Elgin falls short in quest for title
ROSELLE -- Elgin's regional run came to an end Saturday night in a frustrating 3-0 loss to Lake Park.
Despite controlling possession for most of the game and taking more shots on goal than the Lancers, the Maroons (11-10) were unable to convert, while Lake Park took advantage of their opportunities in the title match of the Lancers' own Class 2A regional.
The match was fiery, with Elgin (11-10) trying to win its first-ever regional title and with Lake Park defending its home turf. Both teams' emotions eventually boiled over in some late game dust-ups between players on both sides, as well as questions about some of the officiating decisions in the second half.
"That was the most pathetic officiating I've ever seen," Elgin coach Dave Borg said. "It's sad that that happens in a regional championship game. They are a good team, but they aren't three goals better than us.
"It's not going to change, the good teams are always going to win and teams like us have to keep working harder because we can never catch a break. What do I say to my kids?"
The Maroons, undersized compared to the Lancers, were able to control possession on the strength of the athleticism by players such as Lucas Valencia and Joel Perez. However, the strong Lake Park back line, including the play of goalie Matt Durbin -- who made several great saves -- kept the Maroons out of the scoring column.
"We tried to control the game but sometimes shots aren't going to go in," said a subdued Perez. "We had a pretty good season and were trying to win the regional for the first time."
Lake Park got on the board in the 21st minute on a penalty-kick goal by Kevin Hughes. For the most part, Elgin controlled the play until late in the second half when the Maroons' Joel Montes and Lake Park's Jaime Zinni became entangled. Zinni stepped over Montes, who in turn tossed him to the ground. The Maroons' Pedro Rodriguez was given a yellow card after the fracas.
Soon after, Lake Park scored on a goal from Chris Gajda to put the Lancers up 2-0 in the 74th minute. Elgin had an opportunity to get a goal back in the 83rd minute when Valencia was taken down, but the referee ruled that he was outside of the box, eliminating a penalty-kick opportunity.
"The referee wasn't running out there. I don't think he did a good job," Perez said.
"The center referee stayed in the same area all game and couldn't see anything. This needs to be addressed," Borg said. "We feel empty right now. I don't know if it's our reputation but we get (treated unfairly) time and time again."
Edwin Castro scored in the 86th minute to put the game away for the Lancers, who will next play Schaumburg on Tuesday in the Streamwood Class 2A Sectional.
Elgin goalie Osiel Ravadan had nine saves, with Valencia, Perez, Roberto Quintana and Hugo Aranda among those Maroons with shots on goal.
