Nov 03, 2009
Four teams with postseason aspirations headline Lemont athletics busy week

The crisp temperatures of early November are a good sign that IHSA postseason play is in full swing, and Lemont High Schools athletics program certainly has a busy week in store. The boys soccer, girls
volleyball, girls cross country and football squads will all be in action in their quests for a state title.

BOYS SOCCER
Lemonts boys soccer team is one win away from qualifying for its second IHSA State Finals berth in three years. Head coach Rick Prangens team survived a thrilling IHSA Sectional Final match on Saturday, topping South Suburban Conference foe and top-seeded Bremen in a penalty kick shootout. The two teams went scoreless for 80 minutes in regulation and through four overtimes before penalty kicks settled the match. Lemont, which is 21-4-1 overall and won the SSC Blue title, will face defending Class 2A State Champion Notre Dame (Peoria) on the road on Tuesday, November 3, at 5 p.m. A win would earn the Indians a berth in this weekends Class 2A State Finals, which will be contested at North Central College on Friday, November 6, and Saturday, November 7.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Lemonts girls volleyball program has enjoyed another terrific season in 2009. Head coach Chris Zogatas Indians swept through the South Suburban Conference with a perfect record, won their fourth straight IHSA Regional crown last weekend by beating Montini Catholic in straight sets, and has reached the 30-win plateau for the third straight year. Sporting a 30-7 record, Lemont will square off against host Wheaton St. Francis on Tuesday, November 3, at 7 p.m. in an IHSA Class 3A Sectional semifinal. A win over St. Francis would earn the Indians a spot in the IHSA Sectional final on Thursday, November 5, against the winner of the Joliet Catholic-Rosary semifinal. Lemont has finished as an IHSA Sectional runner-up each of the last two years.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
For the third straight year, Lemonts girls cross country team will represent the school in the IHSA Class 2A State Finals. Head coach Tim Plotkes Indians finished fourth in the team standings at the Jones Prep Sectional last weekend to earn their state finals berth. The IHSA Class 2A State Finals will be held on Saturday, November 7, at 11 a.m. at Detweiller Park in Peoria. Lemont, which again won the SSC Blue crown this fall, will look to improve upon its state finish for the second straight year after finishing 17th in 2007 and 16th in 2008.

FOOTBALL
The journey for a third consecutive trip to the IHSA Class 6A State Finals began quite well for Lemonts football team last weekend, as the SSC Blue champion Indians triumphed over visiting Lincoln-Way North by a 37-0 score. Head coach Eric Michaelsens defense posted its fifth shutout of the season to help improve the teams record to 9-1. This weekend, Lemont will host Morgan Park in the second round of the playoffs at 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 7. The contest will be a rematch of last years second-round playoff game, which the Indians won on the road, 21-7, on their way to their second straight Class 6A runner-up finish. There will be no ticket presale; tickets will only be available at the gate.