The process of moving to defense drove Nikko Kolintzas to tears.
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“One day at practice, I got so frustrated,” the Lake Central senior said. “I didn’t talk to anyone. I just went home, I started crying. I showered, got out of the shower, I started crying.
“But I talked to some of my friends on the team and they basically brought me back into this and brought my head up.”
Kolintzas was all smiles Wednesday night after he had a goal and an assist to help Lake Central post a 4-1 Duneland Athletic Conference win over visiting Portage.
Kolintzas began his career at Lake Central (7-0, 3-0) as a forward. His midseason move to center midfield in 2015 helped catalyze the team’s run to its first semistate appearance since 2010.
His reaction to shifting to right defender this season was not enthusiastic.
“We were joking before the season, Nikko was absolutely adamant he was not coming out for the team if he had to play in the back,” LC coach Jereme Rainwater said. “I’ve known him since he was a chubby little 10-year-old, so I told him he was. All joking aside, he came out here and he’s done it.”
Kolintzas scored Lake Central’s first goal against Portage (3-3-1, 1-2) with less than 25 minutes left in the first half, deftly back-heeling LC’s sixth of 12 corner kicks.
The goal was his third of the season.
“I was giving him a hard time the other day, he’s on pace to score more goals than he did his first three seasons at Lake Central playing striker,” Rainwater said. “He has some freedom to get forward.”
The work of players such as center midfielder Enrique Dominguez and central defenders Josh Dulski and Nick Shell help allow Kolintzas to make those runs on the outside.
An example occurred three minutes into the second half. Kolintzas passed a ball from the right side, setting up a goal by Cole Rainwater to make it 3-0.
“We play with width, so chances come and I take my chances,” Kolintzas said. “I move up and down. It’s a little tiring, but it’s the game of soccer. You have to do what’s going to make your team win..
“At first, I was frustrated. I was not having it — I was not playing defense, I can’t play defense. My whole life I’ve played midfield or forward, so defense is a big transition for me. But I can’t just not play. We’re having a successful season.”
Lake Central, ranked No. 1 in the Class 2A state coaches poll, took a 2-0 lead with 16 minutes left in the half on Daniel Picioski’s shot from distance. Picioski assisted on a goal by Michael Bikos with 14 minutes left in the game.
Portage avoided the shutout when senior standout Josh Gonzalez scored with six minutes left.
Portage coach Will Fortenberry knew the challenge.
“They’re very good,” he said. “They’re undefeated for a reason. They’re definitely the best team in the Region. I told our guys, we had to play the perfect game.
“We played well. We had to be more defensive — we’re playing a team that we’re not going to come out and out-possess. We understood that. We made a couple of mistakes, but we did well.”
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