Revenge is served hot for
Fremd against Buffalo Grove
Vikings control ball in 1-0 MSL cross-over victory
By Ken Keenan
BUFFALO GROVE -- Less than 24 hours after Fremd dropped a 4-0 decision
at home to Buffalo Grove, the Vikings returned the favor on the Bison
pitch with a 1-0 win in Mid-Suburban League cross-over action Tuesday
night.
The two squads faced each other on consecutive days because last Friday's regularly scheduled match was rained out. Both coaches rested some of their usual starters Tuesday while substituting freely.
"Playing back-to-back is unique, but Fremd always has a quality side,
so playing them again will help us for the playoffs," Buffalo Grove
coach Pat Dudle said prior to the rematch.
Fremd skipper Steve Keller countered, "Hopefully, we're going to have good work in a game environment -- and continue to improve for the playoffs."
The Bison -- who finished the regular season at 12-5-1 overall and 8-4-0 in MSL play -- open IHSA Class 3A postseason play against Prospect in the first round of the Libertyville Regional at 4:30 p.m. May 19.
The Vikings (10-7-1, 8-3-1) will face Warren in their own regional at 7 p.m. the same day after concluding their regular-season slate with a trip to New Trier on Friday.
Fremd controlled the ball for much of Tuesday's match and finally
broke the ice with 5:15 remaining in the second half. Sophomore
midfielder Missy Adrian did the damage, firing a left-footed shot from
about 15 yards out on the left side to score inside the far post.
Senior defender Liz Flavin earned the assist.
"We had Liz Flavin come in and make some great passes," Adrian said.
"She made great decisions with the ball, and we finally put it away.
We wanted to win and show them what we had after losing (Monday)
night."
Vikings senior defender Reilly Siepka -- Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of
the Match -- was a force on both sides of the field. She anchored the
center of Fremd's defense, and joined the attack with strong dribbling
and quick passes to spring her teammates into the Buffalo Grove zone.
Siepka took a handful of shots as well.
"It was a pretty intense match," Siepka said. "We thought (the Bison)
would underestimate us after the loss (Monday), and we definitely
connected more and played to our feet more. We were also a lot more
composed. It was good that we could connect and get into the game
more."
Keller said, "Reilly did a nice job. She played a good, steady,
effective game for us."
A 25-yard shot on goal by Buffalo Grove sophomore defender Gina Bolis in the fourth minute marked the first test for Fremd sophomore goalkeeper Kelsie Stone, but the Vikings turned up the heat from there. Forty seconds later, Fremd junior midfielder Kellie Halloran ripped a shot wide, and senior forward Sarah Aftelak followed with a 20-yard attempt that was smothered by Bison junior keeper Cassie Berman.
With 29:25 to go in the first half, Berman turned aside a free kick by
Siepka, who also smoked a long shot wide to Berman's left in the 20th
minute. Less than a minute elapsed before Siepka started a stellar
passing sequence that featured seven touches and ended with an
off-the-mark header on the doorstep by speedy Fremd senior forward
Jessica Kopec.
Kopec also had a good opportunity in in the 28th minute, taking a feed
from Adrian and pounding a quick shot on Berman. The Vikings counted
four more shots on goal before the break, including a header by Kopec
with 25 seconds to go.
"I was pleased with how we played," Keller said. "We passed the ball
well in tight quarters, and we were good defensively. And it does feel
good to win after losing to them on Monday."
Buffalo Grove picked up the pace a bit in the second half, beginning
the last 40 minutes with a shot on goal by freshman midfielder Alyssa
Floro in the first 20 seconds. A Bison corner kick was headed wide by
sophomore middie Geogette Topalis in the 55th minute, and scrappy
Buffalo Grove sophomore mid Courtney Lee fired wide six minutes later
after gathering a pass from sophomore defender Gina Bolis.
Otherwise, Fremd maintained most of the possession. Shortly after
Adrian's tally, Aftelak rocked a ball over the crossbar, and Adrian
was stopped from the left side with 2:20 showing.
"I always want to win -- a loss is always disappointing -- but I think
we still played good," Bolis said.
Lee added, "It was weird playing (Fremd) again so soon, but we did want to beat
them."
Dudle stated, "Fremd put a lot of high pressure on us, and we couldn't connect
passes. They eventually found the back of the net and they deserved to win."
In Monday's win, Buffalo Grove was led by senior forward Sarah
O'Connor (two goals, one assist) and senior midfielder Jessica Kovach
(two assists). Topalis and senior forward Sara Busse each scored once,
and Berman earned the shutout.
"Key players were rested (Tuesday night)," said Dudle,who cited O'Connor, Busse, senior defender Maria Hamilton and junior mid Sabrina Guerico. "Bigger and better things await us next week in regionals, and we want to make sure we stay healthy for the playoffs."
Keller's game plan followed along the same lines.
"We were able to see some things, and we know what we have to do to be
competitive in state," he said.
Starting lineups
Fremd
G: Kelsie Stone
D: Liz Flavin
D: Annika Morin
D: Reilly Siepka
D: Caroline Freeman
M: Kellie Halloran
M: Missy Adrian
M: Julia Szylke
M: Sarah Marturano
F: Jessica Kopec
F: Sarah Aftelak
Buffalo Grove
G: Cassie Berman
D: Gina Bolis
D: Brittany Lee
D: Danielle Allaire
D: Dani Bleichman
M: Alyssa Floro
M: Courtney Lee
M: Erin Kleczynski
M: Georgette Topalis
F: Katharine Hanner
F: Kara Tyner
MVP of the Match: Reilly Siepka, D, Fremd
Officials: Jim Kirchoff, Chris Bajorek, Ruth Fiordaliso
Fremd against Buffalo Grove
Vikings control ball in 1-0 MSL cross-over victory
By Ken Keenan
BUFFALO GROVE -- Less than 24 hours after Fremd dropped a 4-0 decision
at home to Buffalo Grove, the Vikings returned the favor on the Bison
pitch with a 1-0 win in Mid-Suburban League cross-over action Tuesday
night.
The two squads faced each other on consecutive days because last Friday's regularly scheduled match was rained out. Both coaches rested some of their usual starters Tuesday while substituting freely.
"Playing back-to-back is unique, but Fremd always has a quality side,
so playing them again will help us for the playoffs," Buffalo Grove
coach Pat Dudle said prior to the rematch.
Fremd skipper Steve Keller countered, "Hopefully, we're going to have good work in a game environment -- and continue to improve for the playoffs."
The Bison -- who finished the regular season at 12-5-1 overall and 8-4-0 in MSL play -- open IHSA Class 3A postseason play against Prospect in the first round of the Libertyville Regional at 4:30 p.m. May 19.
The Vikings (10-7-1, 8-3-1) will face Warren in their own regional at 7 p.m. the same day after concluding their regular-season slate with a trip to New Trier on Friday.
Fremd controlled the ball for much of Tuesday's match and finally
broke the ice with 5:15 remaining in the second half. Sophomore
midfielder Missy Adrian did the damage, firing a left-footed shot from
about 15 yards out on the left side to score inside the far post.
Senior defender Liz Flavin earned the assist.
"We had Liz Flavin come in and make some great passes," Adrian said.
"She made great decisions with the ball, and we finally put it away.
We wanted to win and show them what we had after losing (Monday)
night."
Vikings senior defender Reilly Siepka -- Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of
the Match -- was a force on both sides of the field. She anchored the
center of Fremd's defense, and joined the attack with strong dribbling
and quick passes to spring her teammates into the Buffalo Grove zone.
Siepka took a handful of shots as well.
"It was a pretty intense match," Siepka said. "We thought (the Bison)
would underestimate us after the loss (Monday), and we definitely
connected more and played to our feet more. We were also a lot more
composed. It was good that we could connect and get into the game
more."
Keller said, "Reilly did a nice job. She played a good, steady,
effective game for us."
A 25-yard shot on goal by Buffalo Grove sophomore defender Gina Bolis in the fourth minute marked the first test for Fremd sophomore goalkeeper Kelsie Stone, but the Vikings turned up the heat from there. Forty seconds later, Fremd junior midfielder Kellie Halloran ripped a shot wide, and senior forward Sarah Aftelak followed with a 20-yard attempt that was smothered by Bison junior keeper Cassie Berman.
With 29:25 to go in the first half, Berman turned aside a free kick by
Siepka, who also smoked a long shot wide to Berman's left in the 20th
minute. Less than a minute elapsed before Siepka started a stellar
passing sequence that featured seven touches and ended with an
off-the-mark header on the doorstep by speedy Fremd senior forward
Jessica Kopec.
Kopec also had a good opportunity in in the 28th minute, taking a feed
from Adrian and pounding a quick shot on Berman. The Vikings counted
four more shots on goal before the break, including a header by Kopec
with 25 seconds to go.
"I was pleased with how we played," Keller said. "We passed the ball
well in tight quarters, and we were good defensively. And it does feel
good to win after losing to them on Monday."
Buffalo Grove picked up the pace a bit in the second half, beginning
the last 40 minutes with a shot on goal by freshman midfielder Alyssa
Floro in the first 20 seconds. A Bison corner kick was headed wide by
sophomore middie Geogette Topalis in the 55th minute, and scrappy
Buffalo Grove sophomore mid Courtney Lee fired wide six minutes later
after gathering a pass from sophomore defender Gina Bolis.
Otherwise, Fremd maintained most of the possession. Shortly after
Adrian's tally, Aftelak rocked a ball over the crossbar, and Adrian
was stopped from the left side with 2:20 showing.
"I always want to win -- a loss is always disappointing -- but I think
we still played good," Bolis said.
Lee added, "It was weird playing (Fremd) again so soon, but we did want to beat
them."
Dudle stated, "Fremd put a lot of high pressure on us, and we couldn't connect
passes. They eventually found the back of the net and they deserved to win."
In Monday's win, Buffalo Grove was led by senior forward Sarah
O'Connor (two goals, one assist) and senior midfielder Jessica Kovach
(two assists). Topalis and senior forward Sara Busse each scored once,
and Berman earned the shutout.
"Key players were rested (Tuesday night)," said Dudle,who cited O'Connor, Busse, senior defender Maria Hamilton and junior mid Sabrina Guerico. "Bigger and better things await us next week in regionals, and we want to make sure we stay healthy for the playoffs."
Keller's game plan followed along the same lines.
"We were able to see some things, and we know what we have to do to be
competitive in state," he said.
Starting lineups
Fremd
G: Kelsie Stone
D: Liz Flavin
D: Annika Morin
D: Reilly Siepka
D: Caroline Freeman
M: Kellie Halloran
M: Missy Adrian
M: Julia Szylke
M: Sarah Marturano
F: Jessica Kopec
F: Sarah Aftelak
Buffalo Grove
G: Cassie Berman
D: Gina Bolis
D: Brittany Lee
D: Danielle Allaire
D: Dani Bleichman
M: Alyssa Floro
M: Courtney Lee
M: Erin Kleczynski
M: Georgette Topalis
F: Katharine Hanner
F: Kara Tyner
MVP of the Match: Reilly Siepka, D, Fremd
Officials: Jim Kirchoff, Chris Bajorek, Ruth Fiordaliso