Kinsella Cup stays with Palatine
after intense MSL win over Fremd
2nd half goal all Pirates need
to knock Vikings from ranks of undefeateds
By Mike Garofola
PALATINE -- There have been matches between crosstown rivals Fremd and Palatine during the storied Kinsella Cup series that were as entertaining and thrilling as they come.
Monday night at Fremd's Hildebrandt Field was not one of them.
The host Vikings, who came into the game undefeated on the season and tied atop the Mid-Suburban League table with Conant, found themselves in trouble from the opening whistle, and never found a way to dig themselves out during a 1-0 defeat at the hands of its neighbor Palatine.
Carolyn Soukop scored the lone goal of the night to hand the Pirates the Kinsella Cup - the coveted symbol of the Palatine Celtic Soccer Club, which has sent many players on their way to spots on the rosters of both clubs.
"It's a big deal to keep the cup for another year, and a really big deal to win a game against a team like Fremd, which has done so well, and has been a longtime rival of Palatine," said junior, Kacie Filian, who earned Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors with her play.
"I'm also really happy for my dad (Willie, the Pirates manager), because he's been coaching in so many of these games, and also my big sister (Mackenzie) who is a senior and playing in her last Kinsella Cup game."
Both Kacie Filian and her midfield running mate Sarah Clancy were mobbed by their teammates when the referee whistled this contest over, celebrating perhaps what was previously an unexpected vicory over the Vikings (6-1-1, 5-1-0) who until Monday night had registered five-consecutive clean sheets in league play.
"I suppose we came into this game as the underdog - but that's okay. I think all of us would prefer to be that way in each game we're in," offered Clancy, who along with Kacie Filian, was near perfect in every 50-50 challenge. On the outside, teammates Soukup and Sarah Jasonowicz did their part to keep their counterparts under wraps for most of this chilly evening.
"It's always our plan to play really feisty (winning balls) creating corners and deep throws, and trying to take our opponents out of their comfort level, and I feel like all of us did that really well," said Filian, who had to have tossed 15-18 throw-ins, with Clancy taking over at times to rest Filian's tired arms.
The result didn't sit well with Fremd coach Steve Keller.
"I really believe we took ourselves out of this game before it started with the players worried about how Palatine plays, and what they will try to do with their deadball and set piece plays, and everything else we've come to know about their tactical approach," suggested Fremd manager Steve Keller.
The entire Vikings club had a look of concern and disbelief when it was over - not so much because of the result, but more with the wonder of what would lie ahead for teammates Julia Szylke and Katie Kiolbassa, who left the match with injuries and did not return.
Midway through the first period, Szylke, a superb centerback, went down when she sustained an injury on a tackle in the Vikings end. Later when the home side was pushing forward in search of an equalizer, Kiolbassa, who returned from club to play her final season for Keller, suffered an injury to either to her arm or wrist - ending her night just two minutes from time.
With one of its top forwards, Emilijia Peleckas, injured during the Vikings 1-0 victory last Saturday at Conant, a trio key figures in a season which had began brightly now must await medical reports in the next few days.
"I just don't know what to say right now," began Keller.
"Injuries are part of any sport, and you always need a little bit of luck to get through a tough schedule filled with quality opponents. But I really feel on this night, the referee needed to do a better job of keeping this game under control.
"My comments on the officiating do not mean they had an outcome on the result. That for fact was on us. We did not come to play tonight the way that we have.
"But my concern was for the safety of both teams and for the game. My feeling was a few timely whistles early on, or a booking or two would have helped stop late tackles and challenges which can result in serious injuries, (which) may have been the case in the injury to Szylke."
With that all said, Keller's admittance to a poor opening by his club was spot-on. Though their was little resemblance to possession-styled, technical soccer from either team on this night, it was clear the tactical approach of Palatine (4-2-1, 3-0-0) could be a difference-maker if carried out to the max.
With the Pirates playing direct, and working to get a foot or head on every ball the Vikings sent their way, it was the visitors who slowly took control of what both managers suggested was a less than artistic soccer match.
There were just a few half chances put on frame and most of them came off the aforementioned bevy of long throws and corners manufactured by the Pirates. There were none from the run of play from either side.
Fremd showed little signs of life with its attack. A lovely bit of possession on a build-up initiated from out of the back by Szylke to Julia Leonard looked to break open the Pirates backline until Missy Adrian was detected to be offside.
Kacie Filian, a dominate force in the air all night, elevated over her opponents on three separate occasions during the first half to force keeper, Kelsie Stone into action. But it was the three-year veteran's long throw from into a crowd that rattled the near post and found its way out and then nearly into the back of the net.
"The idea in a game like this, which is physical and such a defensive battle, is to find a way to get that first goal, then somehow make it hold up the rest of the way," said Pirates manager Willie Filian.
That desire for the visitors came true in the 55th minute.
That's when another Palatine corner spilled freely outside the box. Thee an opportunistic Soukup calmly collected the ball and carried to her right before unloading an unstoppable strike into the far upper left corner.
"We get that goal because Sarah (Clancy) is so good at playing that feisty game of keeping the ball alive, and on that corner that's exactly what she did," admired Kacie Filian.
Keller and his staff moved to a 3-5-2 formation to spice up the Vikings attack for the final 25 minutes of play. Leonard pushed the ball into the midfield after taking over for her fallen mate Szylke along the back.
The senior put two free kick attempts over after this switch, while Kiolbassa created a quality chance for herself only to see her left-footed strike blocked on the way in at 61 minutes.
Willie Filian brought on Alexis Ortega-Saa to give his forward line some fresh legs and pace, and the senior didn't disappoint with plenty of creative work up-top that forced the Vikings backliners to defend instead of looking to counter or jump into the attack,
"We have a little different look along the back, and with Carolyn (Soukup) now in the middle, we're playing much better right now," said Kacie Filian.
The Pirates backline led by Samantha Malak and Anja Jacobsen was steady during a frantic final few minutes of regulation and never allowed keeper Amaya Rivera to be tested with anything dangerous on frame.
"I'm really proud of the girls and their effort tonight. This was an important result for them to get, and I'm sure if you asked them right now, they would all say this is the most important win of the season for them," said Willie Filian.
With this victory, the Pirates now have won three of the last four games against Fremd. The 2-2 draw last season to allow the club to keep the Kinsella Cup in their trophy caseh.
Jimmy Kinsella and Bill Hughes opened the Celtic Soccer Club for business in 1969. From 1999-2011, Fremd had a stranglehold on the travelling trophy until their neighbors won it back in 2012 with a 4-0 victory.
The Vikings held it for a year after a 2-1 overtime result in 2013, but it's been all Palatine since.
Starting lineups
Palatine
GK- Amaya Rivera
D- Samantha Malak
D- Anja Jacobsen
D- Marissa Glaviano
D- Melanie Simon
M- Sarah Jasonowicz
M- Kacie Filian
M- Sarah Clancy
M- Carolyn Soukup
F- Kendall Kane
F- Mackenzie Filian
Fremd
GK- Kelsie Stone
D- Lauren Burk
D- Julia Szylke
D- Marta Cholewa
D- Jennifer Josten
M- Morgan Perkins
M- Julia Leonard
M- Katie Kiolbassa
M- Marissa Wade
F- Missy Adrian
F- Angie Zara
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Kacie Filian, jr., MF, Palatine
Referee: Mike Valsamis
after intense MSL win over Fremd
2nd half goal all Pirates need
to knock Vikings from ranks of undefeateds
By Mike Garofola
PALATINE -- There have been matches between crosstown rivals Fremd and Palatine during the storied Kinsella Cup series that were as entertaining and thrilling as they come.
Monday night at Fremd's Hildebrandt Field was not one of them.
The host Vikings, who came into the game undefeated on the season and tied atop the Mid-Suburban League table with Conant, found themselves in trouble from the opening whistle, and never found a way to dig themselves out during a 1-0 defeat at the hands of its neighbor Palatine.
Carolyn Soukop scored the lone goal of the night to hand the Pirates the Kinsella Cup - the coveted symbol of the Palatine Celtic Soccer Club, which has sent many players on their way to spots on the rosters of both clubs.
"It's a big deal to keep the cup for another year, and a really big deal to win a game against a team like Fremd, which has done so well, and has been a longtime rival of Palatine," said junior, Kacie Filian, who earned Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors with her play.
"I'm also really happy for my dad (Willie, the Pirates manager), because he's been coaching in so many of these games, and also my big sister (Mackenzie) who is a senior and playing in her last Kinsella Cup game."
Both Kacie Filian and her midfield running mate Sarah Clancy were mobbed by their teammates when the referee whistled this contest over, celebrating perhaps what was previously an unexpected vicory over the Vikings (6-1-1, 5-1-0) who until Monday night had registered five-consecutive clean sheets in league play.
"I suppose we came into this game as the underdog - but that's okay. I think all of us would prefer to be that way in each game we're in," offered Clancy, who along with Kacie Filian, was near perfect in every 50-50 challenge. On the outside, teammates Soukup and Sarah Jasonowicz did their part to keep their counterparts under wraps for most of this chilly evening.
"It's always our plan to play really feisty (winning balls) creating corners and deep throws, and trying to take our opponents out of their comfort level, and I feel like all of us did that really well," said Filian, who had to have tossed 15-18 throw-ins, with Clancy taking over at times to rest Filian's tired arms.
The result didn't sit well with Fremd coach Steve Keller.
"I really believe we took ourselves out of this game before it started with the players worried about how Palatine plays, and what they will try to do with their deadball and set piece plays, and everything else we've come to know about their tactical approach," suggested Fremd manager Steve Keller.
The entire Vikings club had a look of concern and disbelief when it was over - not so much because of the result, but more with the wonder of what would lie ahead for teammates Julia Szylke and Katie Kiolbassa, who left the match with injuries and did not return.
Midway through the first period, Szylke, a superb centerback, went down when she sustained an injury on a tackle in the Vikings end. Later when the home side was pushing forward in search of an equalizer, Kiolbassa, who returned from club to play her final season for Keller, suffered an injury to either to her arm or wrist - ending her night just two minutes from time.
With one of its top forwards, Emilijia Peleckas, injured during the Vikings 1-0 victory last Saturday at Conant, a trio key figures in a season which had began brightly now must await medical reports in the next few days.
"I just don't know what to say right now," began Keller.
"Injuries are part of any sport, and you always need a little bit of luck to get through a tough schedule filled with quality opponents. But I really feel on this night, the referee needed to do a better job of keeping this game under control.
"My comments on the officiating do not mean they had an outcome on the result. That for fact was on us. We did not come to play tonight the way that we have.
"But my concern was for the safety of both teams and for the game. My feeling was a few timely whistles early on, or a booking or two would have helped stop late tackles and challenges which can result in serious injuries, (which) may have been the case in the injury to Szylke."
With that all said, Keller's admittance to a poor opening by his club was spot-on. Though their was little resemblance to possession-styled, technical soccer from either team on this night, it was clear the tactical approach of Palatine (4-2-1, 3-0-0) could be a difference-maker if carried out to the max.
With the Pirates playing direct, and working to get a foot or head on every ball the Vikings sent their way, it was the visitors who slowly took control of what both managers suggested was a less than artistic soccer match.
There were just a few half chances put on frame and most of them came off the aforementioned bevy of long throws and corners manufactured by the Pirates. There were none from the run of play from either side.
Fremd showed little signs of life with its attack. A lovely bit of possession on a build-up initiated from out of the back by Szylke to Julia Leonard looked to break open the Pirates backline until Missy Adrian was detected to be offside.
Kacie Filian, a dominate force in the air all night, elevated over her opponents on three separate occasions during the first half to force keeper, Kelsie Stone into action. But it was the three-year veteran's long throw from into a crowd that rattled the near post and found its way out and then nearly into the back of the net.
"The idea in a game like this, which is physical and such a defensive battle, is to find a way to get that first goal, then somehow make it hold up the rest of the way," said Pirates manager Willie Filian.
That desire for the visitors came true in the 55th minute.
That's when another Palatine corner spilled freely outside the box. Thee an opportunistic Soukup calmly collected the ball and carried to her right before unloading an unstoppable strike into the far upper left corner.
"We get that goal because Sarah (Clancy) is so good at playing that feisty game of keeping the ball alive, and on that corner that's exactly what she did," admired Kacie Filian.
Keller and his staff moved to a 3-5-2 formation to spice up the Vikings attack for the final 25 minutes of play. Leonard pushed the ball into the midfield after taking over for her fallen mate Szylke along the back.
The senior put two free kick attempts over after this switch, while Kiolbassa created a quality chance for herself only to see her left-footed strike blocked on the way in at 61 minutes.
Willie Filian brought on Alexis Ortega-Saa to give his forward line some fresh legs and pace, and the senior didn't disappoint with plenty of creative work up-top that forced the Vikings backliners to defend instead of looking to counter or jump into the attack,
"We have a little different look along the back, and with Carolyn (Soukup) now in the middle, we're playing much better right now," said Kacie Filian.
The Pirates backline led by Samantha Malak and Anja Jacobsen was steady during a frantic final few minutes of regulation and never allowed keeper Amaya Rivera to be tested with anything dangerous on frame.
"I'm really proud of the girls and their effort tonight. This was an important result for them to get, and I'm sure if you asked them right now, they would all say this is the most important win of the season for them," said Willie Filian.
With this victory, the Pirates now have won three of the last four games against Fremd. The 2-2 draw last season to allow the club to keep the Kinsella Cup in their trophy caseh.
Jimmy Kinsella and Bill Hughes opened the Celtic Soccer Club for business in 1969. From 1999-2011, Fremd had a stranglehold on the travelling trophy until their neighbors won it back in 2012 with a 4-0 victory.
The Vikings held it for a year after a 2-1 overtime result in 2013, but it's been all Palatine since.
Starting lineups
Palatine
GK- Amaya Rivera
D- Samantha Malak
D- Anja Jacobsen
D- Marissa Glaviano
D- Melanie Simon
M- Sarah Jasonowicz
M- Kacie Filian
M- Sarah Clancy
M- Carolyn Soukup
F- Kendall Kane
F- Mackenzie Filian
Fremd
GK- Kelsie Stone
D- Lauren Burk
D- Julia Szylke
D- Marta Cholewa
D- Jennifer Josten
M- Morgan Perkins
M- Julia Leonard
M- Katie Kiolbassa
M- Marissa Wade
F- Missy Adrian
F- Angie Zara
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Kacie Filian, jr., MF, Palatine
Referee: Mike Valsamis