Buffalo Grove tops Prospect on golden goal
Bison win-streak grows to 6, Prospect's tough week continues
By Mike Garofola
MOUNT PROSPECT -- Kyle Adams grabbed a dramatic game-winner in the 83rd minute that kept the Buffalo Grove in the thick of the Mid-Suburban League East Division Race and denied host Prospect a successful start to its Homecoming weekend Friday afternoon.
The Bison secured their sixth win in a row and three more key points when Adams ended things at the back post in warm conditions at George Gattas Memorial Stadium.
"It took everything we had," admitted an exhaused Adams moments after bagging his team high 12th goal of the year to move his club to 9-4-0 overall, and 5-1-0 in the league table.
"That was by no means a pretty game. In fact it was ugly," said Bison manager Brad Abel.
"But we got through a tough opponent, and a very tough week to go 3-0-0. And in the MSL, that's saying a lot."
It was clear from the opening whistle both teams were experiencing the effects of a three-game-in-five-days schedule. That and unusually warm weather, which took its toll in all aspects of the game.
"You could tell everyone on both teams had tired legs," said Bison keeper Daniel Sempoch, who had a birds-eye view of things from his perch between the sticks. His performance there eventually led the senior to Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors.
"This was our third game of the week. We played Hoffman Estates last night (Thursday), and Prospect had two very tough opponents with Wheeling and Barrington (and) played both real tough," continued Sempoch.
"I think both teams were tired, and in parts of the game it really showed.
"But we found a way to win, and that's all that mattered."
To Sempochs' point: Prospect (4-5-1, 1-5-0) had the most difficult route of any club in the MSL during this past week with its back-to-back encounters with division leaders Wheeling, then Barrington.
"We played both of those teams really well," said Knights manager Mike Andrews.
"We were in each game, and showed we can play with teams of that caliber. But, and this is no excuse or disrespect to Buffalo Grove, but those types of games against high-profile opponents can take a little something out of a team."
With sun bearing down on this gorgeous afternoon, the problems of fatigue, tired legs and an inability to get into any type of flow could have proved fatal for each club if not for the heart and work rate exhibited by these two longtime rivals.
"I talked to (Aaron) Whiteman (Prospect senior and captain), and he was saying how tough their week was. But they played real hard, and I felt that we matched the effort. It's just that neither team could possess and attack like we both know we can," said Adams.
The problem with the Knights attack was its inability to solve Buffalo Grove's diamond midfield, which provided Abels' men numerical advantage in the center of the park. On the other side, Whiteman's aerial dominance, and his mates constant tracking in their own end slowed the Bison attack.
"There is no faulting the effort on this team," began a proud Whiteman.
"This is a tough loss to take, but everyone is keeping their heads up, have to because in less than 24 hours we have Downers Grove North here, and we have to be ready for that."
This slow-moving affair began when Buffalo Grove tested keeper Kevin Shane with attempts by Kevin Eloiza, Adams and a pair of deep throws, but it was Sempoch who would awaken the sun-drenched crowd with the first of three important saves.
"We won this game because of Sempoch," said Adams.
"I thought we had a lot of the play, but it was Daniel who actually kept us in the game with two, three goal-saving stops, and that's what you need in games like this."
His first came in the 13th minute when Alex Predescu and Nico Mho nearly made something from nothing. Mho got free long enough to send his shot the other way from the back post.
The attempt would wrong-foot Sempoch, who had come out to cut the angle, but he kept his composure when reaching back to corral the low shot.
Patrick Limanowka, whom Andrews would deploy in the midfield in his first 11 before moving up-top later on, worked a nice one-two combo with Predescu that resulted in the junior unloading what looked like an unstoppable missile into the upper right corner.
Only a last-second reaction glove save by Sempoch kept the contest scoreless.
"Daniel has really come on of late, stepped up to provide a lot of stability for us in the back," said Abel. "And today he came up big time when we needed him to."
The presence of junior Jonathan Peici in the final quarter hour of the first half and after the intermission gave the Bison speed, size and inspiration in its attack. When the big forward was brought on he helped himself and others.
Peici had time to tee-up a shot in the 27th minute, only to send it wide before watching Adams, on the turn, force a save from Shane.
Adams' looping ball over the top put Peici and Shane in a 50-50 situation, but it was a fearless Shane who got to the ball first.
Abel open the second period with five in the midfield, with Peici the lone forward and Kevin Eloiza in more of a withdrawn position from his teammate up-top.
Eloiza was the star in the Bison' 4-0 victory over Hoffman Estates, scoring three, with his third a full-bicycle to cement a place on the Bison highlight reel.
Peici went wide just after the whistle began the second period and hit a cracking 20-yard strike after an enterprising run allowed him to get free.
Eloiza nearly put Peici through at 49 minutes, before Whiteman and his backline mates finally got themselves organized.
"We defended as a team as best we could, until we came alive in those last 10 minutes before overtime. I thought we might put one in (then)," said Whiteman.
Both sides traded a pair of free kicks, neither becoming dangerous enough to test each keeper. But Chris Rubio's attempt on Sempoch in the 59th minute did.
That's when the junior bludgeoned his 25-yard strike and forced Sempoch to push the shot up and over to save the day once again for the Bison.
"I guess that's what I am supposed to do," said Sempoch with a wry smile.
Sam Turusbekov provided some much needed pace and distribution for the Bison when Abel brought the senior on, delivering three quality inward swinging corners with his left foot, as well as a well-struck free kick which led to a corner in the 70th minute.
Sempoch handled a knuckleball of an attempt from Jacob Keil, then guarded his box with concern when a 79th-minute corner whipped in by Jonny Keane fell to Edmund Conroy who drove his attempt wide of the post.
With the stadium beginning to fill in advance of the 7:30 football game, Adams dashed Prospect's hopes when a Manny Mazariegos corner was allowed to freely fall to the ever-present Bison leading scorer.
"Two great reaction saves from Daniel, and Kyle being in the right place at the right time helped us get by a real good team which had just played Barrington as well as anyone could. We're thrilled to leave here with the result," said Abel in closing.
His counterpart remained upbeat despite the fact his men had just dropped their third in a row in a run against the best in the MSL.
"I'm very proud of the effort, heart and desire the guys gave today," began Andrews.
"Yes, the schedule has been unforgiving, but that's sports and soccer sometimes. And you have to dig a little deep to get through it. These guys have done that and more."
"Our senior leaders: Whiteman, Shane and Mho have kept the energy, urgency and pride on this team way up there, and that becomes contagious for the others. I know that we will be ready tomorrow when Downers Grove North comes here."
Starting lineups
Buffalo Grove
GK- Daniel Sempoch
D- Jack Keady
D- Christian Kozaczka
D- Brian Hanus
D- Shane Adams
M- Manny Mazariegos
M- Michael Botello
M- Marcin Czaplinski
M- Ryan Kim
F- Kevin Eloiza
F- Kyle Adams
Prospect
GK- Kevin Shane
D- Edmund Conroy
D- Aaron Whiteman
D- Tengis Tulga
D- Jacob Keil
M- Brian Morrison
M- Joey Baduch
M- Patrick Limanowka
M- Sid Gaire
F- Alex Predescu
F- Nico Mho
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Daniel Sempoch, sr., GK, Buffalo Grove
Referee: Patrick Legge
Scoring summary
Buffalo Grove: Adams (Mazariegos) 83'
Bison win-streak grows to 6, Prospect's tough week continues
By Mike Garofola
MOUNT PROSPECT -- Kyle Adams grabbed a dramatic game-winner in the 83rd minute that kept the Buffalo Grove in the thick of the Mid-Suburban League East Division Race and denied host Prospect a successful start to its Homecoming weekend Friday afternoon.
The Bison secured their sixth win in a row and three more key points when Adams ended things at the back post in warm conditions at George Gattas Memorial Stadium.
"It took everything we had," admitted an exhaused Adams moments after bagging his team high 12th goal of the year to move his club to 9-4-0 overall, and 5-1-0 in the league table.
"That was by no means a pretty game. In fact it was ugly," said Bison manager Brad Abel.
"But we got through a tough opponent, and a very tough week to go 3-0-0. And in the MSL, that's saying a lot."
It was clear from the opening whistle both teams were experiencing the effects of a three-game-in-five-days schedule. That and unusually warm weather, which took its toll in all aspects of the game.
"You could tell everyone on both teams had tired legs," said Bison keeper Daniel Sempoch, who had a birds-eye view of things from his perch between the sticks. His performance there eventually led the senior to Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors.
"This was our third game of the week. We played Hoffman Estates last night (Thursday), and Prospect had two very tough opponents with Wheeling and Barrington (and) played both real tough," continued Sempoch.
"I think both teams were tired, and in parts of the game it really showed.
"But we found a way to win, and that's all that mattered."
To Sempochs' point: Prospect (4-5-1, 1-5-0) had the most difficult route of any club in the MSL during this past week with its back-to-back encounters with division leaders Wheeling, then Barrington.
"We played both of those teams really well," said Knights manager Mike Andrews.
"We were in each game, and showed we can play with teams of that caliber. But, and this is no excuse or disrespect to Buffalo Grove, but those types of games against high-profile opponents can take a little something out of a team."
With sun bearing down on this gorgeous afternoon, the problems of fatigue, tired legs and an inability to get into any type of flow could have proved fatal for each club if not for the heart and work rate exhibited by these two longtime rivals.
"I talked to (Aaron) Whiteman (Prospect senior and captain), and he was saying how tough their week was. But they played real hard, and I felt that we matched the effort. It's just that neither team could possess and attack like we both know we can," said Adams.
The problem with the Knights attack was its inability to solve Buffalo Grove's diamond midfield, which provided Abels' men numerical advantage in the center of the park. On the other side, Whiteman's aerial dominance, and his mates constant tracking in their own end slowed the Bison attack.
"There is no faulting the effort on this team," began a proud Whiteman.
"This is a tough loss to take, but everyone is keeping their heads up, have to because in less than 24 hours we have Downers Grove North here, and we have to be ready for that."
This slow-moving affair began when Buffalo Grove tested keeper Kevin Shane with attempts by Kevin Eloiza, Adams and a pair of deep throws, but it was Sempoch who would awaken the sun-drenched crowd with the first of three important saves.
"We won this game because of Sempoch," said Adams.
"I thought we had a lot of the play, but it was Daniel who actually kept us in the game with two, three goal-saving stops, and that's what you need in games like this."
His first came in the 13th minute when Alex Predescu and Nico Mho nearly made something from nothing. Mho got free long enough to send his shot the other way from the back post.
The attempt would wrong-foot Sempoch, who had come out to cut the angle, but he kept his composure when reaching back to corral the low shot.
Patrick Limanowka, whom Andrews would deploy in the midfield in his first 11 before moving up-top later on, worked a nice one-two combo with Predescu that resulted in the junior unloading what looked like an unstoppable missile into the upper right corner.
Only a last-second reaction glove save by Sempoch kept the contest scoreless.
"Daniel has really come on of late, stepped up to provide a lot of stability for us in the back," said Abel. "And today he came up big time when we needed him to."
The presence of junior Jonathan Peici in the final quarter hour of the first half and after the intermission gave the Bison speed, size and inspiration in its attack. When the big forward was brought on he helped himself and others.
Peici had time to tee-up a shot in the 27th minute, only to send it wide before watching Adams, on the turn, force a save from Shane.
Adams' looping ball over the top put Peici and Shane in a 50-50 situation, but it was a fearless Shane who got to the ball first.
Abel open the second period with five in the midfield, with Peici the lone forward and Kevin Eloiza in more of a withdrawn position from his teammate up-top.
Eloiza was the star in the Bison' 4-0 victory over Hoffman Estates, scoring three, with his third a full-bicycle to cement a place on the Bison highlight reel.
Peici went wide just after the whistle began the second period and hit a cracking 20-yard strike after an enterprising run allowed him to get free.
Eloiza nearly put Peici through at 49 minutes, before Whiteman and his backline mates finally got themselves organized.
"We defended as a team as best we could, until we came alive in those last 10 minutes before overtime. I thought we might put one in (then)," said Whiteman.
Both sides traded a pair of free kicks, neither becoming dangerous enough to test each keeper. But Chris Rubio's attempt on Sempoch in the 59th minute did.
That's when the junior bludgeoned his 25-yard strike and forced Sempoch to push the shot up and over to save the day once again for the Bison.
"I guess that's what I am supposed to do," said Sempoch with a wry smile.
Sam Turusbekov provided some much needed pace and distribution for the Bison when Abel brought the senior on, delivering three quality inward swinging corners with his left foot, as well as a well-struck free kick which led to a corner in the 70th minute.
Sempoch handled a knuckleball of an attempt from Jacob Keil, then guarded his box with concern when a 79th-minute corner whipped in by Jonny Keane fell to Edmund Conroy who drove his attempt wide of the post.
With the stadium beginning to fill in advance of the 7:30 football game, Adams dashed Prospect's hopes when a Manny Mazariegos corner was allowed to freely fall to the ever-present Bison leading scorer.
"Two great reaction saves from Daniel, and Kyle being in the right place at the right time helped us get by a real good team which had just played Barrington as well as anyone could. We're thrilled to leave here with the result," said Abel in closing.
His counterpart remained upbeat despite the fact his men had just dropped their third in a row in a run against the best in the MSL.
"I'm very proud of the effort, heart and desire the guys gave today," began Andrews.
"Yes, the schedule has been unforgiving, but that's sports and soccer sometimes. And you have to dig a little deep to get through it. These guys have done that and more."
"Our senior leaders: Whiteman, Shane and Mho have kept the energy, urgency and pride on this team way up there, and that becomes contagious for the others. I know that we will be ready tomorrow when Downers Grove North comes here."
Starting lineups
Buffalo Grove
GK- Daniel Sempoch
D- Jack Keady
D- Christian Kozaczka
D- Brian Hanus
D- Shane Adams
M- Manny Mazariegos
M- Michael Botello
M- Marcin Czaplinski
M- Ryan Kim
F- Kevin Eloiza
F- Kyle Adams
Prospect
GK- Kevin Shane
D- Edmund Conroy
D- Aaron Whiteman
D- Tengis Tulga
D- Jacob Keil
M- Brian Morrison
M- Joey Baduch
M- Patrick Limanowka
M- Sid Gaire
F- Alex Predescu
F- Nico Mho
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Daniel Sempoch, sr., GK, Buffalo Grove
Referee: Patrick Legge
Scoring summary
Buffalo Grove: Adams (Mazariegos) 83'