Carmel tops Fremd after 80 intense minutes
Wonder-goal from Murgas nets game-winner in 2-1 battle
By Mike Garofola
MUNDELEIN -- Most of the pre-game chattter focused around the inequity of a system that seeded Carmel seventh and Fremd at 11 when both clearly deserved much more respect.
Of course, the way the IHSA pieces together seeds leaves much to be desired, and there isn't enough time and space to list the ways of improving such a flawed process.
It was clear from the opening whistle that both clubs, which finished a combined 16-1-1 to complete the regular season, knew how important it was to get out on their front foot first. That fact was witnessed by early foul-filled exchanges and 50-50 challenges not for the timid.
So when Fremd (12-9-0) struck in the seventh minute to go swiftly out of the starting blocks and keep their hosts under pressure and fighting for their soccer life, it appeared the only thing which could stop the Vikings from advancing into the regional final would be themselves. And that's exactly what occurred.
Carmel's Austin Ehren foind the equalizer in the 75th minute. Then three minutes later, Carsten Murgas would find the game-winner with an unstoppable thunderbolt to give the Corsairs a heart-stopping 2-1 victory at Baker Stadium on the winner's campus in Mundelein.
With the win, the Corsairs (15-2-1) booked a place in Saturday's 11 a.m. final here against second-seeded Waukegan (15-2-3), who would defeated Hersey on Tuesday to advance.
"It was pretty obvious that both teams were under-seeded," suggested Murgas, long after he thrilled the Baker Stadium faithful when he bulged the net with his 35-yard strike two minutes from time.
"We don't know what to say," said both Murgas, and his teammate Ehren when asked their immediate thoughts just moments after this blood and thunder final came to an end.
"We knew Fremd had been playing so well of late, and that they were physical, fast and hard and tough on the ball and in their defending," continued the senior Murgas, who on this night would share Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match honors along with the Vikings superb midfielder and captain Matt Austin.
"Yeah, Fremd was physical, and really was one of the toughest teams we've played this year," said Ehren. "I thought we did a good job in preparing for them. It's just that we had to get out of that first half without conceding a second goal."
Neither side would leave anything in reserve as each came close to making a breakthrough in the scoring race on both sides of the halves -- only to see each have their respective backlines tighten their grips when called upon or have the final touch betray a handful of would-be scorers.
"We came out and played so well getting that early goal and really having a lot of the play all throughout the first half," began Dalton Rogers, of Fremd, the Vikings classy veteran who exhibited terrific composure in his post-game interview, despite having seen his soccer season and career come to an abrupt end.
"But in that second half we struggled. And we just couldn't get a handle on things (especially) during those final five minutes of regulation."
The aforementioned Austin was the predominate force in the Vikings attack, but there was no lack of purpose or industry from Max Clark, Angel Virgos and others who had a hand in several forays going forward.
With a strong wind at its back in the first half, Fremd looked to play quick, change fields and find Austin, Clark and Virgos in order to strike first. But it was outside midfielder Jake Scesniak, left unmarked on the left side, who delivered the opener.
The junior finished into the far inside netting from a distinct angle with his left-footed attempt going high over Corsairs keeper Kyle Knauner, who with his teammates might have been surprised at the snap shot, which seemed to be nothing more than an innocent-looking half-chance.
"What a great shot and goal from no. 12 (Scesniak). Sometimes there's nothing you can do on a goal like that," said Carmel manager Ray Krawzak.
The Corsairs manager watched his club soak up plenty of pressure from the Vikings, who wanted nothing more to add to the scoreline once or twice more before turning over the wind advantage to the East Suburban Catholic Conference co-champs after the intermission.
Austin would have three looks on frame, Clark would split a pair of defenders after being sent through by Jake Schoffstall. Vania Martin, on the turn, brought Knauer into action. So too did several deep long-throws by either Russell Beaupre and Schoffstall which were hauled in by Knauer or parried out of danger by Brett Cloe and the Corsairs back four.
"We wanted to put another one or two in during that first half, and obviously we didn't finish our chances, which is what this sport is all about. (You) have to take care of business when in the final third, and in your own end as well," said Vikings manager Steve Keller.
Krawzak was quick to point out how well his backline did when asked to defend with all their might in the first period, but the Corsairs boss could not stop talking about the work both Murgas and Matt Fix put in.
"Those two have been our unsung heroes all season long, and tonight you noticed just how much those guys do for us: winning 50-50 and second balls, tackling, defending, getting winners in the air (and) for Carsten, coming up with a sensational game-winner," said a proud Krawzak.
The Murgas goal was only his second of the season. The first came from almost the same place in the park against Saint Viator just before the intermission in an eventual 4-0 ESCC victory over the Lions.
Fremd's Keller implored his men to play the width of the Corsairs narrow pitch in an effort to stretch the home side in its own end and create slivers of openings for his attack when the second period got under way.
Unable to do so during the first 20 minutes of the second half, the Corsairs identified and successfully found the speedy Ehren up-top along with Henry Barnes on the outside and senior Rob Rao.
Rao was finally brought into the game when his teammates were able to connect with their dynamic and creative central midfielder. That forced Fremd keeper Jack Taraszka into action with a pair of saves before the Vikings keeper brought a trio of long throws from Fix down from out of the air in his box.
With the contest nearing the hour mark and the home side unable to get back even, the emotions of both sides began to spill over with each hard tackle, whether in the air or on the floor.
One such sequence led to a booking (dissent) for Corsairs junior Michael Handel, and with play and the clock stopped, the referee heard something he didn't like and sent Handel off for good with his second yellow.
After a long discussion, the officials, ruled the home side would not play a man down and kept things 11-v.-11 for the rest of the way.
The fans were treated to several individual moments of brilliance from players from each side and on both sides of the ball. The best came during 10 minutes of breathtaking soccer which could have seen each team score at least one.
"The action was unbelievable at times with both teams getting chances to put one in. My only hope was that it would be us and not Fremd," Krawzak said with a wry smile.
Clark fought through a trio of Corsairs and then bore down on Knauer only to see his attempt taken off the line in the 61st minute. That was immediately followed on the other end by Ehren having his shot pushed around the bar by the fingertips of Taraszka's gloves.
Ben Cuthbert found Schoffstall at the back post with a wonderful serve that the sophomore sent over the bar with his header. Again, it went quickly the other way with a Ian McKernan-Rao-Nate Passarelli combination that was sent wide.
Fremd's Austin found a way on two-straight trips into the Corsairs end to defeat a triple-team and maintain possession, but the home side recovered to keep the ball away from Austin's would-be receivers.
"You watch the work rate, energy and determination by Matt, and you have to wonder sometime how he was able to win the ball the way he did, and still keep it on his foot and go forward," said Keller.
The effervescent Ehren would spark an incredible five-minute period just when it appeared, despite all of the pressure the Corsairs continued to heap on their guests, that the game was beginning to drift towards a one-goal victory for Fremd.
"We did so well winning most of the 50-50 and second balls in the second half after we talked about doing so at the half, and we continued to go at them. Even though we couldn't put one in, I never gave up on these guys," Krawzak said.
Nor did Ehren.
Bearing down on the Vikings defense, which for a brief moment had a communication breakdown, Ehren turned the confusion into a disaster for the visitors who watched the Corsairs star forward get to a loose ball just as Taraszka did.
His quick reaction left-footed blast went off the Vikings keeper and into the back of the net in a split second for the 75th-minute equalizer.
"It all happened so fast, but I saw the chance to take advantage of a potential scoring opportunity and went right to the post and put the ball off their keeper," said a thrilled Ehren.
Then Murgas who found the ball at his foot at 35 yards, bulged the back of the net as far as it would go with his guided missile that sent Corsairs fans and his mates into orbit, and the Vikings into stunned silence.
"There wasn't much time to think, so I just let a one-timer go, then followed it into the net," said Murgas, still in disbelief of his game-winner.
"Even though we didn't play well for most of the second half, I still thought, even after they got even, that we could hold to get into overtime where anything can happen," said Rogers. "But we just couldn't do that."
"There were a lot of little things out there tonight," began Keller.
"We played well enough in that first half to maybe go into the break with a 2-0 lead, maybe three.
"Bottom line, we panicked, something we haven't done in a long while. And we just didn't take care of business like we have during these past two weeks of the season.
"Credit Carmel though, they played a much better second half, and that's why they move on, and we go home."
Said Krawzak before the Baker Stadium lights went out: "What can you say about a game like this, which just doesn't seem fair to be sending one real quality team home for the season?
"Two fantastic teams, each who left it all out there tonight. I am happy that our guys were somehow able to find a way to get the result we wanted so badly."
Starting lineups
Fremd (4-1-4-1 starting formation)
GK- Jack Taraszka
D- Kaelan Conway
D- Ben Cuthbert
D- Jake Schoffstall
D- Cole Jackson
DM- Dalton Rogers
M- Jake Scesniak
M- Matt Austin
M- Angel Virgos
M- Russell Beaupre
F- Max Clark
Carmel (4-5-1)
GK- Kyle Knauer
D- Michael Handel
D- Brett Cloe
D- Eli Larson
D- Nate Passarelli
M- Henry Barnes
M- Carsten Murgas
M- Matt Fix
M- Rob Rao
M- Ian McKernan
F- Austin Ehren
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Carsten Murgas, sr., MF, Carmel
Matt Austin, sr., MF, Fremd
Referee: Mariusz Folta
Scoring summary
Carmel:
Ehren (U/A) 75'
Murgas (U/A) 78'
Fremd:
Scesniak (U/A) 7'
Wonder-goal from Murgas nets game-winner in 2-1 battle
By Mike Garofola
MUNDELEIN -- Most of the pre-game chattter focused around the inequity of a system that seeded Carmel seventh and Fremd at 11 when both clearly deserved much more respect.
Of course, the way the IHSA pieces together seeds leaves much to be desired, and there isn't enough time and space to list the ways of improving such a flawed process.
It was clear from the opening whistle that both clubs, which finished a combined 16-1-1 to complete the regular season, knew how important it was to get out on their front foot first. That fact was witnessed by early foul-filled exchanges and 50-50 challenges not for the timid.
So when Fremd (12-9-0) struck in the seventh minute to go swiftly out of the starting blocks and keep their hosts under pressure and fighting for their soccer life, it appeared the only thing which could stop the Vikings from advancing into the regional final would be themselves. And that's exactly what occurred.
Carmel's Austin Ehren foind the equalizer in the 75th minute. Then three minutes later, Carsten Murgas would find the game-winner with an unstoppable thunderbolt to give the Corsairs a heart-stopping 2-1 victory at Baker Stadium on the winner's campus in Mundelein.
With the win, the Corsairs (15-2-1) booked a place in Saturday's 11 a.m. final here against second-seeded Waukegan (15-2-3), who would defeated Hersey on Tuesday to advance.
"It was pretty obvious that both teams were under-seeded," suggested Murgas, long after he thrilled the Baker Stadium faithful when he bulged the net with his 35-yard strike two minutes from time.
"We don't know what to say," said both Murgas, and his teammate Ehren when asked their immediate thoughts just moments after this blood and thunder final came to an end.
"We knew Fremd had been playing so well of late, and that they were physical, fast and hard and tough on the ball and in their defending," continued the senior Murgas, who on this night would share Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match honors along with the Vikings superb midfielder and captain Matt Austin.
"Yeah, Fremd was physical, and really was one of the toughest teams we've played this year," said Ehren. "I thought we did a good job in preparing for them. It's just that we had to get out of that first half without conceding a second goal."
Neither side would leave anything in reserve as each came close to making a breakthrough in the scoring race on both sides of the halves -- only to see each have their respective backlines tighten their grips when called upon or have the final touch betray a handful of would-be scorers.
"We came out and played so well getting that early goal and really having a lot of the play all throughout the first half," began Dalton Rogers, of Fremd, the Vikings classy veteran who exhibited terrific composure in his post-game interview, despite having seen his soccer season and career come to an abrupt end.
"But in that second half we struggled. And we just couldn't get a handle on things (especially) during those final five minutes of regulation."
The aforementioned Austin was the predominate force in the Vikings attack, but there was no lack of purpose or industry from Max Clark, Angel Virgos and others who had a hand in several forays going forward.
With a strong wind at its back in the first half, Fremd looked to play quick, change fields and find Austin, Clark and Virgos in order to strike first. But it was outside midfielder Jake Scesniak, left unmarked on the left side, who delivered the opener.
The junior finished into the far inside netting from a distinct angle with his left-footed attempt going high over Corsairs keeper Kyle Knauner, who with his teammates might have been surprised at the snap shot, which seemed to be nothing more than an innocent-looking half-chance.
"What a great shot and goal from no. 12 (Scesniak). Sometimes there's nothing you can do on a goal like that," said Carmel manager Ray Krawzak.
The Corsairs manager watched his club soak up plenty of pressure from the Vikings, who wanted nothing more to add to the scoreline once or twice more before turning over the wind advantage to the East Suburban Catholic Conference co-champs after the intermission.
Austin would have three looks on frame, Clark would split a pair of defenders after being sent through by Jake Schoffstall. Vania Martin, on the turn, brought Knauer into action. So too did several deep long-throws by either Russell Beaupre and Schoffstall which were hauled in by Knauer or parried out of danger by Brett Cloe and the Corsairs back four.
"We wanted to put another one or two in during that first half, and obviously we didn't finish our chances, which is what this sport is all about. (You) have to take care of business when in the final third, and in your own end as well," said Vikings manager Steve Keller.
Krawzak was quick to point out how well his backline did when asked to defend with all their might in the first period, but the Corsairs boss could not stop talking about the work both Murgas and Matt Fix put in.
"Those two have been our unsung heroes all season long, and tonight you noticed just how much those guys do for us: winning 50-50 and second balls, tackling, defending, getting winners in the air (and) for Carsten, coming up with a sensational game-winner," said a proud Krawzak.
The Murgas goal was only his second of the season. The first came from almost the same place in the park against Saint Viator just before the intermission in an eventual 4-0 ESCC victory over the Lions.
Fremd's Keller implored his men to play the width of the Corsairs narrow pitch in an effort to stretch the home side in its own end and create slivers of openings for his attack when the second period got under way.
Unable to do so during the first 20 minutes of the second half, the Corsairs identified and successfully found the speedy Ehren up-top along with Henry Barnes on the outside and senior Rob Rao.
Rao was finally brought into the game when his teammates were able to connect with their dynamic and creative central midfielder. That forced Fremd keeper Jack Taraszka into action with a pair of saves before the Vikings keeper brought a trio of long throws from Fix down from out of the air in his box.
With the contest nearing the hour mark and the home side unable to get back even, the emotions of both sides began to spill over with each hard tackle, whether in the air or on the floor.
One such sequence led to a booking (dissent) for Corsairs junior Michael Handel, and with play and the clock stopped, the referee heard something he didn't like and sent Handel off for good with his second yellow.
After a long discussion, the officials, ruled the home side would not play a man down and kept things 11-v.-11 for the rest of the way.
The fans were treated to several individual moments of brilliance from players from each side and on both sides of the ball. The best came during 10 minutes of breathtaking soccer which could have seen each team score at least one.
"The action was unbelievable at times with both teams getting chances to put one in. My only hope was that it would be us and not Fremd," Krawzak said with a wry smile.
Clark fought through a trio of Corsairs and then bore down on Knauer only to see his attempt taken off the line in the 61st minute. That was immediately followed on the other end by Ehren having his shot pushed around the bar by the fingertips of Taraszka's gloves.
Ben Cuthbert found Schoffstall at the back post with a wonderful serve that the sophomore sent over the bar with his header. Again, it went quickly the other way with a Ian McKernan-Rao-Nate Passarelli combination that was sent wide.
Fremd's Austin found a way on two-straight trips into the Corsairs end to defeat a triple-team and maintain possession, but the home side recovered to keep the ball away from Austin's would-be receivers.
"You watch the work rate, energy and determination by Matt, and you have to wonder sometime how he was able to win the ball the way he did, and still keep it on his foot and go forward," said Keller.
The effervescent Ehren would spark an incredible five-minute period just when it appeared, despite all of the pressure the Corsairs continued to heap on their guests, that the game was beginning to drift towards a one-goal victory for Fremd.
"We did so well winning most of the 50-50 and second balls in the second half after we talked about doing so at the half, and we continued to go at them. Even though we couldn't put one in, I never gave up on these guys," Krawzak said.
Nor did Ehren.
Bearing down on the Vikings defense, which for a brief moment had a communication breakdown, Ehren turned the confusion into a disaster for the visitors who watched the Corsairs star forward get to a loose ball just as Taraszka did.
His quick reaction left-footed blast went off the Vikings keeper and into the back of the net in a split second for the 75th-minute equalizer.
"It all happened so fast, but I saw the chance to take advantage of a potential scoring opportunity and went right to the post and put the ball off their keeper," said a thrilled Ehren.
Then Murgas who found the ball at his foot at 35 yards, bulged the back of the net as far as it would go with his guided missile that sent Corsairs fans and his mates into orbit, and the Vikings into stunned silence.
"There wasn't much time to think, so I just let a one-timer go, then followed it into the net," said Murgas, still in disbelief of his game-winner.
"Even though we didn't play well for most of the second half, I still thought, even after they got even, that we could hold to get into overtime where anything can happen," said Rogers. "But we just couldn't do that."
"There were a lot of little things out there tonight," began Keller.
"We played well enough in that first half to maybe go into the break with a 2-0 lead, maybe three.
"Bottom line, we panicked, something we haven't done in a long while. And we just didn't take care of business like we have during these past two weeks of the season.
"Credit Carmel though, they played a much better second half, and that's why they move on, and we go home."
Said Krawzak before the Baker Stadium lights went out: "What can you say about a game like this, which just doesn't seem fair to be sending one real quality team home for the season?
"Two fantastic teams, each who left it all out there tonight. I am happy that our guys were somehow able to find a way to get the result we wanted so badly."
Starting lineups
Fremd (4-1-4-1 starting formation)
GK- Jack Taraszka
D- Kaelan Conway
D- Ben Cuthbert
D- Jake Schoffstall
D- Cole Jackson
DM- Dalton Rogers
M- Jake Scesniak
M- Matt Austin
M- Angel Virgos
M- Russell Beaupre
F- Max Clark
Carmel (4-5-1)
GK- Kyle Knauer
D- Michael Handel
D- Brett Cloe
D- Eli Larson
D- Nate Passarelli
M- Henry Barnes
M- Carsten Murgas
M- Matt Fix
M- Rob Rao
M- Ian McKernan
F- Austin Ehren
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Carsten Murgas, sr., MF, Carmel
Matt Austin, sr., MF, Fremd
Referee: Mariusz Folta
Scoring summary
Carmel:
Ehren (U/A) 75'
Murgas (U/A) 78'
Fremd:
Scesniak (U/A) 7'