Schaumburg stays atop MSL
with 1-0 win over Buffalo Grove
2nd half goal by Flores holds up for Saxons
By Ken Keenan
SCHAUMBURG -- Realizing that Schaumburg stood as Chicagoland Soccer's top-ranked team heading into its Tuesday night battle against Buffalo Grove with first place on the line in the Mid-Suburban League, perhaps Jason Schoo best summed up the Saxons' hard-fought, 1-0 victory.
"It's hard to get to no. 1 ... harder to stay there," said Schoo, Schaumburg's senior co-captain.
The stellar midfielder started the play that senior forward and fellow co-captain Alexis Flores finished for the game-winner in the 47th minute. "It was physical, and I think Buffalo Grove played against us better than any team has this year. I'm extremely proud. We've got a great group of guys," Flores said.
Schaumburg improved to 11-1-0 overall with the win -- its eighth straight -- and upped its perfect league mark to 6-0-0. The Bison, who saw their six-game winning streak come to an end, dropped to 6-4-1, 4-1-0.
Flores netted the game's goal on a beautiful one-timer, redirecting a knee-high cross from senior defender Mike Marino from about 20 yards straight out. Schoo initiated the tally when he picked up a loose ball and quickly fed Marino, who crossed it to a waiting Flores.
"I saw (Schoo) pass it to (Marino), and it was a nice cross to me," said Flores, Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match. "When I saw it go in, it felt like the best goal I ever scored. We needed it. It was a tough, physical game. We created many chances but only one went in the net."
With Buffalo Grove successfully keying on returning All-American midfielder Jessie Lopez, Schaumburg coach Hamid Mehreioskouei altered his team's approach at halftime.
"We talked about being patient," the Saxons' skipper said. "They were playing seven to the middle and back, so we overlapped our backs on the outside -- and the goal came that way. We had to get wide and make runs to the box.
"It disrupted their attack to key on Jessie (Lopez), but we've got other players who have to step up. That's the sign of a good team. Everyone's contributing -- it's not a one-man show."
First-year Buffalo Grove coach Brad Abel agreed that focusing on Lopez (who owns a team-high nine goals) opened the field for Schaumburg on the attack.
"I thought we did a good job to neutralize Lopez, and maybe that took a little away from us," Abel said. "All the credit to Flores -- he hit a phenomenal shot. But we had our chances in the end. It was just a very tough battle ... physical, as we expected. I thought our backs played well, the middle was good. The game plan was executed -- their
kid hit a great shot."
Mehreioskouei labeled Flores' ripping strike as "a goal-scorer's goal. We said someone's got to make a play, and Alexis made the play."
Flores' goal was his eighth of the season; he also has a team-best seven assists.
"We knew if we could get that one goal, we could hang on," Schoo said. "In a game like this, you have to finish your chances when you get them. There might not be another one."
Mehreioskouei added: "Buffalo Grove was very athletic and physical. They really tried to minimize our opportunities and maximize theirs. We played a little bit more wide than we're used to, and I don't think we were sharp enough in the final third. But (Buffalo Grove) definitely made it more difficult for us. Their defense played well."
Bison senior defender Hans Paller did his part, using his 6-foot-5 frame -- and nonstop hustle -- to clear numerous balls out of danger. During a stretch midway through the first half, Paller stuck with a charging Flores to spoil a nice run. He then headed away a header by junior forward Eddie Gomez and did the same on a free kick by Schaumburg senior defender Nik Davis.
With 8:15 to go in the first half, Paller blocked an attempt by Flores and blocked an ensuing rebound try by Gomez.
"He's not only one of the biggest players on the field, but also one of the fastest," Abel said. "He does a nice job of cleaning up."
Buffalo Grove's best chance in the first half came in the 27th minute. Senior forward Colin Doyle made a nice run to draw a corner kick . That resulted in a nifty give-and-go between senior forward Drew Brauner and junior midfielder Alex Alfaro, which Brauner blasted just over the crossbar.
But Schaumburg had more chances, including a rocket by Lopez that sailed over the crossbar in the 12th minute and a 30-yard line drive by senior forward Noah Kostkiewicz that Bison sophomore keeper Daniel Sempoch stopped with 8:15 left before the break.
"I think they had a little more possession than us, but then we woke up a bit," said Buffalo Grove senior defender Gorgis Yelda, who played a strong all-around game. "We definitely could have beat them, but they were the better team (Tuesday). All it takes is one opportunity, and they scored on it."
Alfaro said, "We weren't trying to advance the ball much at first, but then we attacked more in the last 15 minutes."
Yelda added, "We have to play like that the whole game."
Following the goal by Flores, Buffalo Grove senior defender Ryan Drum sent a
45-yard free kick missile over the crossbar in the 51st minute and Brauner fired a 35-yard free kick just wide of the left post. Otherwise, Saxons senior keeper Edgar Avila wasn't seriously tested in earning his ninth shutout of the season.
Schoo nearly made it 2-0 when he headed a free kick by junior defender Andrew Bird off the crossbar with 14:25 left in the match.
"I know why Schaumburg is ranked no. 1," Abel said. "They have a lot of threats, they're technically skilled, and they work hard. I'd like to think we have that as well."
For the time being, at least, Schaumburg is at the top of the MSL heap.
"The hard part is staying on top," Flores said. "We'll focus on going game by game and try to block out the target on our back."
Starting lineups
Buffalo Grove
GK: Daniel Sempoch
D: Tyler Nieman
D: Chris Damien
D: Gorgis Yelda
D: Ryan Drum
D: Hans Haller
M: Alexis Alvarez
M: Hector Herrera
M: Alex Alfaro
F: Drew Brauner
F: Colin Doyle
Schaumburg
GK: Edgar Avila
D: Mike Marino
D: Chris Melecio
D: Nik Davis
D: Andrew Ralston
D: Andrew Bird
M: Jessie Lopez
M: Jason Schoo
M: Daniel Artman
F: Eddie Gomez
F: Alexis Flores
Man of the Match: Alexis Flores, F, Schaumburg
Officials: Andrew Broere, Mohammed Mushtaq, George Alpogianis
with 1-0 win over Buffalo Grove
2nd half goal by Flores holds up for Saxons
By Ken Keenan
SCHAUMBURG -- Realizing that Schaumburg stood as Chicagoland Soccer's top-ranked team heading into its Tuesday night battle against Buffalo Grove with first place on the line in the Mid-Suburban League, perhaps Jason Schoo best summed up the Saxons' hard-fought, 1-0 victory.
"It's hard to get to no. 1 ... harder to stay there," said Schoo, Schaumburg's senior co-captain.
The stellar midfielder started the play that senior forward and fellow co-captain Alexis Flores finished for the game-winner in the 47th minute. "It was physical, and I think Buffalo Grove played against us better than any team has this year. I'm extremely proud. We've got a great group of guys," Flores said.
Schaumburg improved to 11-1-0 overall with the win -- its eighth straight -- and upped its perfect league mark to 6-0-0. The Bison, who saw their six-game winning streak come to an end, dropped to 6-4-1, 4-1-0.
Flores netted the game's goal on a beautiful one-timer, redirecting a knee-high cross from senior defender Mike Marino from about 20 yards straight out. Schoo initiated the tally when he picked up a loose ball and quickly fed Marino, who crossed it to a waiting Flores.
"I saw (Schoo) pass it to (Marino), and it was a nice cross to me," said Flores, Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match. "When I saw it go in, it felt like the best goal I ever scored. We needed it. It was a tough, physical game. We created many chances but only one went in the net."
With Buffalo Grove successfully keying on returning All-American midfielder Jessie Lopez, Schaumburg coach Hamid Mehreioskouei altered his team's approach at halftime.
"We talked about being patient," the Saxons' skipper said. "They were playing seven to the middle and back, so we overlapped our backs on the outside -- and the goal came that way. We had to get wide and make runs to the box.
"It disrupted their attack to key on Jessie (Lopez), but we've got other players who have to step up. That's the sign of a good team. Everyone's contributing -- it's not a one-man show."
First-year Buffalo Grove coach Brad Abel agreed that focusing on Lopez (who owns a team-high nine goals) opened the field for Schaumburg on the attack.
"I thought we did a good job to neutralize Lopez, and maybe that took a little away from us," Abel said. "All the credit to Flores -- he hit a phenomenal shot. But we had our chances in the end. It was just a very tough battle ... physical, as we expected. I thought our backs played well, the middle was good. The game plan was executed -- their
kid hit a great shot."
Mehreioskouei labeled Flores' ripping strike as "a goal-scorer's goal. We said someone's got to make a play, and Alexis made the play."
Flores' goal was his eighth of the season; he also has a team-best seven assists.
"We knew if we could get that one goal, we could hang on," Schoo said. "In a game like this, you have to finish your chances when you get them. There might not be another one."
Mehreioskouei added: "Buffalo Grove was very athletic and physical. They really tried to minimize our opportunities and maximize theirs. We played a little bit more wide than we're used to, and I don't think we were sharp enough in the final third. But (Buffalo Grove) definitely made it more difficult for us. Their defense played well."
Bison senior defender Hans Paller did his part, using his 6-foot-5 frame -- and nonstop hustle -- to clear numerous balls out of danger. During a stretch midway through the first half, Paller stuck with a charging Flores to spoil a nice run. He then headed away a header by junior forward Eddie Gomez and did the same on a free kick by Schaumburg senior defender Nik Davis.
With 8:15 to go in the first half, Paller blocked an attempt by Flores and blocked an ensuing rebound try by Gomez.
"He's not only one of the biggest players on the field, but also one of the fastest," Abel said. "He does a nice job of cleaning up."
Buffalo Grove's best chance in the first half came in the 27th minute. Senior forward Colin Doyle made a nice run to draw a corner kick . That resulted in a nifty give-and-go between senior forward Drew Brauner and junior midfielder Alex Alfaro, which Brauner blasted just over the crossbar.
But Schaumburg had more chances, including a rocket by Lopez that sailed over the crossbar in the 12th minute and a 30-yard line drive by senior forward Noah Kostkiewicz that Bison sophomore keeper Daniel Sempoch stopped with 8:15 left before the break.
"I think they had a little more possession than us, but then we woke up a bit," said Buffalo Grove senior defender Gorgis Yelda, who played a strong all-around game. "We definitely could have beat them, but they were the better team (Tuesday). All it takes is one opportunity, and they scored on it."
Alfaro said, "We weren't trying to advance the ball much at first, but then we attacked more in the last 15 minutes."
Yelda added, "We have to play like that the whole game."
Following the goal by Flores, Buffalo Grove senior defender Ryan Drum sent a
45-yard free kick missile over the crossbar in the 51st minute and Brauner fired a 35-yard free kick just wide of the left post. Otherwise, Saxons senior keeper Edgar Avila wasn't seriously tested in earning his ninth shutout of the season.
Schoo nearly made it 2-0 when he headed a free kick by junior defender Andrew Bird off the crossbar with 14:25 left in the match.
"I know why Schaumburg is ranked no. 1," Abel said. "They have a lot of threats, they're technically skilled, and they work hard. I'd like to think we have that as well."
For the time being, at least, Schaumburg is at the top of the MSL heap.
"The hard part is staying on top," Flores said. "We'll focus on going game by game and try to block out the target on our back."
Starting lineups
Buffalo Grove
GK: Daniel Sempoch
D: Tyler Nieman
D: Chris Damien
D: Gorgis Yelda
D: Ryan Drum
D: Hans Haller
M: Alexis Alvarez
M: Hector Herrera
M: Alex Alfaro
F: Drew Brauner
F: Colin Doyle
Schaumburg
GK: Edgar Avila
D: Mike Marino
D: Chris Melecio
D: Nik Davis
D: Andrew Ralston
D: Andrew Bird
M: Jessie Lopez
M: Jason Schoo
M: Daniel Artman
F: Eddie Gomez
F: Alexis Flores
Man of the Match: Alexis Flores, F, Schaumburg
Officials: Andrew Broere, Mohammed Mushtaq, George Alpogianis