Lake adapts, returns to regional play

If anything, these Cougars from Lake Catholic are adaptable.

They graduated invaluable performers from the starting 11 of a Division II state finalist side and transitioned pretty well anyway.

They had to learn how to play tactically without one of Ohio’s best players and made it an appealing brand of soccer nonetheless.

They lost their sweeper in the opening 40 on Oct. 25 during a D-II district final against Gilmour, shifted personnel and still found a way anyhow.

Change abounds, but one vital piece of continuity remains.

Lake is returning to regional competition.

Kennedy Rieple’s goal in the 62nd minute and a gritty, poised effort in the back propelled the Cougars to a 1-0 win over the Lancers at Mayfield.

Lake (11-5-1) will take on Cardinal Mooney, a 2-1 winner over West Branch, in a D-II regional semifinal at 7 p.m. Oct. 30 at Twinsburg.

“Making that (2017 state final) run, I think it just makes the girls realize that they can win these games,” Cougars coach Chris Hastings said. “But you’ve got to play hard, and you’ve got to play well. We’re playing a really good Gilmour side that’s dangerous.

“Yeah, playing those big games last year – you believe you can win under the lights. We didn’t have a ton of fans tonight because Lake was playing football (a 41-33 win over Padua). You’ve got to win if you want anybody to come see you play again.”

Rest assured on two fronts – the Cougars did thrill those who made the trip, and the caravan is likely to expand in the sweet 16.

In the 63rd minute, Lake won a corner. In the 46th, the Cougars had an apparent goal on a corner waved off by the center official, but the second time was the charm. Gianna Carcelli served a weighted ball into the middle of the box and Rieple, Lake’s versatile standout sophomore, got a touch on the edge of the six for a 1-0 lead.

It was a chaotic but memorable night for the Rieple household, with Kennedy in a district final at Mayfield and her brother Nate on the gridiron at Mentor.

“Basically, we’ve had a lot of practice with it,” Rieple said. “Me and Giuliana (Grgic) both run back post, and one of us has to get a head on it. It had passed over Giuliana. And so I just saw it coming toward me, so I just headed it in.”

Rieple was part of a

poised effort in the back that had to dig in after losing Gianna Salatino to injury in the opening 40. Ali Morgan came in at sweeper and gave Lake some nice minutes as it recorded its sixth clean sheet of 2018 against a potent side.

“I’m actually super proud,” Rieple said. “Gianna is a super successful player, and she is really important in our backline. But once she came off, I think it made us even more hungry to come after. We definitely wanted the ‘W’ after that.”

Gilmour (12-4-2) was not lacking in attacking quality, generating eight shots on target. Annie Greene, in her return to the side after battling a nagging groin injury all year, was dynamic at times with her touches, including getting turned away in the 18th.

The Lancers pushed hard for an equalizer late. In the 76th, Cora Grunden settled a touch on the left side of the box and went for a right-footed strike. But Cougars goalkeeper Ava Peterlin made a nice lunging stop to keep it 1-0.

After a D-III state title run in 2016, Gilmour has now fallen each of the last two seasons to Lake in a district title tilt with deeper aspirations in mind.

“Again, it just wasn’t in the cards for some reason in this game,” Lancers coach Joe Ciuni said. “We had some really good chances, and we just weren’t able to find the back of the net for one reason or another.

“It’s tough to explain. That’s kind of how soccer goes sometimes. Unfortunately, we were on the losing end of it again.”

For Lake, it was the more appealing end for a second straight year, securing its seventh regional berth in girls soccer since 2004.

The Cougars, with development in the attack, learned how to play without 2017 News-Herald girls soccer player of the year Kati Druzina, who has been out all season due to injury.