Spot-on Wheeling edges
Hersey for MSL East title
Disputed PK the difference for berth in Soccer Bowl
By Mike Garofola
WHEELING -- In the court of public opinion, nobody wants a PK or shoot-out to decide a soccer match, especially an important one.
But on a soccer field, the only opinion that matters is that of the center official - and on Friday afternoon, when he official pointed to the spot, it was clear what was going to happen.
After the call against their club, Hersey coach Darren Llewellyn and the Huskies faithful howled well into the intermission. Then the coach reiterated his disppleasure with the officiating crew after the final whistle sounded, but in the end, the scoreboard told its own story.
The Huskies had lost the game and the Mid-Suburban League East Division crown 1-0 to rival Wheeling (12-5-4, 8-2-1, 25 points) - thus sending the Wildcats to its second-consecutive MSL Soccer Bowl, and the Huskies to the third place in the East standings behind Rolling Meadows.
A wild and wacky last two weeks of the regular season made Friday's match the biggest for both sides -- the Huskies had to win to advance to the final Thursday (Oct. 16) against Fremd; the Wildcats needed only a draw to reach the championship match.
Hersey (11-3-5, 5-2-4, 19 points) had been in the shadow of Rolling Meadows, who appeared in control in the division after its 2-1 victory over Barrington on Sept. 30. However, Wheeling stunned the then first-place Mustangs 2-1 and pulled within two points of the top spot, before reeling off four-straight clean sheets to climb atop of the MSL East.
Meanwhile, Llewellyn's lads continued to record one draw after another, gaining a valuable point for each, but still remaining just out of reach of their counterparts.
"It's been a team that has prevailed, worked hard, and always, always never feeling like they were out of it, and I've been very proud of them for that," Llewellyn said before Friday's showdown.
It was one of the last times the long-time manager would have a
smile on his face during this chilly day in Wheeling.
In typical Mid-Suburban League fashion, a hard-fought soccer match followed. It was not for the meek.
There were hard, professional fouls, chippiness here and there, plus some-less-than attractive play, all because of the importance of the outcome. The tired legs showed after a a grueling week of soccer for both clubs.
This led to some cries for calls from the center official from both managers, particularly Llewellyn during that fateful sequence when intermission neared.
Up to that point, the Huskies had effectively changed the way the possession driven Wildcats played.
"They put so many behind the ball, and they put so much pressure on the ball," said Wildcats midfielder Frankie Estrada, one of only four holdovers from the 2013 Mid-Suburban League championship club. "There wasn't much room to pass and possess with our quick-touch passes. It tired us out, and eventually forced us to play more direct in the second half.
Wildcats coach Ed Urhik altered his team's approach.
"We had to make some changes at the half in in order to try to beat them at their own game, while helping us neutralize their counter attack," he said.
Hersey had the better of it during the first half, albeit their few opportunities were only half chances. The Huskies play inspired and fueled their bright-orange clad faithful in the bleachers.
Brett Killian and George Boyle, Chicagoland Soccer's Man-of-the-Match, had boundless energy and pace up top as the Huskies forwards did their part to create havoc in the Wildcats end. The duo, along with midfielder Luis Rosado, ran a well-designed counter that ended when Killian went wide of the post in the fifth minute.
Llewellyn's depth was cut to just a few after losing the trio of Adam Hauser, Matt Dickey and Lukas Wilke with season-ending injuries during the Huskies OT win
over Barrington on Thursday, so the manager leaned on Jackson Hargett, Justin Vorndran, Zach Bolin and Jack Orlandi to step in for their fallen mates.
"Injuries are part of any sport," said Llewellyn. "Hauser was out long-throw guy, and Dickey has been playing really well for us out on the side as a sophomore. We hate to lose them, but others will pick up for them."
When paired together up top, Killian and Vorndran gave the Huskies some splendid work, and a handful of balls on frame. But in truth, this was a defensive battle, and the Huskies midfield did its part to chase, defend and disrupt, while Campbell White and his backline mates Jordan Rustemyer, Bolan and Hargett stayed airtight for nearly 80 minutes.
"It's a group which has really grown throughout the year after a tough start, and it's been one of our strength's during the season," said White, who wears the captain's armband, along with Tim Griffin and Boyle, whose hgh 80-minute work rate and box-to-box effort won balls, and created opportunities and distributed the ball whether up top or from his position in the middle of the park.
On the play that led to the score, Llewellyn thought Fabian Acosta dived when he was jostled upon entering the box with just a few seconds left in the first period, but his argument went for naught. When the Wildcats' superb defender Francisco Arellano drove his spot-kick into the back of the net, it was all the home side needed to secure its victory.
"An absolute gift," was all Llewellyn would continue to say while his club gathered together to get their wits about them during the break.
After a lackluster first 10 minutes of the second period, urgency set in for both clubs. Wheeling defended with all its might, and the Huskies pushed numbers forward in its search of the equalizer and game-winner they needed to win the division.
Wheeling's Arellano marshalled a dangerous ball out of the area sent in from Rosado at 58 minutes, and later, a long freekick from White led to consecutive corners that the Huskies were unable to turn into anything of quality.
Hersey went with three up top for the final quarter hour (Rosado, Killian, Christian Castro) to add some extra punch, but once again, Arellano was at the top of his game for that final 15 minute push by the visitors.
The Huskies Alex Filian got to the endline before his serve sailed wide - then moments later a 50-50 ball near the edge was gathered in by 'Cats keeper Jose Castillo before Killian could reach it.
A freekick from Boyle at 75 minutes was driven into the Wheeling wall, and sent the other way, and that was about it for the Huskies chances on this day.
"It (PK) was a tough call, and maybe one that I didn't agree with. But it's not why we lost - we didn't score," offered White, who showed tremendous class and leadership, despite the bitter defeat.
Starting lineups
Hersey
GK: Adam Szymaszek
D: Campbell White
D: Jackson Hargett
D: Zach Bolin
D: Jordan Rustemyer
MF: Tim Griffin
MF: Luis Rosado
MF: Christian Castro
MF: Jack Orlandi
F: George Boyle
F: Brent Killian
Wheeling
GK: Jose Castillo
D: Francisco Arellano
D: Allen Mancilla
D: Victor Gomez
MF: Bryan Cervantes
MF: Frankie Estrada
MF: Jose Mancilla
MF: Jonathan Sanchez
MF: Joshua Prindle
F: Fabian Acosta
F: Jose Garcia
Man of the Match: George Boyle, F, Hersey.
Hersey for MSL East title
Disputed PK the difference for berth in Soccer Bowl
By Mike Garofola
WHEELING -- In the court of public opinion, nobody wants a PK or shoot-out to decide a soccer match, especially an important one.
But on a soccer field, the only opinion that matters is that of the center official - and on Friday afternoon, when he official pointed to the spot, it was clear what was going to happen.
After the call against their club, Hersey coach Darren Llewellyn and the Huskies faithful howled well into the intermission. Then the coach reiterated his disppleasure with the officiating crew after the final whistle sounded, but in the end, the scoreboard told its own story.
The Huskies had lost the game and the Mid-Suburban League East Division crown 1-0 to rival Wheeling (12-5-4, 8-2-1, 25 points) - thus sending the Wildcats to its second-consecutive MSL Soccer Bowl, and the Huskies to the third place in the East standings behind Rolling Meadows.
A wild and wacky last two weeks of the regular season made Friday's match the biggest for both sides -- the Huskies had to win to advance to the final Thursday (Oct. 16) against Fremd; the Wildcats needed only a draw to reach the championship match.
Hersey (11-3-5, 5-2-4, 19 points) had been in the shadow of Rolling Meadows, who appeared in control in the division after its 2-1 victory over Barrington on Sept. 30. However, Wheeling stunned the then first-place Mustangs 2-1 and pulled within two points of the top spot, before reeling off four-straight clean sheets to climb atop of the MSL East.
Meanwhile, Llewellyn's lads continued to record one draw after another, gaining a valuable point for each, but still remaining just out of reach of their counterparts.
"It's been a team that has prevailed, worked hard, and always, always never feeling like they were out of it, and I've been very proud of them for that," Llewellyn said before Friday's showdown.
It was one of the last times the long-time manager would have a
smile on his face during this chilly day in Wheeling.
In typical Mid-Suburban League fashion, a hard-fought soccer match followed. It was not for the meek.
There were hard, professional fouls, chippiness here and there, plus some-less-than attractive play, all because of the importance of the outcome. The tired legs showed after a a grueling week of soccer for both clubs.
This led to some cries for calls from the center official from both managers, particularly Llewellyn during that fateful sequence when intermission neared.
Up to that point, the Huskies had effectively changed the way the possession driven Wildcats played.
"They put so many behind the ball, and they put so much pressure on the ball," said Wildcats midfielder Frankie Estrada, one of only four holdovers from the 2013 Mid-Suburban League championship club. "There wasn't much room to pass and possess with our quick-touch passes. It tired us out, and eventually forced us to play more direct in the second half.
Wildcats coach Ed Urhik altered his team's approach.
"We had to make some changes at the half in in order to try to beat them at their own game, while helping us neutralize their counter attack," he said.
Hersey had the better of it during the first half, albeit their few opportunities were only half chances. The Huskies play inspired and fueled their bright-orange clad faithful in the bleachers.
Brett Killian and George Boyle, Chicagoland Soccer's Man-of-the-Match, had boundless energy and pace up top as the Huskies forwards did their part to create havoc in the Wildcats end. The duo, along with midfielder Luis Rosado, ran a well-designed counter that ended when Killian went wide of the post in the fifth minute.
Llewellyn's depth was cut to just a few after losing the trio of Adam Hauser, Matt Dickey and Lukas Wilke with season-ending injuries during the Huskies OT win
over Barrington on Thursday, so the manager leaned on Jackson Hargett, Justin Vorndran, Zach Bolin and Jack Orlandi to step in for their fallen mates.
"Injuries are part of any sport," said Llewellyn. "Hauser was out long-throw guy, and Dickey has been playing really well for us out on the side as a sophomore. We hate to lose them, but others will pick up for them."
When paired together up top, Killian and Vorndran gave the Huskies some splendid work, and a handful of balls on frame. But in truth, this was a defensive battle, and the Huskies midfield did its part to chase, defend and disrupt, while Campbell White and his backline mates Jordan Rustemyer, Bolan and Hargett stayed airtight for nearly 80 minutes.
"It's a group which has really grown throughout the year after a tough start, and it's been one of our strength's during the season," said White, who wears the captain's armband, along with Tim Griffin and Boyle, whose hgh 80-minute work rate and box-to-box effort won balls, and created opportunities and distributed the ball whether up top or from his position in the middle of the park.
On the play that led to the score, Llewellyn thought Fabian Acosta dived when he was jostled upon entering the box with just a few seconds left in the first period, but his argument went for naught. When the Wildcats' superb defender Francisco Arellano drove his spot-kick into the back of the net, it was all the home side needed to secure its victory.
"An absolute gift," was all Llewellyn would continue to say while his club gathered together to get their wits about them during the break.
After a lackluster first 10 minutes of the second period, urgency set in for both clubs. Wheeling defended with all its might, and the Huskies pushed numbers forward in its search of the equalizer and game-winner they needed to win the division.
Wheeling's Arellano marshalled a dangerous ball out of the area sent in from Rosado at 58 minutes, and later, a long freekick from White led to consecutive corners that the Huskies were unable to turn into anything of quality.
Hersey went with three up top for the final quarter hour (Rosado, Killian, Christian Castro) to add some extra punch, but once again, Arellano was at the top of his game for that final 15 minute push by the visitors.
The Huskies Alex Filian got to the endline before his serve sailed wide - then moments later a 50-50 ball near the edge was gathered in by 'Cats keeper Jose Castillo before Killian could reach it.
A freekick from Boyle at 75 minutes was driven into the Wheeling wall, and sent the other way, and that was about it for the Huskies chances on this day.
"It (PK) was a tough call, and maybe one that I didn't agree with. But it's not why we lost - we didn't score," offered White, who showed tremendous class and leadership, despite the bitter defeat.
Starting lineups
Hersey
GK: Adam Szymaszek
D: Campbell White
D: Jackson Hargett
D: Zach Bolin
D: Jordan Rustemyer
MF: Tim Griffin
MF: Luis Rosado
MF: Christian Castro
MF: Jack Orlandi
F: George Boyle
F: Brent Killian
Wheeling
GK: Jose Castillo
D: Francisco Arellano
D: Allen Mancilla
D: Victor Gomez
MF: Bryan Cervantes
MF: Frankie Estrada
MF: Jose Mancilla
MF: Jonathan Sanchez
MF: Joshua Prindle
F: Fabian Acosta
F: Jose Garcia
Man of the Match: George Boyle, F, Hersey.