Valpo feels right at home

Updated: October 5, 2011 9:40PM

VALPARAISO — The Valparaiso boys soccer team made its first home sectional game, with the advent of the two-class format, a successful one.

The Vikings topped Portage 2-0 on Wednesday night, with Chesterton following with a 12-0 victory against Hobart in the first round of the Valparaiso Sectional.

“Our first time hosting a sectional, if you can’t get excited for that, you have no heartbeat,” said Valparaiso coach Danny Jeftich, whose team had edged Duneland Conference rival Portage 2-1 on Sept. 28.

“It’s never easy, especially the first game. I like playing at home, instead of Wheeler (with the regional at Valparaiso). But this was a big game for us. It’s never easy to beat the same time twice in the same week. We knew it was going to be a battle.”

After largely controlling play to that point, the Vikings broke through with eight-plus minutes left in the first half. Berkley Ramsey’s pass sprung Tommy Billings, who slid a shot inside the left post.

They made it 2-0 two-plus minutes later, when Nick Hathoot scored off a scramble in front of the Indians goal.

“I told them before, we can’t get frustrated,” Jeftich said. “We have to keep our composure.”

Valparaiso outshot Portage 14-4, and had a 10-2 advantage in corner kicks.

“We had mistakes on the two goals, just didn’t clear the ball on both of them. ... But Valpo had a lot more chances in the first half,” said Indians coach Todd Strom, whose team lost junior captain Alex Becker to an injury suffered in Friday’s football game.

Portage had made a semistate final in each of the previous two seasons, losing to Lake Central each time, at Crown Point in 2010 and at Valparaiso in 2009. Senior midfielder Donovan Cole had led the Indians on their deep advancements.

“I wish we could’ve had another run for him, because he and all the seniors deserve it,” Strom said. “It’s an honor and a privilege to have coached him for four years. It’s rough to have his career end on this field. But there are a lot of memories and special moments that I’ll never forget.”

In Wednesday’s second game, Kody Lobsiger scored for the Trojans with four minutes elapsed, and they led 5-0 in less than 10 minutes. After they took a 6-0 lead — with six different goal-scorers — with 231/2 minutes left in the first half, they subbed all 10 of their field players. Nick Barango scored the last two goals of the half, the only player with more than one for Chesterton, which returned its starters for just the first 10 minutes of the second half, in shuffled positions. Senior goalkeeper Jacob Garmany saw time at forward in the second half, and completed the scoring with six minutes left.

Chesterton (13-2-2) and Valparaiso (9-7-1) will play in the final at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

“The team that knocked us out (in sectionals) the last two years — the guys remember it,” Jeftich said.

“I like our chances at home on Saturday. If we play with the same heart as tonight, I like our chances against anybody.”

The DAC co-champion Trojans defeated the Vikings 2-0 on Aug. 24.

“It should be a good game,” Chesterton coach James Sensibaugh said. “We’re excited about it. Our kids are playing well, but they’re here at home, so that’s an advantage. It’ll be fun.”

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