Fremd keeps Kinsella Cup on Austin goal
Visitors' early score holds up in annual Palatine Celtic fixture
By Mike Garofola
PALATINE -- As recent Fremd-Palatine battles for the Kinsella Cup go - Tuesday night's 23rd annual crosstown contest didn't achieve the high drama of the last three closely played MSL West contests.
However, that doesn't mean there weren't enough thrills or spills for the big crowd at Chic Anderson Stadium to watch when these two longtime rivals met.
Matt Austin netted a brilliant goal just six minutes into the game, and his teammate, Jack Taraszka made the save of the night to keep the Vikings in front of what would be a 1-0 Fremd victory.
"I think this is the biggest regulation season game of the year for both teams. So for us to come out of here with a win is really amazing for us," said Austin, long after he and his teammates lifted the trophy moments after Palatine Celtic Soccer Club's House Director of Coaching, John Miller, presented the hardware to the Vikings captains.
"When you play in this game against so many of your friends that you grew up with, win this game in your senior year and give your team the trophy to hold for another year is really something," continued Austin.
The Vikings (5-7-0, 3-4-0) have now won three of the last four Kinsella Cup matches. The last three matches have all been decided by a 1-0 result.
"This is always a physical, hard-fought soccer game, maybe one of the hardest fought of the season, so it's not a game you want to lose," admitted Palatine senior Ethan Bank, who did his part in keeping his mates in the game with a terrific effort between the sticks.
Bank, and six others from the Pirates varsity roster, along with eleven Vikings are all current players for Celtic SC, which has been in existence since 1968 when Jimmy Kinsella and Bill Hughes founded this first-class soccer club.
The eventual game-winner by Austin, who shared Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors with Max Clark, was the first time a Willie Filian side had conceded the first goal this season since the Pirates (7-2-0, 4-2-0) opening season loss to Glenbrook North.
"We didn't start the night very well, Maybe some of that was Fremd, maybe some of it was our fault because we didn't come ready to play," began the longtime Pirates manager.
"We didn't have all hands on deck with a couple of players not coming to training the day before. But we just weren't sharp in all facets of the game until we kind of woke up later in the second half.
Futhering his frustration was the fact that division-leading Barrington earned three more points after its win over Rolling Meadows to go six points clear of the Pirates.
There was an early warning for the home side even before the Austin strike. The aforementioned Clark forced a save from Bank, in addition to two corners created just four minutes in.
That was not heeded two minutes later when Austin rose up above a crowd in the box to drive his unstoppable header past Bank after meeting a inch-perfect corner from Jake Scesniak.
"It was a good effort from Matt, and it's always important to get that first one, but we just have to get better at finished our opportunities to put teams away. We had chances and didn't finish them to allow Palatine to stay in the game," said Vikings manager Steve Keller.
The difference between both sides in the first 40 minutes was the Vikings ability to control the middle of the park, as well as having its backline keep nearly all of the play in front of it while staying organized at the same time.
The back four, led by the center back duo of Ben Cuthbert and Jake Schoffstall, were 50-50 ball-winning heroes, while outside backs, Kaelan Conway and Cole Jackson allowed few, if any crossing efforts from the Pirates.
"Cole was a starter on the JV, and was recently brought up and does a nice job for us on the outside," said Keller, who was quick to sing the praises of Dalton Rogers defensive play after the senior turned in several timely tackles from his spot just in front of the Vikings backline.
In the 30th minute, Schoffstall, who came up to take most of the deep throws on this night, saw his long toss cleared from the box but not far enough way to prevent the sophomore to direct an attempt on frame that Bank pushed onto the roof.
The Vikings kept attacking, playing through Angel Virgos, Josh Bennett, Ryan Cox, Austin and Clark, and looked to have another goal or two in them, until the Pirates nearly got something from nothing.
That's when a short clearing effort spilled onto the left foot of Angel Prudente, who wasted little time in driving his low shot back into the box. On the way in, it was redirected, sending Taraszka into an all-out dive.
"That was a great, full-extension save by Taraszka, I don't know how he stopped that shot from going in," said Clark with a big smile.
The goal-saving stop began a frenzied final three minutes of the first half that saw Yoshi Otani stopped cold by Bank, and Schoffstall go wide.
"I don't know if it was a case of nerves, the big crowd, or something else, but we were totally outplayed in that first half," admitted Bank.
The visitors remained dangerous after the intermission with a Rogers-Virgos-Austin combination looking sharp and Clark creating a corner shortly after the exchange from the trio. Russell Beaupre almost latched onto a subsequent lovely ball from Virgos.
But after Luke Garrett earned a corner for the Pirates, things began to open up for the home side. A close call from Filian's men nearly became the equalizer.
Senior William Riordan was put through on the left side, and his burst of speed set him free long enough to fire at his target of an open far corner but his attempt clanged off the far post to save the Vikings in the 61st minute.
Filian went with three up-top in the final 10 minutes of regulation as his club went in search of getting back even. Moments later, Riordan again squeezed through a pair of defenders to test second half keeper Artur Cholewa with another shot on frame.
Rogers likely stopped a 1-v.-1 from Ricardo Garcia with an excellent tackle. Palatine got some late heroics from Bank who turned away Austin twice with a pair of outstanding reaction saves.
"I never really thought an early goal would hold up in a game with Palatine. It did, but we were fortunate tonight to get the result we did," admitted Keller, whose club hosts Hersey this Friday evening.
"It wasn't easy, and I didn't think that one goal would hold up," Clark would add, "but we're starting to play better of late, and if we continue this way, we should be in good shape when the state tournament is about to begin."
Starting lineups
Fremd (4-5-1 starting formation)
GK- Jack Taraszka
D- Kaelan Conway
D- Ben Cuthbert
D- Jake Schoffstall
D- Cole Jackson
M- Dalton Rogers
M- Matt Austin
M- Angel Virgos
M- Russell Beaupre
M- Jack Scesniak
F- Max Clark
Palatine (4-4-2)
GK- Ethan Bank
D- Miguel Barrera
D- Conor McGarvey
D- Chris Munoz
D- Connor Nix
M- Luke Garrett
M- Angel Prudente
M- Marcos Hurtado
M- Ricardo Tovar
F- William Riordan
F- Ricardo Garcia
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Matt Austin, sr, MF, Fremd
Max Clark, sr., F, Fremd
Scoring summary
First half
Fremd: Austin (Scesniak) 6'
Visitors' early score holds up in annual Palatine Celtic fixture
By Mike Garofola
PALATINE -- As recent Fremd-Palatine battles for the Kinsella Cup go - Tuesday night's 23rd annual crosstown contest didn't achieve the high drama of the last three closely played MSL West contests.
However, that doesn't mean there weren't enough thrills or spills for the big crowd at Chic Anderson Stadium to watch when these two longtime rivals met.
Matt Austin netted a brilliant goal just six minutes into the game, and his teammate, Jack Taraszka made the save of the night to keep the Vikings in front of what would be a 1-0 Fremd victory.
"I think this is the biggest regulation season game of the year for both teams. So for us to come out of here with a win is really amazing for us," said Austin, long after he and his teammates lifted the trophy moments after Palatine Celtic Soccer Club's House Director of Coaching, John Miller, presented the hardware to the Vikings captains.
"When you play in this game against so many of your friends that you grew up with, win this game in your senior year and give your team the trophy to hold for another year is really something," continued Austin.
The Vikings (5-7-0, 3-4-0) have now won three of the last four Kinsella Cup matches. The last three matches have all been decided by a 1-0 result.
"This is always a physical, hard-fought soccer game, maybe one of the hardest fought of the season, so it's not a game you want to lose," admitted Palatine senior Ethan Bank, who did his part in keeping his mates in the game with a terrific effort between the sticks.
Bank, and six others from the Pirates varsity roster, along with eleven Vikings are all current players for Celtic SC, which has been in existence since 1968 when Jimmy Kinsella and Bill Hughes founded this first-class soccer club.
The eventual game-winner by Austin, who shared Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors with Max Clark, was the first time a Willie Filian side had conceded the first goal this season since the Pirates (7-2-0, 4-2-0) opening season loss to Glenbrook North.
"We didn't start the night very well, Maybe some of that was Fremd, maybe some of it was our fault because we didn't come ready to play," began the longtime Pirates manager.
"We didn't have all hands on deck with a couple of players not coming to training the day before. But we just weren't sharp in all facets of the game until we kind of woke up later in the second half.
Futhering his frustration was the fact that division-leading Barrington earned three more points after its win over Rolling Meadows to go six points clear of the Pirates.
There was an early warning for the home side even before the Austin strike. The aforementioned Clark forced a save from Bank, in addition to two corners created just four minutes in.
That was not heeded two minutes later when Austin rose up above a crowd in the box to drive his unstoppable header past Bank after meeting a inch-perfect corner from Jake Scesniak.
"It was a good effort from Matt, and it's always important to get that first one, but we just have to get better at finished our opportunities to put teams away. We had chances and didn't finish them to allow Palatine to stay in the game," said Vikings manager Steve Keller.
The difference between both sides in the first 40 minutes was the Vikings ability to control the middle of the park, as well as having its backline keep nearly all of the play in front of it while staying organized at the same time.
The back four, led by the center back duo of Ben Cuthbert and Jake Schoffstall, were 50-50 ball-winning heroes, while outside backs, Kaelan Conway and Cole Jackson allowed few, if any crossing efforts from the Pirates.
"Cole was a starter on the JV, and was recently brought up and does a nice job for us on the outside," said Keller, who was quick to sing the praises of Dalton Rogers defensive play after the senior turned in several timely tackles from his spot just in front of the Vikings backline.
In the 30th minute, Schoffstall, who came up to take most of the deep throws on this night, saw his long toss cleared from the box but not far enough way to prevent the sophomore to direct an attempt on frame that Bank pushed onto the roof.
The Vikings kept attacking, playing through Angel Virgos, Josh Bennett, Ryan Cox, Austin and Clark, and looked to have another goal or two in them, until the Pirates nearly got something from nothing.
That's when a short clearing effort spilled onto the left foot of Angel Prudente, who wasted little time in driving his low shot back into the box. On the way in, it was redirected, sending Taraszka into an all-out dive.
"That was a great, full-extension save by Taraszka, I don't know how he stopped that shot from going in," said Clark with a big smile.
The goal-saving stop began a frenzied final three minutes of the first half that saw Yoshi Otani stopped cold by Bank, and Schoffstall go wide.
"I don't know if it was a case of nerves, the big crowd, or something else, but we were totally outplayed in that first half," admitted Bank.
The visitors remained dangerous after the intermission with a Rogers-Virgos-Austin combination looking sharp and Clark creating a corner shortly after the exchange from the trio. Russell Beaupre almost latched onto a subsequent lovely ball from Virgos.
But after Luke Garrett earned a corner for the Pirates, things began to open up for the home side. A close call from Filian's men nearly became the equalizer.
Senior William Riordan was put through on the left side, and his burst of speed set him free long enough to fire at his target of an open far corner but his attempt clanged off the far post to save the Vikings in the 61st minute.
Filian went with three up-top in the final 10 minutes of regulation as his club went in search of getting back even. Moments later, Riordan again squeezed through a pair of defenders to test second half keeper Artur Cholewa with another shot on frame.
Rogers likely stopped a 1-v.-1 from Ricardo Garcia with an excellent tackle. Palatine got some late heroics from Bank who turned away Austin twice with a pair of outstanding reaction saves.
"I never really thought an early goal would hold up in a game with Palatine. It did, but we were fortunate tonight to get the result we did," admitted Keller, whose club hosts Hersey this Friday evening.
"It wasn't easy, and I didn't think that one goal would hold up," Clark would add, "but we're starting to play better of late, and if we continue this way, we should be in good shape when the state tournament is about to begin."
Starting lineups
Fremd (4-5-1 starting formation)
GK- Jack Taraszka
D- Kaelan Conway
D- Ben Cuthbert
D- Jake Schoffstall
D- Cole Jackson
M- Dalton Rogers
M- Matt Austin
M- Angel Virgos
M- Russell Beaupre
M- Jack Scesniak
F- Max Clark
Palatine (4-4-2)
GK- Ethan Bank
D- Miguel Barrera
D- Conor McGarvey
D- Chris Munoz
D- Connor Nix
M- Luke Garrett
M- Angel Prudente
M- Marcos Hurtado
M- Ricardo Tovar
F- William Riordan
F- Ricardo Garcia
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Matt Austin, sr, MF, Fremd
Max Clark, sr., F, Fremd
Scoring summary
First half
Fremd: Austin (Scesniak) 6'