LC too fast on Portage’s FieldTurf

Updated: August 31, 2011 10:00PM

PORTAGE — The defending state champion Lake Central boys soccer team used a balanced scoring attack to defeat Portage 6-0 Wednesday night in a Duneland Conference game.

The Blue Indians (5-0-1, 3-0) got goals from four different scorers in the win.

“We were able to move the ball and get movement off the ball tonight,” said LC coach Jereme Rainwater. “We were very unselfish as a team and we were able to create opportunities because of that.”

Lake Central had two excellent scoring chances in the first eight minutes. Sam Willis took a feed from Josh Crague, but his shot went right in the fourth minute. Moments later Crague took a pass from Randy Maksimik and fired, only to be turned away by Portage goalkeeper Austin Lee.

Lake Central seemed to have a decided speed edge, especially playing on Portage’s field turf.

“I’m a natural turf guy,” Rainwater said. “My A.D. (Robin Tobias) is always kidding me when I’m going to get the alumni to pay for field turf. If we continue to perform on it like we did tonight, I might have to consider it.”

Lake Central finally broke on top 1-0 in the 20th minute as Uzubell broke in on Lee and found the back of the net. Uzubell made it 2-0 less than a minute later as he took a loose ball that the Portage defense failed to clear and slid it past Lee.

“We were feeling really good before the game,” Uzubell said. “We had a good week of practice to prepare us and we were really psyched up before the game, DAC games are always big.”

Crague made it 3-0 LC in the 36th minute, beating Lee to the right side of the net. Portage (1-5-1) nearly got on the board in the 39th minute, but Taylor Felinski’s shot was stopped by an alert LC defender. Much of the first half was played in the Portage end of the field, with LC keeper Joey Machrovich being forced to make only two saves.

LC kept up its relentless attack in the second half. Ethan Donovan made it 4-0 LC in the 45th minute on an assist from Crague, who scored his second goal less than a minute later.

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