Lake Central girls soccer team beats Highland with new attitude

MUNSTER | After a slow start, Times No. 3 Lake Central was headed in the wrong direction mentally.

So coach Lori Smith made her team write down positive statements, and the Indians made an effort to pick each other up rather than put each other down.

"We all believe in each other," L.C. senior Lauren Doreski said. "We trust each other to cross it. We trust each other to finish. That's how we are as a team."

"They bicker. They're like sisters sometimes, because they spend enough time with each other," Smith said. "If you're blaming each other, it doesn't help the team."

The proof is on the pitch where, after Thursday's 5-1 win over Munster, L.C. has won four straight after losing three of its first four games.

"They realize that they're all out here for the same reason," Smith said. "When they start believing in that, they start believing in themselves, and it feels good to be out here."

The Indians (5-3) got on the board quick with a Hillary Campbell goal in the seventh minute.

Lake Central controlled the ball for the duration of the first 40 minutes.

"If we could've stayed positive (earlier in the season), I think we could've done this before," Doreski said. "We're playing as a team now."

Doreski anticipated a short goal kick from Mustang keeper Joanna Pugh and crept up from her midfield position. She got her foot on the ball and rocketed a shot that was supposed to be a cross from about 30 yards out at 27:54.

"It's just kind of went in," she said. "I thought I was further back, so I'd just drop it in. I was just at the right place, I guess."

The goal put L.C. up 2-0 at the half.

"We're thinking about what we're actually doing at practice, and we're actually applying it to the game," Smith said. "Finally, it's clicking."

Lake Central got second-half tallies from Shannon Freedom, Lyana Burrink and Michelle Wartman.

Morgan Newton notched a score for the Mustangs (3-2) in the 68th minute.

The Indians took 19 shots and put 12 on goal. Goalie Megan Bereda didn't have to make a save until deep into the second half.

"The confidence, it makes a big difference," Smith said.