C-G’s season ends in PKs

Cary-Grove's Drew Conner (right) heads the ball away from Lake Zurich's Brenden Seeger during Saturday's IHSA Class 3A Lake Zurich Regional final. (Jeff Krage – For the Northwest Herald)

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LAKE ZURICH – All Cary-Grove goalkeeper Tom Breen could do was thank his backline for another strong effort.

Six minutes into their fourth overtime period, Breen wrapped his arms around teammate Nolan Walsh, lifting him off the ground in a big bear hug after Walsh deflected a header bound for the net.

It was a fitting show of gratitude for a defense that had been exceptional all season.

But pushed to penalty kicks, the staunch C-G backline only could watch as third-seeded Lake Zurich pulled out the 2-1 win against top-seeded C-G in the IHSA Class 3A Lake Zurich Regional final.

Lake Zurich (13-5-5) advances to face Gurnee Warren in the Barrington Sectional semifinal Wednesday.

“It was whoever was going to catch the lucky break,” Breen said. “It was just that tight of a game. When you go to PKs, anything can happen.”

The Bears’ lone regulation goal was only the 10th goal scored on C-G (17-3) all season.

Scoreless through the first half, C-G junior Mike McKune corraled a rebound off the Lake Zurich defenders in front of the net in the 48th minute and chipped it in for the first goal of the game.

McKune and Drew Conner, both midfielders, brought pressure because of the faith in their backline.

“I can’t say enough about [defenders] Justin Lowe, Erik Gustafson, Nolan Walsh and Robbie Perez,” C-G coach Mark Olson said. “When you have a line like that, it absolutely allows us to push up.”

Sixteen minutes later, Bears senior Brenden Seeger tied the score with a header in the box.

The defenses decided the rest, including a stopped charge from C-G’s Mike Loke, who received a pass from Walsh on a fast break.

“We had opportunities, and we weren’t able to go ahead and cash in on them unfortunately,” Olson said. “They battled, and we came up on the wrong side of it.”

After Kevin and Eric Wilde landed their kicks to beat the Lake Zurich goalkeeper in penalty kicks, C-G trailed, 3-2, as Lake Zurich senior John Pothast stepped into the box.

A stop from Breen would have left the door open for C-G to net its fifth goal and stay alive. Breen dived left and got two of his gloved fingers on the ball as it rolled over his oustretched hand and in, ending C-G’s historic season.

“I thought I had it, but it wasn’t close enough,” Breen said.

Lake Zurich coach Mike Schmitz acknowledged the incredible evenness of the game.

“I though it was two really good teams playing hard, going after each other,” Schmitz said. “It’s a shame when a game has to end on PKs after such a good game.”