The best season in the history of St. Catherine's High School boys soccer team has resulted in another award.

St. Catherine's coach Ben Lake has been named the Private Schools Coach of the Year by the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association. He is one of three coaches honored by the WSCA - Muskego coach Eric Hess and Kohler coach Scott Feltner were the recipients of the honors for Large Schools and Small Schools, respectively.

Lake guided St. Catherine's to a 20-5 record and the WIAA Division 3 state title Oct. 31. The Angels beat Kohler 1-0 on a dramatic header by Cam Casper in the second overtime period at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee for the first boys soccer state championship in the history of the Racine school.

Beyond graduation losses from last season, Lake had to replace three other returning starters.

Key defender Richard Poetker moved out of town; the Angels' best offensive player, Marc Glidden, broke his leg prior to the season; Zach Haman broke his foot early in the season and Ryan Thielen missed much of the season with an injury.

In addition, six St. Catherine's players suffered concussions during the season.

But Lake got the team to jell and the rest is history, thanks to the dramatic overtime victory over Kohler.

"We had to play more of a counterattacking style," Lake said. "It was definitely different for a soccer program that's very offense-oriented.

"Our motto from the beginning of the season was perseverance. We didn't feel sorry for ourselves and kept working. We played for each other."

The WSCA cited in its vote, among other things, the toughness of the Angels' regular-season schedule.

"Ben sets a challenging schedule, never shying away from powerhouse Division 1 and 2 teams," the WSCA said in a press release.

Lake appreciated the vote by the WSCA, the second time he was so honored. He also was the Private Schools Coach of the Year in 2001.

"Being represented by having your peers honor you is kind of cool," Lake said.