WINONA LAKE – On Senior Night for Lakeland Christian Academy’s varsity soccer team, it was a freshman that put on quite a show. In a 9-1 win over the visiting Tippecanoe Valley Vikings Thursday evening, LCA freshman Parker Stewart scored three goals in a seven-minute span. His effort helped the Cougars improve to 7-4-1 on the season, while Valley fell to 4-8. After junior Garrett McCoomb put the Cougars up 1-0 in the 13th minute of play, Stewart earned his hat trick with goals in the 18th, 22nd and 25th minutes. LCA led 6-0 at halftime, and pushed its advantage to 7-0 before junior Alan Jimenez scored Valley’s lone goal in the 51st min, heading a corner kick by senior Ivan Santiago into the net. “I think it’s really encouraging, especially being senior night, that was really important for us,” LCA coach Vincent Sell said of his team’s first-half performance. “Just playing good soccer as a team and everyone working together, that was the best thing to see. “Getting on the board early ... that was the most important thing, getting that first goal and the confidence behind that.” Stewart finished the game with three goals and two assists, while McCoomb and classmate Noel Blum scored two goals each, and senior Colby Stevens and sophomore Jacob Harmon each scored once. Sophomore Theran McKeever had two assists in the win, while senior Melissa Goss, junior Elijah Raymond and sophomore Lauren Starrett tallied one assist each. “We had some good talent come in this year that has some good experience, and they just fit in really well with the rest of the team chemistry,” said Cell. “Parker Stewart has been able to help us out in a lot of ways.” LCA took 29 shots in the game, 22 of them on goal. Valley, on the other hand, got off nine shots, six on goal. “We held them for 15 minutes,” Valley coach Mark Gordon said of his team’s effort against the Cougars. “We had a great match the other night at Whitko, we beat them. We beat Peru. We’ve been on a nice little run. I don’t know tonight ... they got that first one in, and then got three more goals in a short amount of time. After that, it was time to give a lot of the kids a chance to play.” LCA goalkeeper Cross Williams, a junior, made five saves in the win. Valley junior Fabian Mar made nine saves, and was replaced by sophomore Alex Morrison when the score got to 6-0. Morrison made two saves. The Cougars are in action again Tuesday when they host Culver Academies. Valley plays the host school in the Winamac Invitational Saturday at 9 a.m.
LAKELAND CHRISTIAN 9, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 1 Goals: LCA – Parker Stewart 3, Garrett McCoomb 2, Noel Blum 2, Colby Stevens 1, Jacob Harmon 1; Valley – Alan Jimenez Assists: LCA – Stewart 2, Theran McKeever 2, Elijah Raymond 1, Lauren Starrett 1, Melissa Goss 1; Valley – Ivan Santiago Shots – LCA 29, Valley 9; Shots On Goal – LCA 22, Valley 6; Corners – LCA 8, Valley 4; Saves – Cross Williams (LCA) 5, Fabian Mar (TV) 9, Alex Morrison 2 Records: LCA 7-4-1, Valley 4-8
