Indian Lake celebrated its present and future on Monday, and did so with a win.
The Lakers hosted Bellefontaine for Senior Night in a Central Buckeye Conference boys soccer clash, and put up a 4-1 victory.
The seniors were honored in pregame ceremonies, and there were a large number of youth players on hand to provide a human tunnel for the introductions.
Lakers senior Avery Pequignot had three goals, with senior Aidan Stinebaugh having the lone tally of the second half.
With just a few games left in the regular season, Indian Lake is 4-2-1 in the conference, and 9-2-3 overall.
Coach Dallas Clary said, “We’re working on our core values, working on that family, the respect and the toughness all the way around.”
He added, “Much respect to Coach Henry and his kids. They’ve given us fits the last two years, it’s been 1-0 games. So we knew going into this game, it was gonna be a tough game. We had to bring everything we had, and we’re happy with it.”
Clary said that they told the team prior to the game, “this is a four game playoff, one game at a time, and it’s going to be a fight the rest of the way. And the only thing we can control is winning these last four games, and then whatever happens after that is what happens.”
Anderson Konz scored for Bellefontaine, which is 1-6 in the CBC and 2-10 overall. Ethan Turner had the assist.Coach Steve Henry said, “Pequignot is a tough player, so we tried to make sure we had him marked the whole night. He got loose a few times, and when he gets loose, he gets a shot and puts it on frame.”
However, he said, “We got nothing else to do but keep trying to learn from everything and keep trying to get better. We’re a young team, so these guys are going to be back next year. We’re just going to try to finish this year out strong, keep growing, and try to get a few wins.”
The first few minutes were largely even, with Bellefontaine then creating a bit of pressure in front of the Lakers net.
At 28:27, Pequignot tried one shot with his right foot, which was blocked by the keeper. He then directed one with his left foot to the right corner for a 1-0 lead.
The Lakers kept up the attack, and Pequignot fired one from the middle of the box to make it a two-score cushion.
With just under seven minutes to go in the half, Bellefontaine got on the attack. Turner had the ball at one side of the goal and fed it to Konz on the opposite end, and he put it across.
Noah Torsell had a leaping save for the Chiefs with 4 1/2 minutes left.
About a minute later, Pequignot had a shot from distance that snuck under the crossbar for his third of the contest.
Cody Hudson had a free kick for the Chiefs early in the second half, which was caught by Lakers keeper Griffin Schaub.
Torsell deflected another high shot then dove on a ball shortly thereafter with around 10 minutes gone by.
Just past the midpoint of the second, Stinebaugh came very close on a crossing shot. His next charge down the field with 17:03 got through.
The Lakers were able to keep the Chiefs in check for the remainder of the contest.
Both squads are back on the pitch on Wednesday. Bellefontaine will host Graham at 7 p.m. and Indian Lake plays at Urbana at 7:15.
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BOYS
Ben Logan 2, Urbana 0
Ben Logan got a shutout over host Urbana in CBC play on Monday.
The Raiders lead the Mad River division at 6-1-1 and are 10-3-1 overall.
The first half was scoreless. Aidan Todd scored on a penalty kick with 15 minutes to play when Gaven Jordan got knocked down in the box.
Landen Simon converted a free kick by Todd to make it 2-0 with eight minutes left.
Goalie Joe Meeker made three saves.
Coach Jamie Hughes said, “That was definitely not one of our better games of the season but we played well enough at times to score two goals. An 80-minute game will have opportunities where moments will present themselves and if you can take advantage of those moments, and limit your opponent, then that will put you in a position to win. In those moments tonight, Gaven, Aidan, and Landen did what they did to get us a couple of goals. The defense also played well in limiting Urbana’s opportunities and notching another shutout.”
The Raiders return to action Wednesday at London. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
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GIRLS SOCCER
Bellefontaine 7, Indian Lake 0
Bellefontaine shut out host Indian Lake 7-0 in CBC play Monday.
Callie Shumaker scored four times, all in the first 10 minutes of the first half.
In the second half, Ava Watson scored on a penalty kick with 29:26 to play. Chloe Stolly had the final two scores, which came with 17:15 and 9:46 to play.
Watson had three assists, with one each for Shumaker, Sloan Stolly and Addison Wical. Emma Whitaker had six saves in the goal.
Both teams play again on Wednesday. Bellefontaine (2-6 CBC, 5-9) hosts Graham and Indian Lake (0-8 CBC, 2-10-1) plays at Urbana.
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Ben Logan 5, Piqua 2
Ben Logan defeated host Piqua in a nonleague contest on Saturday.
Each team scored twice in the first half, then the Lady Raiders had three in the second half.
Daylin Varner had a hat trick, with Paisley Rodenberger and Ella Stoodt scoring once each. Ella Chamberlin had two assists, and Maddie Daniels, Brooklyn Smedley and Madisyn Trees one apiece.
Rissa Bates made two saves in the net.
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Urbana 3, Ben Logan 1
On Monday, Ben Logan lost to Urbana in CBC play at home.
Varner had the goal, with the assist by Stoodt.
Bates had three saves in goal.
Ben Logan is now 5-2-1 in the CBC and 10-3-1 overall. They travel to London on Wednesday.
