LCL earned its first sectional title in program history on Saturday, knocking off St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy/Chesterton Academy, 2-0, in an emotional contest that allowed the Lightning to purge some of the darkness from seasons past.
Seven of the previous eight seasons, the Lightning had advanced to sectionals. Of those seven, none were walked away from with a title plaque. In stunner after stunner, the sectional title match evolved into a seemingly unconquerable beast, but LCL inched closer and closer by the year, marching towards what was an inevitable first appearance in the state tournament.
That ticket would be punched in 2022.
Coming off of a dominant regionals performance, LCL was lined up to face #3 seed River Valley, in a Falcons program that had a 17-4-4 regular season record. The Lightning would make quick work of the matchup, advancing by way of a 4-0 victory. A pair of tallies from junior Cole Luedke, as well as goals from seniors Aydan Scortino and Stanley Peters, would make the difference, propelling LCL back into the sectional title match.
St. John’s/Chesterton Academy did its part to reach the round on its side of the bracket, winning the first three playoff games by a 10-2 margin, thereby completing a collision course with LCL to get a rematch of last season’s sectional final. While the Lancers took last year’s contest, 2-1, LCL was determined to avenge the 2021 squad, while simultaneously writing its own story.
Having also beaten LCL in the regular season, the Lancers had the series momentum on their side entering the contest, but it wouldn’t take long for the Lightning to swing it all towards their own sideline. Peters and sophomore Andrew Visconti would put up goals for the Lightning, which ended up being all that LCL needed to emerge victorious. Backstopped by a strong defensive presence headlined by senior Adam Zuhlke in net, LCL had shut out its sectional matches en route to a state tournament appearance.
LCL enters the final four with a #3 overall seed, and will face off against Sheboygan Christian/Sheboygan Lutheran. The Eagles enter the state semifinal coming off of a 20-1-1 regular season record, and much like LCL, have only allowed one goal through four playoff games.
The two squads face off on Friday, November 4, at 1:30 pm at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, seeking a dance in the state title match with the winner of Cristo Rey Jesuit and Aquinas
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