MERRILLVILLE | When you're as fast as Crown Point, the opposition has to worry about that first and foremost.
The Bulldogs' speed was on display in the second semifinal at the Class 2A Merrillville Sectional on Wednesday night, as they beat the hosts 6-0 behind a lightning-quick scoring barrage in the first half.
Lowell (3-14) shocked KV in the first semifinal 6-2, thanks to a four-goal effort by sophomore Stojan Kresteski.
Crown Point scored a whopping four goals in the last five minutes of the first half, which included scores by sophomore Carmelo Morales and senior Dan Naumoski within one minute of each other.
"Merrillville didn't give us any good opportunities early," Crown Point coach JR Rosenbaum said. "But once we got the first one in, we got our confidence."
Naumoski added a second goal in the second half.
"Our game plan worked for the first 35 minutes, but after Crown Point scored that first one, we were disappointed," Merrillville coach Brian Past said. "Once the wheels fell off, it kind of spun out of control."
In the first game, Lowell jumped out to a 3-0 thanks to Kresteski's three first-half goals.
But KV surged back with two goals from freshman Jose Ramos and junior Luis Cazares before the first half came to a close.
In the second half, it was all Lowell, as Kresteski netted his fourth goal and keeper Brendon Shanks shut out the Kougars with six saves.
"Stojan didn't play Wednesday against them because of injury, so he was freed up because they were marking Federico (Tajliatti)," Lowell coach Chris Werling said. "I was surprised by their comeback, but we played better 'D' in the second half."
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