Fremd makes it look easy in playoff opener
Vikings record 5-0 win, Libertyville up next
By Mike Garofola
PALATINE -- Third-seeded Fremd enjoyed a rather easy time of it against a resilient, but overmatched club from Round Lake during 5-0 victory in its regional opener Tuesday afternoon at Hildebrandt Field.
Next up for the Vikings, ranked seventh in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, will be no. 6-seed Libertyville, which used its speed and athleticism to send 11-seeded Buffalo Grove off in the second game of the Fremd Regional later that night.
"It was nice to get the victory, and to come away injury free, but we'll need to play a lot cleaner and sharper against Libertyville if we hope to advance into the sectionals next week," said Vikings manager Steve Keller, who took advantage of a 3-0 lead at the intermission to rest several of his first 11 on this hot and blustery night.
"Round Lake played us hard," said Julia Leonard, whom Keller decided to rest the entire second period. "Even though they were not the toughest team we've played this season, (we) still were able to get everyone into this game, while working on a few things at the same time."
At times in the contest, Keller and his staff had up to six freshmen on the pitch, including defender Lauren Burk, a key figure in the Vikings back four all season long. The group included Mackenzie Stein, who was recently installed into the Keller's starting lineup when injuries began to take their toll on the roster.
"We had the chance to see our freshmen, and a handful of our other young players get some time in a regional game (to) get the feel of the pace and speed of the game. And most of them did pretty well in their first effort," said Keller.
"We became really young after 3-4 of our experienced players went out for the season with injuries. So I'm glad that they were able to get some minutes today, because you never know when we might need to rely on them here in the postseason," suggested senior Missy Adrian.
Usually deployed up-top when the Vikings play with a 4-4-2 formation, Adrian found herself stationed in the midfield when the opening whistle sounded. On this particular day, the veteran was seen playing box-to-box as more of a playmaker and 50-50 ball winner (instead) as a prime targeted player.
"With the heat and the elements, it was important to keep everyone fresh, while staying away from giving many of our players too many minutes, so, again, that's why we put a little different look out there at times, which seemed to work pretty well overall," said Keller.
One player who remained in her usual spot was the Vikings terrific center back, Julia Szylke, who soared high above 14th-seeded Round Lake (8-13-1) to meet a superb inward swinging corner from Melissa Wade to give the home side the only goal it would need in the 4th minute.
Flooding forward in search of another, a couple of tame efforts kept the visitors keeper, Giselle Raygoza stress free, until the Vikings (15-4-1) came alive to strike quickly and put two more in within five minutes.
Adrian fueled an Angie Zara goal in the 11th minute from near the mid-line. During the build-up for Zara, Layla Dib and Leonard helped spring their teammate free in close.
The first of Tara Bergles' two tallies came at 16 minutes when Leonard's dispossessed a Round Lake player before putting a wonderful ball onto the foot of Bergles, who beat the last defender and then slotted the shot under a diving Raygoza.
"We knew Fremd was very good coming into this game, and it was their overall depth, and non-stop tackling and pace that really did us in," said Round Lake manager Josue Jimenez.
"We're so young -- only five seniors on our roster. And we start two sophomores, and a freshman on our backline, so this was a good way for them to find out what it's like playing someone as good as Fremd is, and at this time of the season."
Round Lake's hopes of generating anything going forward hinged on the Panthers ability to find their best player, all-sectional sophomore Alexandria Wawrzyniak. When she had possession, she proved to be craft, pacey and able to deliver a quality ball out of the midfield.
Keller brought five players on in the 24th minute, and shortly thereafter, Maya Poyraz, Claire Stewart and Juliana Temple made their mark in the game.
Stewart's angled shot went wide in the 34th minute. Temple, who later scored the final goal for the Vikings in the second period, showed well defending and working away from the ball.
With most of the Vikings starters back after the break, it didn't take long for the home side to add to its lead.
Before that the Vikings put Raygoza to work. She did well to save a Zara attempt at the near post, and followed with an acrobatic move to redirect Adrian's header attempt, which was subsequently ruled offside.
Bergles made it 4-0 in the 48th minute when she ran freely into space and was allowed to tee-up a 16-yard drive.
For her effort in the Vikings attack, Bergles was named the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match.
The goal started mass substitutions from both managers, including a switch between the sticks by Keller. He sent freshman Jennifer Norris in for senior Kelsie Stone, a 2016 Chicagoland Soccer and IHSSCA all-stater.
The veteran coach is rightfully wary of the Friday title game match-up.
"I'm happy with the effort the girls put in, but we've got to play a lot smarter with less poor decisions and with more purpose if we hope to compete with Libertyville in our final," said Keller.
Starting lineups
Round Lake
GK- Giselle Raygoza
D- Selena Vazquez
D- Daisy Lemus
D- Sophia Melesio
D- Leslie Gamboa
M- Tays Rodriguez
M- Alexandria Wawrzyniak
M- Vanessa Cruz
M- Jasmine Cruz
M- Katherine Najera
F- Dana Devera
Fremd
GK- Kelsie Stone
D- Jennifer Josten
D- Julia Szylke
D- Marissa Wade
D- Lauren Burk
M- Layla Dib
M- Mackenzie Stein
M- Missy Adrian
M- Angie Zara
F- Julia Leonard
F- Tara Bergles
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Tara Bergles, sr., F, Fremd
Referee: Mike Glisovic (15-4-1) came alive to strike quickly - putting two in within five minutes.
Adrian fueled an Angie Zara goal in the 11th minute from near the mid-line. During the build-up for Zara, Layla Dib and Leonard helped spring their teammate free in close.
The first of Tara Bergles' two tallies came at 16 minutes when Leonard's dispossessed a Round Lake player before putting a wonderful ball onto the foot of Bergles, who beat the last defender and then slotted the shot nder a diving Raygoza.
"We knew Fremd was very good coming into this game, and it was their overall depth, and non-stop tackling and pace that really did us in," said Round Lake manager Josue Jimenez.
"We're so young -- only five seniors on our roster. And we start two sophomores, and a freshman on our backline, so this was a good way for them to find out what it's like playing someone as good as Fremd is, and at this time of the season."
Round Lake's hopes of generating anything going forward hinged on the Panthers ability to find their best player, all-sectional sophomore Alexandria Wawrzyniak. When she had possession, she proved to be craft, pacey and able to deliver a quality ball out of the midfield.
Keller brought five players on in the 24th minute, and shortly thereafter, Maya Poyraz, Claire Stewart and Juliana Temple made their mark in the game.
Stewart's angled shot went wide in the 34th minute. Temple, who later scored the final goal for the Vikings in the second period, showed well defending and working away from the ball.
With most of the Vikings starters back after the break, it didn't take long for the home side to add to its lead.
Before the Vikings put Raygoza to work. She did well to save a Zara attempt at the near post, and once followed with an acrobatic move to redirect Adrian's header, which was subsequently ruled offside.
Bergles made it 4-0 in the 48th minute when she ran freely into space and she was allowed to tee-up a 16-yard drive.
For her effort in the Vikings attack, Bergles was named the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match.
The goal started mass substitutions from both managers, including a switch between the sticks by Keller. He sent freshman Jennifer Norris in for senior Kelsie Stone, a 2016 Chicagoland Soccer and IHSSCA all-stater.
The veteran coach is rightfully wary of the Friday title game match-up.
"I'm happy with the effort the girls put in, but we've got to play a lot smarter with less poor decisions and with more purpose if we hope to compete with Libertyville in our final," said Keller.
Starting lineups
Round Lake
GK- Giselle Raygoza
D- Selena Vazquez
D- Daisy Lemus
D- Sophia Melesio
D- Leslie Gamboa
M- Tays Rodriguez
M- Alexandria Wawrzyniak
M- Vanessa Cruz
M- Jasmine Cruz
M- Katherine Najera
F- Dana Devera
Fremd
GK- Kelsie Stone
D- Jennifer Josten
D- Julia Szylke
D- Marissa Wade
D- Lauren Burk
M- Layla Dib
M- Mackenzie Stein
M- Missy Adrian
M- Angie Zara
F- Julia Leonard
F- Tara Bergles
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Tara Bergles, sr., F, Fremd
Referee: Mike Glisovic
Vikings record 5-0 win, Libertyville up next
By Mike Garofola
PALATINE -- Third-seeded Fremd enjoyed a rather easy time of it against a resilient, but overmatched club from Round Lake during 5-0 victory in its regional opener Tuesday afternoon at Hildebrandt Field.
Next up for the Vikings, ranked seventh in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, will be no. 6-seed Libertyville, which used its speed and athleticism to send 11-seeded Buffalo Grove off in the second game of the Fremd Regional later that night.
"It was nice to get the victory, and to come away injury free, but we'll need to play a lot cleaner and sharper against Libertyville if we hope to advance into the sectionals next week," said Vikings manager Steve Keller, who took advantage of a 3-0 lead at the intermission to rest several of his first 11 on this hot and blustery night.
"Round Lake played us hard," said Julia Leonard, whom Keller decided to rest the entire second period. "Even though they were not the toughest team we've played this season, (we) still were able to get everyone into this game, while working on a few things at the same time."
At times in the contest, Keller and his staff had up to six freshmen on the pitch, including defender Lauren Burk, a key figure in the Vikings back four all season long. The group included Mackenzie Stein, who was recently installed into the Keller's starting lineup when injuries began to take their toll on the roster.
"We had the chance to see our freshmen, and a handful of our other young players get some time in a regional game (to) get the feel of the pace and speed of the game. And most of them did pretty well in their first effort," said Keller.
"We became really young after 3-4 of our experienced players went out for the season with injuries. So I'm glad that they were able to get some minutes today, because you never know when we might need to rely on them here in the postseason," suggested senior Missy Adrian.
Usually deployed up-top when the Vikings play with a 4-4-2 formation, Adrian found herself stationed in the midfield when the opening whistle sounded. On this particular day, the veteran was seen playing box-to-box as more of a playmaker and 50-50 ball winner (instead) as a prime targeted player.
"With the heat and the elements, it was important to keep everyone fresh, while staying away from giving many of our players too many minutes, so, again, that's why we put a little different look out there at times, which seemed to work pretty well overall," said Keller.
One player who remained in her usual spot was the Vikings terrific center back, Julia Szylke, who soared high above 14th-seeded Round Lake (8-13-1) to meet a superb inward swinging corner from Melissa Wade to give the home side the only goal it would need in the 4th minute.
Flooding forward in search of another, a couple of tame efforts kept the visitors keeper, Giselle Raygoza stress free, until the Vikings (15-4-1) came alive to strike quickly and put two more in within five minutes.
Adrian fueled an Angie Zara goal in the 11th minute from near the mid-line. During the build-up for Zara, Layla Dib and Leonard helped spring their teammate free in close.
The first of Tara Bergles' two tallies came at 16 minutes when Leonard's dispossessed a Round Lake player before putting a wonderful ball onto the foot of Bergles, who beat the last defender and then slotted the shot under a diving Raygoza.
"We knew Fremd was very good coming into this game, and it was their overall depth, and non-stop tackling and pace that really did us in," said Round Lake manager Josue Jimenez.
"We're so young -- only five seniors on our roster. And we start two sophomores, and a freshman on our backline, so this was a good way for them to find out what it's like playing someone as good as Fremd is, and at this time of the season."
Round Lake's hopes of generating anything going forward hinged on the Panthers ability to find their best player, all-sectional sophomore Alexandria Wawrzyniak. When she had possession, she proved to be craft, pacey and able to deliver a quality ball out of the midfield.
Keller brought five players on in the 24th minute, and shortly thereafter, Maya Poyraz, Claire Stewart and Juliana Temple made their mark in the game.
Stewart's angled shot went wide in the 34th minute. Temple, who later scored the final goal for the Vikings in the second period, showed well defending and working away from the ball.
With most of the Vikings starters back after the break, it didn't take long for the home side to add to its lead.
Before that the Vikings put Raygoza to work. She did well to save a Zara attempt at the near post, and followed with an acrobatic move to redirect Adrian's header attempt, which was subsequently ruled offside.
Bergles made it 4-0 in the 48th minute when she ran freely into space and was allowed to tee-up a 16-yard drive.
For her effort in the Vikings attack, Bergles was named the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match.
The goal started mass substitutions from both managers, including a switch between the sticks by Keller. He sent freshman Jennifer Norris in for senior Kelsie Stone, a 2016 Chicagoland Soccer and IHSSCA all-stater.
The veteran coach is rightfully wary of the Friday title game match-up.
"I'm happy with the effort the girls put in, but we've got to play a lot smarter with less poor decisions and with more purpose if we hope to compete with Libertyville in our final," said Keller.
Starting lineups
Round Lake
GK- Giselle Raygoza
D- Selena Vazquez
D- Daisy Lemus
D- Sophia Melesio
D- Leslie Gamboa
M- Tays Rodriguez
M- Alexandria Wawrzyniak
M- Vanessa Cruz
M- Jasmine Cruz
M- Katherine Najera
F- Dana Devera
Fremd
GK- Kelsie Stone
D- Jennifer Josten
D- Julia Szylke
D- Marissa Wade
D- Lauren Burk
M- Layla Dib
M- Mackenzie Stein
M- Missy Adrian
M- Angie Zara
F- Julia Leonard
F- Tara Bergles
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Tara Bergles, sr., F, Fremd
Referee: Mike Glisovic (15-4-1) came alive to strike quickly - putting two in within five minutes.
Adrian fueled an Angie Zara goal in the 11th minute from near the mid-line. During the build-up for Zara, Layla Dib and Leonard helped spring their teammate free in close.
The first of Tara Bergles' two tallies came at 16 minutes when Leonard's dispossessed a Round Lake player before putting a wonderful ball onto the foot of Bergles, who beat the last defender and then slotted the shot nder a diving Raygoza.
"We knew Fremd was very good coming into this game, and it was their overall depth, and non-stop tackling and pace that really did us in," said Round Lake manager Josue Jimenez.
"We're so young -- only five seniors on our roster. And we start two sophomores, and a freshman on our backline, so this was a good way for them to find out what it's like playing someone as good as Fremd is, and at this time of the season."
Round Lake's hopes of generating anything going forward hinged on the Panthers ability to find their best player, all-sectional sophomore Alexandria Wawrzyniak. When she had possession, she proved to be craft, pacey and able to deliver a quality ball out of the midfield.
Keller brought five players on in the 24th minute, and shortly thereafter, Maya Poyraz, Claire Stewart and Juliana Temple made their mark in the game.
Stewart's angled shot went wide in the 34th minute. Temple, who later scored the final goal for the Vikings in the second period, showed well defending and working away from the ball.
With most of the Vikings starters back after the break, it didn't take long for the home side to add to its lead.
Before the Vikings put Raygoza to work. She did well to save a Zara attempt at the near post, and once followed with an acrobatic move to redirect Adrian's header, which was subsequently ruled offside.
Bergles made it 4-0 in the 48th minute when she ran freely into space and she was allowed to tee-up a 16-yard drive.
For her effort in the Vikings attack, Bergles was named the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match.
The goal started mass substitutions from both managers, including a switch between the sticks by Keller. He sent freshman Jennifer Norris in for senior Kelsie Stone, a 2016 Chicagoland Soccer and IHSSCA all-stater.
The veteran coach is rightfully wary of the Friday title game match-up.
"I'm happy with the effort the girls put in, but we've got to play a lot smarter with less poor decisions and with more purpose if we hope to compete with Libertyville in our final," said Keller.
Starting lineups
Round Lake
GK- Giselle Raygoza
D- Selena Vazquez
D- Daisy Lemus
D- Sophia Melesio
D- Leslie Gamboa
M- Tays Rodriguez
M- Alexandria Wawrzyniak
M- Vanessa Cruz
M- Jasmine Cruz
M- Katherine Najera
F- Dana Devera
Fremd
GK- Kelsie Stone
D- Jennifer Josten
D- Julia Szylke
D- Marissa Wade
D- Lauren Burk
M- Layla Dib
M- Mackenzie Stein
M- Missy Adrian
M- Angie Zara
F- Julia Leonard
F- Tara Bergles
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Tara Bergles, sr., F, Fremd
Referee: Mike Glisovic