Lakeview’s shutout master
By Greg gulas
POLAND
Lakeview goalkeeper Zac White has allowed just one goal in seven games this season, shutting out six of the seven opponents that he has faced.
Thanks to White, the one goal Lakeview scored against Poland on Tuesday was all the team needed to remain undefeated.
Blake Gill’s tally at 25:46 of the second half lifted Lakeview to a 1-0 decision over Poland at Dave Pavlansky Field, giving Lakeview and possession of first place in the All-American Conference White Division.
“Michael Augustine slid a good ball through on my foot, I took a touch, looked up, saw the goalie and was able to bury it in the top left corner of the goal,” Gill said. “Coach [Bryan] Phillips told us at the half that it was gut-check time and if we expected to win, then we needed to come out and play harder than them.
“We gave it our all and with a goalie like Zac, we made it work.”
Lakeview (7-0, 4-0) has scored 33 goals with White allowing just one opponent score, that coming on a penalty kick against Hubbard last Tuesday.
He has recorded 13 scoreless halves.
“Our defense is very talented and they make it very easy for me,” White said. “Daniel Sarko is my sweeper in back and he loves talking to me in order to keep me awake while my outside backs get up and down when they need to.
“This isn’t a team, it’s family and we’re all brothers.”
For Poland (4-2-1, 3-1) goalkeeper Harrison Walkama’s first season in goal has been equally impressive as he has allowed nine overall goals in seven outings. He has two shutouts to his credit and allowed just one goal on five other occasions.
“Both goalies were outstanding tonight,” Poland head coach Brian Garcar said. “Harrison ... has done an excellent job for us.
“He’s grown into the position and taken on a leadership role while making some really big saves,” Garcar said. “This was a game between two good defensive teams and two very good goalies. Unfortunately, we fell just a little short.”
The two teams battled to a scoreless tie in the opening half with Lakeview taking two shots on goal and holding Poland to one goal.
The pace picked up after intermission with Lakeview netting the only goal, posting six overall shots and three on goal. Lakeview’s stingy Bulldogs defense limited Poland to three shots overall and one on goal.
Phillips said that White and a determined second half effort were the keys for his team.
“Zac is a big part of our success and with such an outstanding defense, I’m not so sure that he’s had more than 20 saves thus far,” said Phillips, now in his third season as head coach. “Poland did a great job of confusing us in the opening half and I told our team at the half that they were giving us some good space.
Michael [Augustine] made a great pass to Blake, who just turned on the ball and nailed it.
“We start in June, do open fields, go to a few camps and always hold our players to a high standard,” Phillips said. “What helps is that our mid-fielders and forwards all played last year and that experience really shows this year.”