Knights off to fast start

What a difference a year makes in Grayslake High School soccer.

In 2006, Grayslake Central was one of the best teams in the area and Grayslake North was an inexperienced squad which managed just 7 victories.

When the teams meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight at North, much will be different.

After losing most of the regulars from last year's squad, the Rams were just 1-5-2 after last week's 3-0 loss to Cary Grove.

Though Grayslake North must sustain success to be grouped with the best teams around, the Knights have had a fine start to the season. They improved to 8-2 with Tuesday's 3-2 overtime victory over Prairie Ridge.

The Knights appear to be the favorite entering tonight's match-up, though one won't hear head coach Adam DeCaluwe saying such things.

"I don't allow our kids to view one team as the favored team," he said. "The beauty of soccer is that anything can happen. A team can get a scrappy goal. Once that happens, there is no way of telling what the outcome will be.

"Grayslake Central is a smart team. They play smart tactically and educated teams are hard to break down. This is the rivalry game of the year and we know they will be just as pumped up for it. We have to go in confident, but understanding the dangers that could be lurking around the corner."

Last season, DeCaluwe saw his young team improve as the campaign went on. He knows that success breeds success and that Central will eventually find its footing. He just hopes it doesn't happen against his club.

"We were in that boat last year and once we found a little success, we started looking deadly and had that killer instinct," he said. "All it takes is one game, one goal, one occurrence on the field to create that ignition that can set off great things."

THAT'S ZAMORA: Knight's sophomore midfielder Julio Zamora appears to be destined for great things on the soccer field. In fact, he's achieving some of them right now. After scoring 8 times during his freshman campaign, Zamora already has 13 goals this fall.

He scored all 4 of his team's goals in a 4-3 double overtime victory over Huntley last Thursday. Zamora has been forced to pick up the slack with the dangerous Josh Solberg-Aldaco on an overseas trip.

Zamora actually has padded his scoring statistics by becoming more unselfish.

"Julio has found a way to use the team around him a little more," DeCaluwe said. "He's not relying on himself to beat everybody. Last year, he tried to do too much on his own and it's difficult to beat varsity teams on your own. Now, he's more well-rounded and using his teammates. The team is more accustomed to incorporating him at the right time. He's dangerous when he gets onto the end of a ball with the goal in site."

What skills make the youngster so dangerous?

"He has a nose for the goal," DeCaluwe said. "His speed gets him on the end of balls and his technical ability allows him to control, pick up his head and find the corner. Once he does that, it's end of story."

Zamora scored the second goal in Tuesday's overtime win over Prairie Ridge . The scoring opportunity was created by junior defender Blake Peek.

Peek turned provider again three minutes into sudden-death overtime when his shot was deflected into the path of Drew Hauck, who buried the game-winner.

Andrew Trahan opened the scoring with an unassisted goal early in the contest.

Round Lake defeated Grayslake North 1-0 on Monday night. The Knights were forced to field a bit of an experimental lineup because of injuries.

The Panthers scored on a dead-ball situation five minutes into the game. The Knights threatened several times in very sloppy conditions, but never found the back of the net.