Boys Soccer Centennial and Cancer Awareness Game Ends in a Win Over Biggest Rival

Varsity Sequoits push past Lakes Eagles 3-1.

Shannon Zogran, Journalist

In one of the most significant and important games of their season, the Antioch Community High School’s boys Varsity soccer team demolished their biggest rivals, Lakes Community High School, with a score of 3-1. The game was physical and intense from start to finish.

ACHS boys Varsity soccer head coach Marni Polakow said, “This game is always important because they are our rivals [and we also] wanted to post our best conference record this year, which we accomplished, going 5-1 in conference! [In addition] we seeded the sectional teams today and we needed this win because Lakes is in our sectional and we wanted to get a high seed.”

Senior Danny Helgesen gave the boys their first goal. The Lakes Eagles surged back with one goal of their own. With a great defensive effort from senior captain RJ Ruano and junior Jordan Keller and key saves from senior goalie JR Lonergan, the Lakes Eagles only scored once. Senior captain Iven Hernandez assisted senior Krystian Streit to give the sequoits their second goal. Hernandez then scored off of a pass from junior Danny Brito to seal the Sequoit victory.

Allowing only one goal, Lonergan is a new face in the goal for boys Varsity soccer team. Lonergan played as goalie in the past five games and shows no signs of inexperience or weakness.

“He has been training hard at practice and is willing to try and learn new things. He brings a little more confidence to the team because he is a goalie who is capable of playing the ball with his feet, so he can be a good outlet for the defense,” said Polakow. “As of right now, we do plan on keeping him there. That has been a position we are struggling with this year and we knew going into this season that with a little training he could become a great goalie.”

There are high hopes for Lonergan and the soccer team to continue to have success this season.

The boys Varsity soccer team wearing pink jerseys for Breast Cancer Awareness.
Shannon Zogran
The boys Varsity soccer team wearing pink jerseys for Breast Cancer Awareness.

“We are hopefully going to make a deep run in the playoffs again so we need the fan support. We are so thankful to the Cardinal Crazies for being at every home game. We would also like to thank the dance team for dancing at our Warren game and the band for playing last night. The support this year has been great,” said Polakow.

The boys Varsity soccer team travels to Mundelein for their next game on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 6:15 p.m.