Janus, Bears too much for Round Lake

Lake Zurich High's (from left) Tim Kreutz, Eric Pothast, Andy Lynch, Nick Janus, Jeff Owens, and Brad McCurley congratulate each other after Lynch's goal during the NSC Championship Game.
(Michael Schmidt/News-Sun)

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LAKE ZURICH -- Nick Janus needed a big game on Wednesday in order to keep up with the torrid scoring pace of his longtime friend Tim Kreutz .

The Lake Zurich High striker did just that, as he poured in three goals in helping the Bears knock off visiting Round Lake 5-0 in the North Suburban Conference Championship Game.

It was the NSC Lake Division champions third consecutive win in the title contest.

Janus' hat trick, along with a single tally from Kreutz late in the second half to end the game's scoring improve both player's season goal total to 20.

"It's pretty amazing we've both scored that many goals this season, but it's fun," said Janus. "Tim and I have been playing together since we were six years old, so for us to have the kind of season we are having, it's special."

Lake Zurich's play has been special in the past week, as the Bears have knocked off Stevenson and New Trier prior to Wednesday's dominating win over the NSC Prairie champion Panthers.

"That's a real good soccer team," said Round Lake coach Mike Hruska about the Bears.

"They are real physical with a lot of skill. They just keep coming at you in waves."

That wave started early in Wednesday's contest, as Janus took a pass from Eric Pothast near the top of the penalty box, then turned and fired a 20-yard shot past Round Lake keeper Jose Landa for a 1-0 lead just 26 seconds into the game.

Janus scored again less than nine minutes later when he headed in a cross from Pothast.

"Scoring those two quick goals showed our guys were mentally prepared for the game," said Lake Zurich coach Mike Schmitz, whose team improved to 17-1-3 on the season.

"It really set the tone for the game."

Round Lake (14-3-1) showed some life offensively late in the first half behind the play of Gilberto Alfaro, Eduardo Sanchez and Edwin Martinez , but the Panthers couldn't find the back of the net.

"We had some chances, but Lake Zurich did a good job of taking us off the ball just when we had something going," said Hruska.

Lake Zurich maintained the two-goal lead until the game's 52nd minute when Janus booted in a cross from Kruetz for a 3-0 lead.

Two minutes later, Andy Lynch scored off a throw-in to increase the margin to 4-0.

"Once we got down 3-0 we pulled a defender up to try to get a goal, but it just didn't work out," said Hruska.

Both Lake Zurich and Round Lake will begin play in the Rockford Boylan Sectional Complex next week, as the Bears are the top seed in the Barrington Regional and the Panthers are No. 1 in the McHenry Regional.

"We are playing with a lot of confidence right now," said Janus. "We are really looking forward to the playoffs to see how far we can go."

Prep Boys Soccer: NSC Championship GAME