Burlington Central tops Lakes

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:10PM

They were on the cusp of adding to a lengthy list of unforgettable

postseason moments.

With 10 seconds left in the first half, Lakes High School's Jonathan Stanley

threatened to head home a corner kick from teammate Scott Brugioni for the

third consecutive playoff match.

Instead, the standout center midfielder's blast rocketed off the top post as

Burlington Central held on to a one-goal advantage heading into the break at

the IHSA Class 2A Barrington Supersectional on Tuesday night.

While the Eagles just couldn't seem to cash in on their opportunities,

Burlington Central made them count with three second-half tallies on the way

to a 4-1 victory.

"We were getting great corners by Scott," said Stanley, who led the Eagles

with 18 goals on the season. "It was just a matter of me going up and

finishing it. But I just couldn't do it tonight."

After scoring the game-winning goal in the sectional championship win, Brian

Werchek had his chance when he broke free on a fast break early in the

second half.

But the dangerous freshman forward just couldn't find a way to get it past

the Rockets' keeper to even the match.

"If Brian finishes the one chance he had, it ties the game at 1-1," Lakes

coach Kevin Kullby said. "But then they took that play and scored the second

goal - that hurt."

The Rockets (20-4-3) advanced to play either Ridgewood or Glenbard South in

the state semifinals at 11 a.m. Friday at North Central College in

Naperville.

"It just got away from us," Kullby said. "I think we were playing well, but

they got a counter in the first half and they made it good. We had some

chances in the first half and we didn't finish it."

Junior keeper William Hill registered a couple diving stops to keep the

Eagles close throughout the opening half. Lakes finally got on the board

when Brugioni located senior defender Nate McMahon to make it 3-1 with 5:42

remaining.

McMahon was one of only three senior starters, along with midfielder Matt

Dexheimer and defender Joey Istvanek, who helped lead this year's Eagles

further than any other in school history.

"I couldn't have asked for a better senior season, except for a win

tonight," McMahon said. "This is a great group of guys and I couldn't have

asked for more from these guys."

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