Boys soccer: Lemont falls in supersectional

Updated: November 1, 2011 9:54PM

PEORIA — With or without the tears, and it was more often with,you could see it in the eyes of Lemont’s players.

They couldn’t believe they had come so close, only to lose.

You could see it in Indians coach Rick Prangen’s eyes as well, and hear it in his voice after Peoria Notre Dame scored a 1-0 victory in the Class 2A supersectional held on its field. The Irish advance to Friday’s semifinal at Lincoln-Way North.

“I thought we executed our game plan brilliantly,” Prangen said. “We had great focus. We were a little unlucky.”

Notre Dame’s goal was a sloppy affair. Defender Jake Swenk was credited with it, but there were accomplices in a trio of Indians defenders, all of whom looked at each other as the ball skidded by them and goalkeeper Andrew Putna with 17:55 to play. It was only the seventh goal Putna allowed this season.

“We had three guys who could have cleared it, and we didn’t clear it,” Prangen said. “We made a mistake on it. You get by the first defender on the near post, and you’re in trouble. It’s only the second set-piece goal we’ve allowed all year.”

The Indians (20-4-3) controlled the first half, and poured it on running against a stiff breeze after Swenk’s goal. Perhaps the biggest by Irish keeper Mitchell Aver was on Kasparas Jasenauskas from point-blank range with 4:20 to play.

Losing to the Irish (20-5-0) for the third time in supersectional play is a tough pill to swallow.

“You don’t know if you’re going to be here,” Prangen said. “We may never be here again, and that’s why this one hurts quite a bit.”

Lemont’s team bus broke down on Interstate 74 near Normal on the way to the game. That pushed the game time back a half hour, but the Indians came out flying.

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