Fremd, Downers Grove South set to renew early season rivalry
By Bill Stone
The Fremd boys soccer team won consecutive games once in 2013.
The Vikings gave themselves the chance to match and hopefully surpass that with a 1-0 win in their season opener over Maine South. They'll try to continue the momentum in their annual early-season meeting with Downers Grove South at noon Saturday in Downers Grove. Fremd also is scheduled to play Friday night at New Trier.
“We had a solid start to our season. I saw some things that were good and some things that we need to work on,” Fremd coach Steve Keller said. “Overall, I was pleased with our performance. We created numerous chances on goal and had a solid game defensively.”
The game is the season-opener for Downers Grove, which finished last season with an 11-7-3 that included a 3-3 record in the West Suburban Conference Gold Division.
The Mustangs top returnee is senior forward Eric Diaz, who is a two-time all-sectional and All-WSC Gold selection. Last season the third-year starter earned all-tournament honors at the Great Midwest Classic in Indiana.
Downers Grove South won consecutive games three times last season. The final time came from wins in its regular-season finale and Class 3A playoff opener before losing to Lyons 3-0 in the Lyons Township Regional final.
“Expectations are high,” Downers South coach Jon Stapleton said. “This year’s team has depth at a number of positions, which has created a very competitive training environment as players are pushing for starting jobs. This year’s team would like to compete for a conference championship and make a deep postseason run.”
Fremd would like to continue another trend Saturday. They have won three
of the teams’ past four meetings by a 2-0 score, including last year in Palatine.
Fremd's season ended at Carmel last season with 1-0 penalty kicks result in the host team's regional final.
Viking senior defender Tomas Peleckas earned all-sectional honorable mention and All-
Mid Suburban League West honors in 2013. The Fremd defense had eight shutouts last season, including four straight during a 3-0-1 stretch that improved the team’s record to 5-5-3.
Also returning are seniors Danny Burton (defense), Ben Borst (defense/midfield), Jacob Cuthbert (forward/midfield), Luke Kosacz (defense), Will LeFevre (goalie), Gavin McCarthy (midfield), Ben Poder (forward/midfield) and Kurt Rettke (defense/midfield) and junior forward/midfielder Zach Schoffstall.
Schoffstall was second on the Vikings in scoring last season with six goals and seven assists behind graduated Nathan Dolan (10 goals, assists), and Poder added two goals. Schoffstall scored a late goal in last season’s victory over Downers
South. Schoffstall, Dolan and graduated Brock Vonholt accounted for 21 of the team’s 26 goals for 2013.
This season’s varsity newcomers are Tyler Alfirevic (defense/midfield), Jake Arbour (midfield), Andrew Castro, Michael Guedel (midfield), Seiya Iguchi (midfield/forward), Michael Kramer (goalie), Rohan Menon (forward/midfield), Ryan Rowden (defense), sophomores Tyler Johanson (forward), Michael James LeFevre (midfield) and Luke Schoffstall (midfield) and freshman Vania Martin (midfield/forward).
“We should be a competitive team that has many returning players and is deep. Our goal is to win the conference and make our mark in the playoffs,” Keller said.
Downers Grove South senior defender Andrew Dobosenski was among Downers South’s four All-WSC Gold selections last season. Senior midfielder Jason Galik also is a key returnee. Mustang newcomers include junior goalie Sam Dumford, junior midfielder Peter Fish and sophomore forward Nick Rohl.
More than half of the Mustangs’ games last season were decided by no more than one goal.
By Bill Stone
The Fremd boys soccer team won consecutive games once in 2013.
The Vikings gave themselves the chance to match and hopefully surpass that with a 1-0 win in their season opener over Maine South. They'll try to continue the momentum in their annual early-season meeting with Downers Grove South at noon Saturday in Downers Grove. Fremd also is scheduled to play Friday night at New Trier.
“We had a solid start to our season. I saw some things that were good and some things that we need to work on,” Fremd coach Steve Keller said. “Overall, I was pleased with our performance. We created numerous chances on goal and had a solid game defensively.”
The game is the season-opener for Downers Grove, which finished last season with an 11-7-3 that included a 3-3 record in the West Suburban Conference Gold Division.
The Mustangs top returnee is senior forward Eric Diaz, who is a two-time all-sectional and All-WSC Gold selection. Last season the third-year starter earned all-tournament honors at the Great Midwest Classic in Indiana.
Downers Grove South won consecutive games three times last season. The final time came from wins in its regular-season finale and Class 3A playoff opener before losing to Lyons 3-0 in the Lyons Township Regional final.
“Expectations are high,” Downers South coach Jon Stapleton said. “This year’s team has depth at a number of positions, which has created a very competitive training environment as players are pushing for starting jobs. This year’s team would like to compete for a conference championship and make a deep postseason run.”
Fremd would like to continue another trend Saturday. They have won three
of the teams’ past four meetings by a 2-0 score, including last year in Palatine.
Fremd's season ended at Carmel last season with 1-0 penalty kicks result in the host team's regional final.
Viking senior defender Tomas Peleckas earned all-sectional honorable mention and All-
Mid Suburban League West honors in 2013. The Fremd defense had eight shutouts last season, including four straight during a 3-0-1 stretch that improved the team’s record to 5-5-3.
Also returning are seniors Danny Burton (defense), Ben Borst (defense/midfield), Jacob Cuthbert (forward/midfield), Luke Kosacz (defense), Will LeFevre (goalie), Gavin McCarthy (midfield), Ben Poder (forward/midfield) and Kurt Rettke (defense/midfield) and junior forward/midfielder Zach Schoffstall.
Schoffstall was second on the Vikings in scoring last season with six goals and seven assists behind graduated Nathan Dolan (10 goals, assists), and Poder added two goals. Schoffstall scored a late goal in last season’s victory over Downers
South. Schoffstall, Dolan and graduated Brock Vonholt accounted for 21 of the team’s 26 goals for 2013.
This season’s varsity newcomers are Tyler Alfirevic (defense/midfield), Jake Arbour (midfield), Andrew Castro, Michael Guedel (midfield), Seiya Iguchi (midfield/forward), Michael Kramer (goalie), Rohan Menon (forward/midfield), Ryan Rowden (defense), sophomores Tyler Johanson (forward), Michael James LeFevre (midfield) and Luke Schoffstall (midfield) and freshman Vania Martin (midfield/forward).
“We should be a competitive team that has many returning players and is deep. Our goal is to win the conference and make our mark in the playoffs,” Keller said.
Downers Grove South senior defender Andrew Dobosenski was among Downers South’s four All-WSC Gold selections last season. Senior midfielder Jason Galik also is a key returnee. Mustang newcomers include junior goalie Sam Dumford, junior midfielder Peter Fish and sophomore forward Nick Rohl.
More than half of the Mustangs’ games last season were decided by no more than one goal.