Indians win penalty-kick shootout with Valpo

Lake Central senior Jake Lecea jumps on sophomore Cody Barnes after Barnes scored against Valparaiso.
(Scott M. Bort/Post-Tribune)

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ST. JOHN -- The Lake Central boys soccer team has experienced the anguish of losing to Valparaiso in penalty kicks.

Now the Indians have experienced the elation of winning against the Vikings in PKs.

In a matchup of the area's top two teams -- and two of the state's best -- with the inside track to the Duneland Conference title at stake, Lake Central topped Valparaiso 4-2 in penalty kicks on Wednesday night. The teams had played to a 1-1 tie through regulation and overtime.

It was the third time in the last six seasons the game between the teams went to PKs, and the first time the Indians emerged with the victory.

"You hate to see a game decided on penalty kicks, but it's nice to finally come out on top," Lake Central coach Jereme Rainwater said. "It's the first one we've been able to get -- and with the DAC title on the line."

Cody Barnes helped the Indians (10-1, 5-0 Duneland Conference), ranked No. 16 in the state, secure just their third victory against the Vikings (7-3, 4-1), ranked No. 5, in the last 12 seasons. The sophomore stopper converted the clinching penalty kick, after having scored Lake Central's goal.

"It's very exciting," Barnes said. "It's all about the team. I focused on that. That's what made my PK go in the net, and wanting to win the DAC."

The Indians made all four of their penalty kicks, including Barnes' that caromed off the crossbar and across the line to render the fifth unnecessary. The Vikings connected on their first two, before Tony Halterman made a diving save to his right on standout sweeper Craig Bazin's shot, and Gerrad Akright, who scored Valparaiso's goal, sent his PK over the bar.

"The kids poured their hearts into it," Valparaiso coach Danny Jeftich said. "I've said it before and I'll say it again -- I don't like penalty kicks; I don't like winning with them and I don't like losing with them, and I've been on both ends. But congratulations to Lake Central. That's a quality team."

Valparaiso took a 1-0 lead with less than 16 minutes left in the first half when Akright scored.

That goal came about 45 seconds after Vikings goalkeeper A.J. Ratajec, a sophomore making his first start, had stuffed Jake Lecea on a breakaway at the other end.

But the Indians tied the score with less than four minutes in the half, when Barnes' shot from distance -- it appeared to deflect off the foot of a Valparaiso defender -- found the back of the net.

After neither team recorded a shot in the first half of overtime, Lake Central had two solid opportunities in the second. With less than four minutes, Chad Rigg's pass sprung Lecea for what initially appeared as if it would be a breakaway, but Valparaiso sent the ball over the line for a corner kick. A minute later, Lecea's rocket hit the outside of the net, before the Indians were perfect in the penalty kicks.

"It's a big win, but we have quality opponents ahead," Rainwater said. "To overlook any opponent in the DAC would be foolish.

"We were co-champs in 2005, and we want to be the straight-out champs in 2008."