Boys Soccer Regional Champions: The Chesterton boys soccer team won the Regional Championship on Saturday night with a 5-0 victory over Kankakee Valley. Pictured are, front row (l to r), Jameson Sensibaugh, Joshua Sensibaugh, Brandon Garvey, Nick Welkie, Nick Hollingsworth, Cole Galloway, Wesley Phillips, Seth Walker, Brandon Long, Alex Gordon, Evan Nash, Dan Spears, Jordan Lewis and Adam Stueber. Second row (l to r) are Coach Conway, Jared Moleski, Nathan Long, Coach Sandahl, Coach Christensen, Dan Banghart, Mark Gore, Mike Moskalick, Kurt Fant, Troy Houck, Alex Mannen, Brian Seawright, David Vinson, Kevin Gates, Elliot Rauch, Coach Sensibaugh and Coach Galloway. (Tribune photo by TR Harlan)

By TR HARLAN

Apparently Chesterton boys soccer coach Jamie Sensibaugh has an unfair advantage in the IHSAA State Tournament – his son, Jameson.

Jameson told his father Saturday morning that the Trojans would beat Kankakee Valley 5-0 in the Regional Championship.

I wonder if he knows anything about the NFL?

“It always feels good,” Sensibaugh said. “The Regional Championship was one of our goals at the beginning of the year.”

The Trojans jumped on top immediately with a goal from Mike Moskalick less than eight minutes in. Troy Houck’s throw-in found Jordan Lewis’ head. KV goalkeeper Josh Tillema saved the shot, but left the rebound for Moskalick.

Just 10 minutes later, Cole Galloway sent a crossing pass to Alex Gordon for a 2-0 lead.

“They tried to run an offside-trap and that sped up our offense a little,” Sensibaugh said. “We wanted to play the ball through or a diagonal ball and we didn’t do that all the time. We still got good shots and scored goals.”

The third goal of the first half came on a score by Galloway off the keeper.

“We’ve had a goal that started last year with the Semistate loss,” Sensibaugh said. “We had peaks and valleys in our season, but you have to find out what you do best and hang your hat on that.

“For us, that’s showing up for the game mentally prepared.”

Jordan Lewis scored the game’s fourth goal on a penalty kick with 6:10 left and then fed Nick Welkie at the 4:42 mark for the last goal of the night.

“One of my happiest moments of the season was to see Nick Welkie score that last goal,” Sensibaugh said. “That’s an unselfish play by Jordan (Lewis) to feed him that ball at that time. It was a beautiful shot with his left foot.

“He’s a kid that comes to practice with a great attitude and works so hard with not very many opportunities to play. To come out and see him score in a Regional Championship, for me, that’s why I coach – to see thing like that.”

The Trojans will face off against DAC-foe Lake Central in the second morning game of the Valparaiso Semistate on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. The first semifinal features Crawfordsville and Elkhart Central.

Chesterton 5, Kankakee Valley 0

AT VALPARAISO

Chesterton – Cole Galloway 1 goal, 1 assist; Jordan Lewis 1 goal, 1 assist; Mike Moskalick 1 goal; Alex Gordon 1 goal; Nick Welkie 1 goal; Wesley Phillips 1 assist; Alex Mannen 4 saves.

Kankakee Valley – Josh Tillema 9 saves.

Records – Chesterton 15-4-1, Kankakee Valley 12-7-1.

Posted 10/15/2007