Lake soccer teams face tough Perry squads

All good things must come to an end. Such was the case for the Lake girls’ soccer squad, which suffered its first defeat of the season Aug. 27 in a 2-0 loss at Perry, snapping the Blue Streaks’ win streak at five.

However, the Blue Streaks have ample reason to hold their heads high, said Coach Nathaniel Milhoan.

“The 5-0 start to the season is now the record for the best start to a season in Lake girls’ soccer history,” he said. “They also broke the Lake girls’ soccer record for most consecutive shutouts to start the season with four.”

If it were not for a pesky first-half goal, the Blue Streaks would have had five shutouts to start the season, as they opened the week Aug. 25 with an 8-1 victory over Alliance. Lake toyed with the visiting Aviators in the nonconference match, racing out to a 5-1 lead by halftime.

Milhoan, in his sixth season at the helm at Lake, could have given Nostradamus a run for his money this preseason when he predicted that freshman Anais Gerbetz would be “fun to watch. It will be very interesting to see how she works with both Kyla (Brinton) and April (Fockler) this year.”

It is safe to say that, thus far, it is working out quite well. Brinton and Fockler, both junior forwards, combined with Gerbetz to do a number on Alliance (0-2-1). Fockler scored a goal and dished out two assists, Brinton netted a hat trick with three goals, and Gerbetz picked up a hat trick in both goals and assists with three apiece.

“Anais is very fun to watch for sure,” said Milhoan. “She is on fire along with Kyla.”

Jenna Anderson also scored for the Blue Streaks, while Abigail Cooper, Hope Dobney and Cecilia Swihart each recorded an assist. Senior Hailey Cooper minded the net with five saves.

Then came Perry on Aug. 27. The Federal League opener for both teams, the defensive-minded Panthers (4-1, 1-0) shut down a Lake (5-1, 0-1) attack that had entered the match with 23 goals in five games.

“Perry was a gut punch back to reality,” Milhoan said. “But we will rebound from it.”

Boys’ soccer

The Blue Streaks are still in search of their first win of the young season following an Aug. 26 home loss to Perry in the Federal League opener for both squads.

Senior forward Landon Martin found the net off an assist from junior midfielder Levi Yoder, but it was not enough as Perry (3-0-1, 1-0) won 3-1. The Panthers’ victory created a three-way tie atop the Federal League while Lake slipped to 0-3, 0-1.

Volleyball

So close, yet so far away. The Blue Streaks dropped the first two sets in their Aug. 26 match at Hoover, and it looked as if Lake would suffer its second consecutive straight-set loss.

The Blue Streaks had some fight, however, storming back to take the next two sets and tie the match against the undefeated Vikings. That only made what followed sting even more, as Hoover (6-0, 1-0) stopped Lake’s momentum to win the Federal League opener for both teams 3-2 (25-23, 25-22, 24-26, 18-25, 15-8).

With the loss, the Blue Streaks dropped to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the Federal League.