Junior forward Makonnen Stampley played just one game with Lockport’s varsity team last season, coming up for a playoff game against Bolingbrook.

That brief experience, though, combined with his success on the junior varsity level, had him feeling good entering this season.

“I came in with confidence because I did well last year,” he said. “I just carried that confidence to varsity. Getting that game last year helped. It was tough and nerve-wracking, but it was good experience.

“Now, this year, I’m really comfortable playing with all the boys on varsity.”

Stampley has become one of the Porters’ most dynamic offensive players in his first full varsity season. He scored his fifth goal and dished out two assists Tuesday as host Lockport rolled to a 4-1 win over Sandburg in a key SouthWest Suburban Blue game.

“Makonnen has that ability to really be dangerous with the ball,” Lockport coach Chris Beal said. “He’s fast, he’s creative and he can finish. He’s added a lot to our attack and has given us some firepower up there.”

With the victory, Lockport (6-1, 3-0) moved within one win of clinching the conference championship. The Porters play April 15 at Bolingbrook — which is 2-0 in divisional play, with a game Thursday against Lincoln-Way East.

Lockport and Sandburg (3-3-1, 0-2) seemed in line for a tough, defensive struggle through 35 minutes before Stampley ignited the Porters’ offense.

Danny Kajtezovic took a pass from Sebastian Molek and made a run down the left side of the field before slipping a pass across the box. After another Lockport player let the ball go past him, Stampley crashed the far post and finished for a 1-0 lead with 4:51 left in the first half.

“That’s something we practice,” Stampley said. “Making those runs

and doing those dummies. We just have to put that work in practice into the games and finish it off.

“Once you get that first goal, the pressure is off.”

Lockport quickly added two more goals early in the second half.

The same trio from the first goal was involved again in the second as Molek won a ball near midfield and played a pass ahead to Stampley, who then slipped a quick feed to Kajtezovic for the goal.

Kajtezovic, a junior who transferred from Tinley Park, began the season on the JV team before being called up for the last four games.

“I scored 15 goals for the JV,” he said. “Now I’m up and trying to do my best. These games are higher pressure, fast paced, against stronger opponents. It’s fun playing at this level.”

Stampley and Kajtezovic have quickly developed a connection.

“Our chemistry’s pretty good,” Stampley said. “Through practices, we’ve developed that. He’s a good player.”

Ryan Pavelka headed in Damir Oliynyk’s corner kick to make it 3-0 with 32:25 to go.

Sandburg got on the board with 29:42 left when Aidan Donaghey scored off Sebastian Burzynski’s assist.

But Lockport erased any lingering doubts about the outcome with 9:40 to play when Stampley dribbled around goalkeeper Brayden Rice and slipped a pass to Oliynyk for a tap-in goal into the open net.

Pat Marshall made three saves for the Porters.

“This is probably the best Lockport team I’ve seen in a long time,” Sandburg coach Desi Vuillaume said. “Every kid out there is good and a hard worker.

“We didn’t have the momentum we wanted to start the game. We started really slow and we didn’t really get going until the second half.”

Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.