Not this time

Indian Creek’s Carlos Sanchez reacts after missing a shot during the second half of a Class 1A Hinckley-Big Rock Regional quarterfinal match Wednesday in Waterman. Indian Creek lost, 1-0. (Beck Diefenbach – bdiefenbach@daily-chronicle.com)

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WATERMAN – Indian Creek coach Eric Schrader knew Wednesday's Hinckley-Big Rock Regional quarterfinal match against Serena would be a tough task, despite the fact that the Timberwolves already had beaten the Huskers twice during the regular season.

The Timberwolves were down three players because of injury, while Josh Lazzarotto had two yellow cards and Justin Swanson had a red card on Saturday in a loss to Hinckley-Big Rock, leaving Indian Creek short two more players. All in all, the Timberwolves were missing four forwards and four of their top five scorers.

When the final horn sounded, Serena was too much for undermanned Indian Creek (9-13) as the Huskers advanced in the regional with a 1-0 victory. Serena (13-7) moves on to face top-seeded Somonauk on Saturday.

The first half was scoreless, and the lone goal of the match came from Ron McCaslin with 33:15 remaining.

"We knew coming in it was going to be a struggle on offense," Schrader said. "We just didn't get many good shots on goal, that's our biggest problem. That's been our problem all year. We've got to get shots on goal and that's what it comes down to.

"We moved Matt Kyler up to play offense today, that's the first time I think he's ever done that in the three years he's played here."

Indian Creek had 11 shots on goal. Kyler had one of the Timberwolves' better chances on the afternoon, with a shot that went just over the crossbar in the second half.

"I should have put it in," Kyler said. "I wish I would have but I got under it too much and put it over."

Indian Creek goalie Shaquille Crayton started his third match of the year in place of Aaron Bolton, who was out with a leg injury. The sophomore had 14 saves on the afternoon.

"He's been pretty good for stepping in at the end of the year when Aaron went down," Schrader said. "He looked like he's been playing back there all year."

Even with the loss, the Timberwolves' future looks bright. Indian Creek only loses two seniors, Lazzarotto and Jon Kowalczyk, and had 10 freshmen and five sophomores on its roster this season.

"Really, all these guys are going to be back next year," Schrader said. "Plus, the guys who were injured are going to be back. So that will be nice for next year."

Serena coach Dean DeRango was impressed by Indian Creek.

"Indian Creek's so vastly improved over the last couple years. Schrader's doing a great job with them," DeRango said. "They come to play."