Chesterton clips Michigan City, plays KV next

VALPARAISO -- Chesterton got some payback in a 3-1 victory over Michigan City Wednesday night in a regional semifinal.

Two years ago the underdog Wolves won 1-0 to spoil the Trojans' perfect record in the Duneland Conference. Last week Michigan City prevailed 2-1 to keep them from sharing the title.

Trojans coach James Sensibaugh knows all that bad history.

"This is the big one; we get to play in the regional championship," he said.

The defending champion Trojans (14-4-1) face Kankakee Valley (12-6-1) at 6:30 Saturday. KV ousted Culver Academy 5-2 behind Aaron Stoermann's hat trick.

The DAC rivals struggled through a scoreless first half with each keeping four to six back. How tough was it? Chesterton got two shots on goal, Michigan City none.

"That was OK with us," said Wolves coach Bruce Stahl. "We were looking for one goal."

A minute after Wolves senior goalie Damian Marciniak leaped to tip away a Jordan Lewis header, Alex Gordon broke the ice at 69:50. One of nine senior starters, he scored from a few feet out during a scrum.

"That first goal was huge," Sensibaugh said. "It's important to score first in any soccer game."

"Coach talked about hustling and I worked to get that ball," Gordon said. "We weren't pleased with the way we played the first half. We came out harder and got more shots (11-2)."

Seven minutes later Mark Gore booted in his own rebound, off Marciniak's hands, for a 2-0 lead. Lewis slid to the wet turf but kept the ball alive for the sophomore's first goal of the season.

"That was an effort goal," Sensibaugh said. "Gore took a good shot then scored on second effort. Marciniak had a great game (seven stops), saving two point-blank shots. He was the difference in the two losses."

He didn't get enough help this time. The 12-5-2 Wolves, in their first regional, got just three shots and two corner kicks. Adam Palmer averted a shutout on his 27-yard floater over 6-4 Alex Mannen with 1:04 left.

Nick Hollingsworth's close-in goal on a cross from Dan Spears 41�2 minutes earlier iced it.

"We came in determined to win," said Sensibaugh. "The wind was an issue the first half. There was no panic. We took care of business when we got the chance."

He added the Wolves "always play hard."

He and his team watched the Kougars roll. "If we play well I like our chances."

KV coach Duane VanderWoude said "it's great being in our first regional and making the final. We have 14 seniors and it's about time."

Stoermann got his second successive hat trick. He made it 1-0 just 2:40 in. Culver Academy tied it 61�2 minutes later on the first of Zach Sternberg's two goals.

The Kougars led 2-1 as Derek VanderMolen put in a rebound of a hard shot off the keeper's hands Stoermann dribbled, then floated a nifty shot over the goalie to make it 3-1 at the half.

He said his first goal "boosted our momentum right away." His third goal, another floater with 8:20 left, again gave CHS a two-goal lead. "We saw their keeper comes out real fast so I got two over the top."

Stoermann has a team-high 21 goals including three in a win over Lowell for KV's first sectional title.

"He?s a scrapper. Aaron comes through when we need him to," VanderWoude said. "That was a big goal, for a 4-2 lead."

He moved the 6-2 Stoermann from center mid to center forward the last few games and it's paid off.

"If he's got the shot he'll take it. If not he'll pass. We've got lots of guys who can score. The kids don't ask and don't care who scores or who has the most goals."

Stoermann said getting KV's first regional win "feels good. It's a confidence boost for Saturday."