Fans stand in the bleachers with held breath during the varsity boys Oct. 9 sectional soccer game against Highland.

The night’s dropping temperatures do nothing to numb the game’s intensity or prevent the streams of sweat dripping from the players. Seconds remain on the clock as Highland approaches LC’s goal, but every incoming shot is foiled. Lake Central pulls away with a 1-0 win that advances them on to the Sectional Championship game.

“They played a really fast game,” defender Sam Willis (11) said. “We held our own with it. We didn’t let them get many opportunities, [we] stayed strong in the back and created opportunities in the offense. [I felt] we just did good overall.”

The team’s strength shone through despite a choppy season. They had high expectations for the game, and they achieved them.

“Going into the game today, you knew it could go either way,” Head Coach Jereme Rainwater said. “That’s a really good Highland team we were playing. They were long, they were fast, they got a lot of 50/50 balls… I knew we had to be pretty solid in the back to win the game, and that’s what ended up happening. Defensively, we were strong today.”

Through teamwork, passes and along with his own skill and reaction time, midfielder Ogi Janjus (12) scored the only goal in the game.

“Ogi came out big with his right-footed shot, and he was a leftie,” keeper Jorge Trujillo (11) said.

After winning their second Sectional game on Oct. 12, the boys claimed a Sectional Championship to advance to Regionals, which will be held Thursday, Oct. 17 against Crown Point at Merrillville.