Lake Blue Streaks secure playoff berth with dramatic goal-line stand

Following two tough losses that ended hopes for an unbeaten season and a Federal League title, the Lake Blue Streaks stood on their 9-yard line. Trailing by six points, visiting Hoover had marched 68 yards in less than 90 seconds and looked poised for a dramatic comeback.

But the Lake defense, which had been key in building the Blue Streaks’ lead, had other plans. The unit held firm, forcing Hoover quarterback John Collins into four straight incomplete passes over the final 20 seconds to preserve a 20-14 victory.

While the win did not erase the loss of the league crown, the Blue Streaks (7-2, 3-2) earned a solid consolation prize — they are virtually assured of hosting a first-round playoff game.

In addition to the goal-line stand, Lake’s defense came up big with two timely interceptions by Brady Sommers. The first came midway through the second quarter with Hoover ahead 7-0. Sommers stepped in front of a deep pass at midfield and returned it 15 yards to the Vikings’ 35-yard line, setting up a short field for quarterback Alex Quior and the offense.

Three plays — and a few penalties — later, Quior found Davis Matson in the open field, and the bruising back broke several tackles en route to a 34-yard touchdown that tied the game at 7-7. Moments later, Sommers struck again, giving Lake another short field that led to Matson’s 3-yard touchdown run two minutes before halftime. Hoover’s Jack Andes quickly answered with an 88-yard kickoff return to even the score at 14-all.

Matson completed the hat trick with his third touchdown of the game on a 6-yard run, set up by a 55-yard pass from Quior to Zach Novak on third-and-4. Matson finished with 153 rushing yards on 24 carries and one reception for 34 yards. Novak led all receivers with three catches for 73 yards, while Quior went 9-of-15 passing for 144 yards.

Volleyball

Entering postseason play, Lake aimed to surpass last year’s sectional win. The Blue Streaks defeated Medina Buckeye Oct. 16 in a Division III Northeast 4 District sectional final, sweeping the Bucks 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-23) to advance to a district semifinal against Aurora.

Ayla Filisky and Peyton Fritz led Lake with 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Filisky, who also had six aces, tallied 10 service points along with Luci Haddad, who led defensively with 21 digs. Sydney Hedrick dished out 24 assists, while Haddad and Olivia Nehlen collected 18 and 14 receptions. Violet Seaman, Paige Pribanich and Emily Eakin each recorded a block for Lake (12-9).

Girls soccer

Lake (12-6) rode the hot foot of Kyla Brinton in a 6-0 win over Shaker Heights in a Division II Northeast 1 District sectional final Oct. 16. Brinton scored five goals for the 16th-seeded Blue Streaks, who led 3-0 by halftime. The junior recently set the school record for most career goals.

April Fockler added the other Lake goal, while Claire Ford (two assists), Hope Dobney and Anaïs Gerbetz also contributed. Hailey Cooper earned the shutout in goal.

Cross country

Lake competed at the Division II District meet at GlenOak Oct. 18. The girls placed ninth with 271 points, while Wadsworth won the team title with 59. The boys also finished ninth with 284 points, as Hudson claimed the championship with 56.

Freshman Heidi Hart led the girls, placing 28th in 21:31.06. Juniors Ava Volpe and Ella Sainato followed in 48th and 55th. Senior Madeline placed 69th, and sophomore Lillian Corcoran rounded out the scoring in 81st.

For the boys, junior Nolan Brasko led with a time of 17:52.60 for 36th place. Sophomores Brady Norcia and Mason DeBois placed 41st and 47th, junior Nick Sloan finished 68th, and sophomore Julian Booth was 82nd.

Boys soccer

No. 43 seed Lake battled hard but fell 2-1 to Streetsboro in a Division III Northeast 1 District sectional opener Oct. 13. The Blue Streaks (1-14-2) held the Rockets (12-6-1) scoreless through halftime, but two second-half goals sealed their fate. JP Moorhead scored Lake’s lone goal.