GRAYSLAKE -- For a young team that was an afterthought not only in the Big Northern Conference but also in Class 2A in general, a 7-0 loss to Lakes in the semifinal of the Grayslake Central Class 2A sectional isn't so bad for Hampshire's boys soccer team.
After all, the Whip-Purs started their season 1-5 before a mid-season surge gave them enough confidence and skill to capture their first-ever regional championship last Friday.
On Wednesday night, however, the tough competition that is prevalent in the 2A state playoffs caught up to the Whips.
"What a turnaround from the beginning of the season," said Whips coach John Gosling. "I'm very pleased with the turnaround, where we got to, the sectional semifinal. But unfortunately we had to go out like this."
From the onset, Hampshire (9-10-1) was on its heels against a faster, more experienced and deeper Lakes team.
On artificial turf, the Eagles (16-6) jumped out to a 2-0 lead only 10 minutes into the game and a 4-0 lead at halftime before netting three second-half goals. Lakes controlled possession virtually the entire game and held a 13-2 shots-on-goal advantage at intermission.
"We never got going. It's frustrating," Gosling said. "We worked hard the past two months and we didn't today. (Lakes) is a good team, not going to take anything away from them.
"I think it finally caught up to where we are at. We are so young and immature physically, mentally, and leadership-wise. We just didn't play today."
Goalkeeper Marcus Quick did his best to try and keep Hampshire in the game. Facing a barrage of shots throughout the game, the sophomore -- who had never been in goal in his life up until this year -- had two key stops early in the game before the Eagles' possession control got the best of the Whips defense.
Lakes' Tom O'Brien scored his first of three goals only two minutes in the game when he found the back of the net on a rebound to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. After the Eagles' second goal, Steven Kurtosis had the most impressive goal of the night as he dribbled through three Hampshire defenders before scoring with 22 minutes left in the first half to make it 3-0.
Only seven minutes later, Lakes scored its fourth goal of the half when Matt Beadle put one just over the outstretched arms of Quick from 25 yards out. Quick ended his night with 11 saves.
Hampshire had its best scoring chance late in the second half, but Austin Buck's shot from 20 yards out sailed over the crossbar.
After the game, Gosling noted that with such a young team, things are only going to get better in the coming years.
"I told them to hit the weight room. They're young. They're going to go out and play with their respective club teams and that's the best I can get them going," Gosling said. "We're only going to be missing three seniors. We're young and built for the future."
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