INDIANAPOLIS | Eppokrates Litos walked amid family and friends, weeping and hugging his supporters one after another.

The Lake Central boys soccer team had just suffered a 1-0 defeat against Zionsville on Saturday in a semifinal of the 16th annual State Finals at Kuntz Memorial Stadium, and Litos couldn't contain his emotions after the Indians' hard-fought loss.

But Litos' tears weren't solely products of disappointment. He was also proud of the Indians' accomplishments in 2009 -- a record of 21-2-1 and the team's second trip to the State Finals in school history.

"It definitely wasn't expected by anyone but us," said Litos, a senior forward who finished the season with 20 goals and five assists. "You can't listen to what other people tell you. That's exactly what we did, and look how far we came."

L.C. defeated Zionsville 2-1 in late September, but the Eagles (19-3-2) turned the tables on the Indians when it mattered most and earned a berth in the state championship game against Fort Wayne Homestead, a 4-1 winner over Columbus North in the other semifinal.

In the Indians' regular-season win against Zionsville, Eagles senior forward Harrison Petts suffered a knee injury and left the game midway through the first half with his team ahead 1-0. The Indians were able to rally and score two goals in the final seven minutes to capture victory.

On Saturday, Petts was in the Eagles' lineup, and he proved to be the difference. The Indiana University recruit scored the game's lone goal with 13:57 left in the second half.

"I don't even think the kid needs legs," L.C. coach Jereme Rainwater said of Petts. "I think if he'd sit out there on the field and command his players, they'd play around him. ... He's the best player in the state of Indiana."

Petts, senior midfielder A.J. Corrado and senior forward Dylan Mares created several scoring opportunities for Zionsville, which finished with eight shots on goal compared with L.C.'s four. However, Indians junior goalkeeper Brandon Cloutier repeatedly denied the Eagles en route to recording eight saves.

"I tried to play my best and do all I could for my team," Cloutier said. "They got lucky in the second half with (Petts') shot on the 6-yard box. The ball slipped through, and my defender slipped. It happens. It rained all last night.

"I'm not mad about that at all. (Petts) just played a great shot."

Senior defender Jared Schreiber, sophomore forward Manuel Rios, junior midfielder Chad Rigg and junior defender Cody Barnes each had a shot on goal for L.C. Litos also consistently threatened Zionsville with pressure deep in the Eagles' territory, but none of the Indians' offensive attacks paid off.

BOYS SOCCER

State Semifinals

Zionsville 1, Lake Central 0

Senior forward Harrison Petts, an Indiana University recruit, scored the game's lone goal with 13:57 left in the second half.

More inside, online

L.C. keeper Brandon Cloutier stars in loss. B4

The Indians are optimistic for 2010 season. B4

View more photos from Saturday's game at nwi.com.

State Finals

Semifinal

AT KUNTZ MEMORIAL STADIUM, INDIANAPOLIS

ZIONSVILLE 1, LAKE CENTRAL 0

LAKE CENTRAL -- Brandon Cloutier 8 saves.

ZIONSVILLE -- Harrison Petts 1 goal, Max Knorr 4 saves.

RECORDS -- Zionsville 19-3-2, Lake Central 21-2-1.