Lemont's Gabriela Kuruc scores game-winner to clinch Porter Cup

UIC commit Kuruc leads Lemont past Lockport with her 10th goal of the season

Apr. 15, 2026 at 2:25am

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An abstract expressionist painting in vibrant neon colors depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a high school soccer match, with players' forms dissolving into a blur of rapid brushstrokes.A burst of energy and athleticism captures the excitement of Lemont's Porter Cup championship victory.Joliet Today

Gabriela Kuruc, a junior midfielder who recently committed to play at the University of Illinois at Chicago, scored the game-winning goal to lead Lemont to a 2-1 victory over Lockport and clinch the Porter Cup championship. Kuruc, who has 10 goals on the season, provided the decisive strike in the 63rd minute after teammate Alexandra Chrisman had earlier tied the game for Lemont.

Why it matters

Kuruc's performance highlights her continued development as a standout player for Lemont, who are now 9-1 on the season and winners of 9 straight games. The victory over Lockport, a strong program in its own right, demonstrates Lemont's ability to compete at a high level and sets them up well for a potential deep postseason run.

The details

Lemont took an early 1-0 lead on Chrisman's goal before Lockport equalized. But Kuruc, who has already committed to play at UIC, scored the game-winner in the 63rd minute to give Lemont the victory. Lemont goalkeeper Kaelyn Shaughnessy made 5 saves in the win.

  • Chrisman tied the game for Lemont with 24:38 remaining.
  • Kuruc scored the game-winning goal for Lemont with 17:40 left in the match.

The players

Gabriela Kuruc

A junior midfielder for Lemont High School who recently committed to play soccer at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Kuruc scored the game-winning goal and now has 10 goals on the season.

Alexandra Chrisman

A player for Lemont High School who scored the equalizing goal to make it 1-1 in the second half.

Kaelyn Shaughnessy

The goalkeeper for Lemont High School who made 5 saves in the victory.

Makenna Klacko

The player for Lockport High School who scored their lone goal in the match.

Hayden Spodarek

A Wisconsin-Parkside recruit who had the assist on Lockport's goal.

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What they’re saying

“'This is a huge win for us. Now we've set a standard on where we are as a team. I'm overall very proud of the girls. Personally, I think we can go far in the postseason.'”

— Gabriela Kuruc, Lemont Player

“'She's just Gabby K. I don't know what else I can say. She's amazing as a teammate, as a friend, as a soccer player. She puts in a lot of hard work over the offseason, during the season, during club season.'”

— Alexandra Chrisman, Lemont Player

“'She's a junior now and you saw a bit more of that toughness in this game. Instead of getting pushed off the ball, she can fend players off and drive past them.'”

— Rick Prangen, Lemont Head Coach

What’s next

Lemont will look to continue their strong season and postseason push after clinching the Porter Cup championship. Their next match is scheduled for April 18th against a conference opponent.

The takeaway

Gabriela Kuruc's game-winning goal and standout performance for Lemont showcases her continued development into an elite high school player. Her commitment to UIC also highlights the program's ability to attract top local talent, setting them up for future success.