WATERFORD MILLS – In the scenario of survive and advance in the IHSAA girls soccer state tournament, it doesn’t have to be pretty. It just has to be a win.

Lakeland Christian Academy likely didn’t garner a ton of style points Tuesday, but got the job done and advance to the semi-finals of the Bethany Christian Girls Soccer Sectional after a 4-0 win over Lakewood Park Christian.

It took both clubs 12 minutes to even get a shot sent at a net, and unfortunately for LPC, they only managed two shots total in the first half. As play largely centered in the middle third of the pitch, LCA slowly began to shift the ball to its offensive half of the field, and finally got a break it needed.

Anna Reimink made a 40-yard run through the teeth of the LPC defense and zeroed in on target, finding plenty of space in the right corner for a goal and a huge collective sigh of relief. The Cougars, which did need keeper Brady Gross to make a tremendous diving save on an LPC breakaway on Sabra Harms just minutes before the Reimink goal, finally seemed to settle down.

“I really think it’s kind of cliche, but the girls were nervous to start tonight,” said LCA head coach Nat Raber. “They haven’t been in this position before and it took some time for them to relax. They didn’t know what to expect.”

Eight minutes into the second half, LCA started to pepper Millie Linnemeier’s goal pipes. A shot by Jess Slone was cleared off the line and another attempt moments later rocketed off the post. Slone would get hers in the 50th minute when a ball was inadvertently handled in the LCA box, but no call was made. As everyone stopped assuming the worst, Slone continued on and tapped the ball in. The smart play was deemed a goal, and a 2-0 lead.

That seemed to open up play for LCA, which cashed in on two goals in the 69th and 73rd minutes. A corner kick from Tori Calizo sailed right to Reimink, who was inexplicably left wide open at the top of the box and made LPC pay. Calizo got on the scoresheet after an errant pass found her Nike’s and the finish was true.

“Our offensive gameplan banks on Anna controlling the ball,” Raber stated. “They had some players who did a good job marking her at times, but when she is able to get the ball at her feet and run free, it just opens up things for us.”

LCA’s defense was solid when need be, holding LPC without a shot in the second half. Gross gets credit with her fourth shutout of the season. LPC had to deal with 19 LCA shots, Linnemeier making seven saves and her defenders blocking five attempts.

The victory gives LCA its first-ever IHSAA girls soccer sectional win, and continues its run of quality play of late.

LCA (8-5) has won seven of its last eight matches, but will have its toughest test of the season Thursday when it faces Westview in the semi-finals. The Warriors (7-9-1) were sluggish but still effective in a 2-0 win over Central Noble in the night’s first contest. Alizabeth Bultemeier scored both of Westview’s goals, the first in the 29th minute, the second in the 51st. Bethany Christian and Elkhart Christian will battle in Thursday’s second semi-final.

“We just have to play our game and we can’t focus on what they are doing,” Raber said of the semi-final matchup with the Warriors. “We have to take it to them and not be concerned with what they want to do. We are pretty good at controlling the ball and if we can capitalize on that, we should be in good shape. Watching them earlier tonight, they looked a little slower than I expected. Hopefully with our pace, we can wear them down a little and get some shots on their goal.”