted a shot off a pass from Rios.

"It gave us some confidence that, hey, we can play with them," Fairbairn said of the first goal. "The first time we played them I thought the guys thought we couldn't and it showed in our play.

"They're a really good team all around, top to bottom, and it showed today. The better team won, bottom line."

Contact Michael Osipoff at 648-3137 or mosipoff@post-trib.com. Comment on this story at www.post-trib.com.