Rams Fall To Eagles In Tough 1-0 Loss

A single goal decided a hard played match between the Grayslake Central Rams and the Lakes Community High School Eagles on their home turf. With 16:28 left in the first half, Lakes appeared to have scored but the goal was waved off due to an offside call. Barely two minutes later, Eagles junior forward Leah Baker took an inside feed senior midfielder Ashley Neubeck and scored on a well placed shot just inside the left post.

That one goal determined the game as the Rams fell to the Eagles 1-0 in the tough Sectional Semifinal round of girls soccer.

"We expected a tough game from Lakes as they are well coached and usually pretty disciplined," said Grayslake Central head coach Mike McCaulou. "I knew we were physically stronger, but we needed to take advantage of our scoring opportunities."

The Rams were constantly frustrated in their efforts to score all night long. The Eagles defense played well and often sent the ball across midfield deep into Rams territory forcing Central to work hard again to bring the ball back on the attack.

Grayslake had few real opportunities to score and Lakes goalie Sarah Fitzpatrick pounced on every shot towards the goal. The lack of finishing has been a problem for the Rams most of the season and this game was no exception.

For 79 minutes and 40 seconds, the Rams defense held firm. Led by the play of seniors Allison Mitchell, Kelly Jay and Brooke Swearingen and junior Michelle Lettenmair, the Rams fiercely limited the scoring opportunities of the Eagles.

Senior Kat Dickson was near perfect in goal (8 saves) and made her usual assortment of acrobatic stops. Dickson’s quick passes often led the Rams counterattack that led to most of the scoring opportunities for Central.

The temperature was well below 50 degrees and a biting wind out of the Northeast made for a frigid atmosphere for fans and players alike. McCaulou went to his bench often to keep his players rested and ready to play at full speed for this exciting battle on the pitch.

Huddled together after the match, few tears were shed by the Lady Rams. They had played their best and it was what it was. McCaulou and coach Bethany Russ spoke to the girls briefly about missed opportunities, but emphasized their accomplishments and the standard of play they had established for the underclassmen.

"Coach Russ and I just told the kids to keep their heads high," said McCaulou. "They set many firsts. We also told them to take some time off and then get back on the horse. Get with club teams, play a ton of soccer and get hungry to want more for the future."

The team and the coaches left with their heads held high and a sense of pride that was clearly evident. To see a team walk off a field after a tough loss in the state tournament like that is a sure sign of great coaching. It speaks volumes of the strong positive relationship the coaches have with their players and the camaraderie that they encourage. It motivates the athletes to go all out for their teammates all year long.

"We told the seniors that we love them and we will miss them and they should be proud of what they did this season. The seniors were the nuts and bolts of this team. They are all great kids and will have bright futures in everything they do," said McCaulou. "For those seniors that played four years in the program, they were something special. To give what they have given and to do what they have done speaks volumes about their character. They have grown into young adults and can’t be replaced."

Central’s head football coach Nick Goshe stated last fall that this senior class would go down as the greatest in the history of Grayslake Central, not only for their athletic achievements, but also for their academic and community successes, as well.

"The juniors and underclassmen have a lot to do to stay up with this group," said McCaulou. They are certainly leaving behind a legacy of excellence and accomplishment that future classes will have to strive to equal or best.

The Central girls soccer team set several school records this year including most shutouts (13), most victories (15), first ever Fox Valley Conference championship and first ever Regional Championship.

"In my opinion, this is the best girls soccer team in school history," said McCaulou. "They play outstanding on the field, but they are a very close knit family off the field as well."