Fremd pushes Libertyville to the brink
After 100 minutes, Vikings fall 3-2 on penalties to no. 2 Wildcats
By Mike Garofola
BARRINGTON -- Wednesday night's Fremd vs. Libertyville sectional semifinal at Barrington Community Stadium was a thrilling, pulsating and remarkable 100-plus minutes of soccer that drew the last gasp from a big crowd when top-seeded Libertyville won in penalty kicks to advance into the final.
Fifth-seeded Fremd, ranked 11th in the final Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, went into this match as a heavy underdog. And why not?
Top-seed and second ranked Libertyville, the 2015 state champion and 2017 runnerup, came in with a perfect record in 18 games, outscored its postseason opponents 14-1, and looked the part of a state finalist when it exploded from the opening whistle to put Fremd manager Steve Keller's men under extreme pressure.
"I thought we were in big trouble after their great start," said Keller. "I kind of figured we would be chasing two, maybe three goals in the first 15 minutes.
"We played a little nervous, and quite frankly, we were overwhelmed by their team speed, strength, power and ability to win everything in the air. Slowly but surely, the tide changed when we got our feet underneath us and began to match their physical play on both sides of the ball."
Keller knew from film and reports he gathered that Michigan-bound Evan Rasmussen, an incredible talent at forward, would be the key figure his lads would need to neutralize in and around the box. The Illinois Player of the Year candidate has the skill to deliver on his own or provide quality helpers to his teammates.
"Rasmussen is a load up-top for them," Keller said. "(His) teammates are very good playing off of him, and that was a big concern for us before and throughout the game."
But it wasn't just Rasmussen who made Keller and his staff nervous, but players such as Mickey Reilly, Tanner Kelly, and a backline led by Grant Herbek, Mason Williams and Brendan Quigley, who were deft on the ball and quite capable of joining the attack at a moments notice.
"Yes, we had a terrific start tonight," said Williams, who along with keeper Zach El Ghatit earned Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match honors for their effort during regulation, two extra periods and a pressure-packed shootout. "We played with a lot of confidence, speed and physical play to put (Fremd) under pressure."
The Vikings (13-6-1) were down and almost out during the opening quarter hour. The flurry was punctuated when Rasmussen rose high above all others to thump his header off the woodwork. Fremd's Connor Sapiente and his mates held firm by defending with all their might and finally turning up the intensity on nearly every 50-50 and second ball, and tackling with a ferocious zest that the Wildcats had not seen thus far this season.
"We were in so much trouble at the start," said Sapiente, who is a senior. "It's like we knew what to expect, but when they came at us, we just didn't expect it to be at that high a level.
"But we didn't give in. And there was a lot of fight in us. Even when we gave up the opener, we had a lot of confidence among us which rose when we equalized late in regulation."
Libertyville knew it was in a battle.
"This was by far the toughest challenge of the year for us," said Wildcats manager Kevin Thunholm. "(Fremd) made us work for everything, especially from the second half on, played us as physical as anyone, slowed things down and made us (at times) play the way they wanted us to."
One of several pinpoint, deep, long throws from Williams found Reilly and then Kelly for an attempt on frame that was redirected and pushed around the post by Fremd keeper Artur Cholewa. Afterward, the first of seven yellow card bookings was shown by referee by Vic Walker, who had his hands full trying to reign in two super clubs who were playing for their soccer lives.
This yellow card started some lively, sometimes snappy chatter between both benches. It continued just past the hour mark when both sides got down to the serious side of winning and advancing.
The aforementioned El Ghatit was called into action for the first time in the 29th minute. He took a looping ball from Fremd's Anthony Tambellini off the head of Dorian Lesiuk inside the six-yard box in the 29th minute. Soon after he applauded Herbek's well-played interception of an early ball sent in from Tambellini.
The Vikings' Joe Beaupre, Williams' equal in long-throw expertise, unloaded a guided missile into the Wildcats (19-0-0) box that saw El Ghatit tripped up on his way to the ball. Herbek came to the rescue to parry the ball out of the area.
"We had a lot going for us in the first half," said Williams. "But Fremd did a good job defending and making us work a little harder than we wanted to in the last 6-7 minutes of the half."
As the yellow card count continued to increase after the intermission, so did the half-chances from both sides, as well as several dangerous opportunities.
The first fell to Libertyville. Rasmussen on the turn set Kelly free for a good look on frame that went just over in the 52nd minute.
Beaupre went close for Fremd after the senior latched onto a helper provided from Lesiuk and Tambellini two minutes later.
At 59 minutes, Williams' deep throw from the far touchline was met by Rasmussen, whose expertise in the air was validated when the Wildcats senior redirected his header just under the bar in the far corner to collect his 31st goal of the season.
"I didn't think that would be enough, but I also thought maybe that would finally open things up for us a little," said Thunholm.
Libertyville's Kelly went wide with an attempt, before Rasmussen had a low drive saved by Cholewa.
The back and forth continued when the Wildcats' El Ghatit went high in the air to bring down a well-aimed free kick from Conway. He came crashing down atop Kading, who left the match after taking the brunt of the big Wildcats' full weight.
Then Fremd drew even.
Jake Schoffstall, who bagged two free kicks in last Saturday's 4-1 victory over Wheeling in a regional final, sent the Vikings into orbit with a deadly 22-yard blast that burned through the Wildcats four-man wall and past a surprised El Ghatit, who likely did not see the ball until the last second.
"I'll take the blame for that goal," said El Ghatit. "We had this game for the most part, but I could have done my job better. But the team didn't fall apart, and we battled until the end when I had a chance to make up for their goal."
It appeared the Wildcats' wall may have moved just slightly before the shot to allow a window of opportunity for Schoffstall to find.
"I'll have to see that again later, but on a play like that, everyone is responsible to do his job," Thunholm said. "(It) was a great strike, and we just didn't cover it as well as we could."
The 76th-minute equalizer held to the horn and guaranteed at least another 20 minutes of soccer. Then Fremd's Beaupre opened the first extra session with a wicked smash off the post that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
"I thought that one was in," admitted Keller, who along with his bench jumped into the air when the Beaupre attempt left his foot and appeared ready to squeeze just inside the near post.
Libertyville's Quigley tricked his way to the endline before delivering a superb cross into the box that Fremd's ever-alert Vince Daidone-Petrovich parried out of danger.
Herbek blocked a shot inside the Wildcats box in the 95th minute, then on the other end sent a devilish free kick onto the roof of the net to the oohs and ahs of the Libertyville fans.
Then it was on to overtime.
"I was ready, because we spent the end of each practice training on PKs," said Williams. "So I really don't think any of us was nervous when it started."
Once there, Fremd's Lesiuk saw his spot-kick saved by El Ghatit to open before Rasmussen converted.
Sapiente drove his attempt off the glove of El Ghatit and into the back of the net, before Herbek was just as reliable as his teammate.
El Ghatit stopped Jake Schoffstall, then Cholewa answered against Jack VanDixhorn with a late leg save.
Freshmen Eli Schoffstall drove his effort over the bar, but Cholewa came to the rescue with a wonderful stop on Kelly to keep the score at 2-1 Libertyville.
"There's no rhyme or reason sometimes for missed PKs," says Keller. "You can practice them a thousand times, get to the spot and just miss."
"Until your truly in that situation, and with so much riding on your kick, you don't really know what will happen.
"When I was at Indiana, I got us in the Final Four with a PK that went upper 90. Wasn't the plan, it just happened. So, again, you never know until you're standing over the ball."
Sophomore Nick Austin had far too much pace on his spot kick for El Ghatit to cleanly stop the fifth-round chance that drew the Vikings back level at 2-2. That set up Williams with a chance to end a night of unbelievable drama in Barrington.
"Zach was the real hero for us tonight," said a beaming Williams, who like El Ghatit, felt the heavy burden of pressure fall off their shoulders with his winning kick.
"When we got to the half and it was 0-0, we all knew this was going to be a battle right until the very end," began Thunholm.
"Fremd is a great team, coached so well by Steve and his assistants. We all learned something about ourselves and the team. This was that wake-up call game that we needed to help get our focus back to a level we'll need for Saturday's sectional final and hopefully the rest of the tournament."
Sapiente, who has shown great class all season long, never hesitated to do his final interview of the year, despite the heartbreaking loss.
"We all have to be thrilled with the way we played after that tough start," he said. "We had our chances against one of the top teams in the state, (played) them even all of the second half and into overtime. It was just one of those nights."
Said Keller: "Obviously, I could not be more proud of these guys right now. Their ability to fight as hard as they could against a great opponent says a lot about each of them.
"They made Libertyville earn everything tonight, and it was our heart and desire that allowed us to stay with our tactical plan. It was very impressive.
"We played the two top teams (Libertyville and no. 1 Naperville North) as close as anyone. And even though we didn't leave with the result we came here for, there's no reason to hang our heads tonight."
Starting lineups
Fremd (4-4-2)
G- Artur Cholewa
D- Jake Scesniak
D- Jake Schoffstall
D- Cole Jackson
D- Kaelan Conway
M- Vince Daidone-Petrovich
M- Anthony Tambellini
M- Connor Sapiente
M- Josh Bennett
F- Dorian Lesiuk
F- Joe Beaupre
Libertyville (3-5-2)
G- Zach El Ghatit
D- Brendan Quigley
D- Grant Herbek
D- Mason Williams
M- Nick Guarino
M- Tanner Kelly
M- Jack VanDixhorn
M- Mickey Reilly
M- Gabriel Kosciuch
F- Evan Rasmussen
F- Patrick Graham
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Zach El Ghatit sr., GK, Libertyville
Mason Williams, sr., D, Libertyville
Referee: Vic Walker
Scoring Summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Libertyville: Rasmussen (Williams), 59'
Fremd: J. Schoffstall (FK), 76'
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
No scoring
PKs
Fremd: Lesiuk (save); Sapiente (goal); J. Schoffstall (save); E. Schoffstall (miss); Austin (goal)
Lbertyville: Rasmussen (goal); Herbek (goal); Jack VanDixhorn (save); Kelly (save); Williams (goal)
After 100 minutes, Vikings fall 3-2 on penalties to no. 2 Wildcats
By Mike Garofola
BARRINGTON -- Wednesday night's Fremd vs. Libertyville sectional semifinal at Barrington Community Stadium was a thrilling, pulsating and remarkable 100-plus minutes of soccer that drew the last gasp from a big crowd when top-seeded Libertyville won in penalty kicks to advance into the final.
Fifth-seeded Fremd, ranked 11th in the final Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, went into this match as a heavy underdog. And why not?
Top-seed and second ranked Libertyville, the 2015 state champion and 2017 runnerup, came in with a perfect record in 18 games, outscored its postseason opponents 14-1, and looked the part of a state finalist when it exploded from the opening whistle to put Fremd manager Steve Keller's men under extreme pressure.
"I thought we were in big trouble after their great start," said Keller. "I kind of figured we would be chasing two, maybe three goals in the first 15 minutes.
"We played a little nervous, and quite frankly, we were overwhelmed by their team speed, strength, power and ability to win everything in the air. Slowly but surely, the tide changed when we got our feet underneath us and began to match their physical play on both sides of the ball."
Keller knew from film and reports he gathered that Michigan-bound Evan Rasmussen, an incredible talent at forward, would be the key figure his lads would need to neutralize in and around the box. The Illinois Player of the Year candidate has the skill to deliver on his own or provide quality helpers to his teammates.
"Rasmussen is a load up-top for them," Keller said. "(His) teammates are very good playing off of him, and that was a big concern for us before and throughout the game."
But it wasn't just Rasmussen who made Keller and his staff nervous, but players such as Mickey Reilly, Tanner Kelly, and a backline led by Grant Herbek, Mason Williams and Brendan Quigley, who were deft on the ball and quite capable of joining the attack at a moments notice.
"Yes, we had a terrific start tonight," said Williams, who along with keeper Zach El Ghatit earned Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match honors for their effort during regulation, two extra periods and a pressure-packed shootout. "We played with a lot of confidence, speed and physical play to put (Fremd) under pressure."
The Vikings (13-6-1) were down and almost out during the opening quarter hour. The flurry was punctuated when Rasmussen rose high above all others to thump his header off the woodwork. Fremd's Connor Sapiente and his mates held firm by defending with all their might and finally turning up the intensity on nearly every 50-50 and second ball, and tackling with a ferocious zest that the Wildcats had not seen thus far this season.
"We were in so much trouble at the start," said Sapiente, who is a senior. "It's like we knew what to expect, but when they came at us, we just didn't expect it to be at that high a level.
"But we didn't give in. And there was a lot of fight in us. Even when we gave up the opener, we had a lot of confidence among us which rose when we equalized late in regulation."
Libertyville knew it was in a battle.
"This was by far the toughest challenge of the year for us," said Wildcats manager Kevin Thunholm. "(Fremd) made us work for everything, especially from the second half on, played us as physical as anyone, slowed things down and made us (at times) play the way they wanted us to."
One of several pinpoint, deep, long throws from Williams found Reilly and then Kelly for an attempt on frame that was redirected and pushed around the post by Fremd keeper Artur Cholewa. Afterward, the first of seven yellow card bookings was shown by referee by Vic Walker, who had his hands full trying to reign in two super clubs who were playing for their soccer lives.
This yellow card started some lively, sometimes snappy chatter between both benches. It continued just past the hour mark when both sides got down to the serious side of winning and advancing.
The aforementioned El Ghatit was called into action for the first time in the 29th minute. He took a looping ball from Fremd's Anthony Tambellini off the head of Dorian Lesiuk inside the six-yard box in the 29th minute. Soon after he applauded Herbek's well-played interception of an early ball sent in from Tambellini.
The Vikings' Joe Beaupre, Williams' equal in long-throw expertise, unloaded a guided missile into the Wildcats (19-0-0) box that saw El Ghatit tripped up on his way to the ball. Herbek came to the rescue to parry the ball out of the area.
"We had a lot going for us in the first half," said Williams. "But Fremd did a good job defending and making us work a little harder than we wanted to in the last 6-7 minutes of the half."
As the yellow card count continued to increase after the intermission, so did the half-chances from both sides, as well as several dangerous opportunities.
The first fell to Libertyville. Rasmussen on the turn set Kelly free for a good look on frame that went just over in the 52nd minute.
Beaupre went close for Fremd after the senior latched onto a helper provided from Lesiuk and Tambellini two minutes later.
At 59 minutes, Williams' deep throw from the far touchline was met by Rasmussen, whose expertise in the air was validated when the Wildcats senior redirected his header just under the bar in the far corner to collect his 31st goal of the season.
"I didn't think that would be enough, but I also thought maybe that would finally open things up for us a little," said Thunholm.
Libertyville's Kelly went wide with an attempt, before Rasmussen had a low drive saved by Cholewa.
The back and forth continued when the Wildcats' El Ghatit went high in the air to bring down a well-aimed free kick from Conway. He came crashing down atop Kading, who left the match after taking the brunt of the big Wildcats' full weight.
Then Fremd drew even.
Jake Schoffstall, who bagged two free kicks in last Saturday's 4-1 victory over Wheeling in a regional final, sent the Vikings into orbit with a deadly 22-yard blast that burned through the Wildcats four-man wall and past a surprised El Ghatit, who likely did not see the ball until the last second.
"I'll take the blame for that goal," said El Ghatit. "We had this game for the most part, but I could have done my job better. But the team didn't fall apart, and we battled until the end when I had a chance to make up for their goal."
It appeared the Wildcats' wall may have moved just slightly before the shot to allow a window of opportunity for Schoffstall to find.
"I'll have to see that again later, but on a play like that, everyone is responsible to do his job," Thunholm said. "(It) was a great strike, and we just didn't cover it as well as we could."
The 76th-minute equalizer held to the horn and guaranteed at least another 20 minutes of soccer. Then Fremd's Beaupre opened the first extra session with a wicked smash off the post that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
"I thought that one was in," admitted Keller, who along with his bench jumped into the air when the Beaupre attempt left his foot and appeared ready to squeeze just inside the near post.
Libertyville's Quigley tricked his way to the endline before delivering a superb cross into the box that Fremd's ever-alert Vince Daidone-Petrovich parried out of danger.
Herbek blocked a shot inside the Wildcats box in the 95th minute, then on the other end sent a devilish free kick onto the roof of the net to the oohs and ahs of the Libertyville fans.
Then it was on to overtime.
"I was ready, because we spent the end of each practice training on PKs," said Williams. "So I really don't think any of us was nervous when it started."
Once there, Fremd's Lesiuk saw his spot-kick saved by El Ghatit to open before Rasmussen converted.
Sapiente drove his attempt off the glove of El Ghatit and into the back of the net, before Herbek was just as reliable as his teammate.
El Ghatit stopped Jake Schoffstall, then Cholewa answered against Jack VanDixhorn with a late leg save.
Freshmen Eli Schoffstall drove his effort over the bar, but Cholewa came to the rescue with a wonderful stop on Kelly to keep the score at 2-1 Libertyville.
"There's no rhyme or reason sometimes for missed PKs," says Keller. "You can practice them a thousand times, get to the spot and just miss."
"Until your truly in that situation, and with so much riding on your kick, you don't really know what will happen.
"When I was at Indiana, I got us in the Final Four with a PK that went upper 90. Wasn't the plan, it just happened. So, again, you never know until you're standing over the ball."
Sophomore Nick Austin had far too much pace on his spot kick for El Ghatit to cleanly stop the fifth-round chance that drew the Vikings back level at 2-2. That set up Williams with a chance to end a night of unbelievable drama in Barrington.
"Zach was the real hero for us tonight," said a beaming Williams, who like El Ghatit, felt the heavy burden of pressure fall off their shoulders with his winning kick.
"When we got to the half and it was 0-0, we all knew this was going to be a battle right until the very end," began Thunholm.
"Fremd is a great team, coached so well by Steve and his assistants. We all learned something about ourselves and the team. This was that wake-up call game that we needed to help get our focus back to a level we'll need for Saturday's sectional final and hopefully the rest of the tournament."
Sapiente, who has shown great class all season long, never hesitated to do his final interview of the year, despite the heartbreaking loss.
"We all have to be thrilled with the way we played after that tough start," he said. "We had our chances against one of the top teams in the state, (played) them even all of the second half and into overtime. It was just one of those nights."
Said Keller: "Obviously, I could not be more proud of these guys right now. Their ability to fight as hard as they could against a great opponent says a lot about each of them.
"They made Libertyville earn everything tonight, and it was our heart and desire that allowed us to stay with our tactical plan. It was very impressive.
"We played the two top teams (Libertyville and no. 1 Naperville North) as close as anyone. And even though we didn't leave with the result we came here for, there's no reason to hang our heads tonight."
Starting lineups
Fremd (4-4-2)
G- Artur Cholewa
D- Jake Scesniak
D- Jake Schoffstall
D- Cole Jackson
D- Kaelan Conway
M- Vince Daidone-Petrovich
M- Anthony Tambellini
M- Connor Sapiente
M- Josh Bennett
F- Dorian Lesiuk
F- Joe Beaupre
Libertyville (3-5-2)
G- Zach El Ghatit
D- Brendan Quigley
D- Grant Herbek
D- Mason Williams
M- Nick Guarino
M- Tanner Kelly
M- Jack VanDixhorn
M- Mickey Reilly
M- Gabriel Kosciuch
F- Evan Rasmussen
F- Patrick Graham
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Zach El Ghatit sr., GK, Libertyville
Mason Williams, sr., D, Libertyville
Referee: Vic Walker
Scoring Summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Libertyville: Rasmussen (Williams), 59'
Fremd: J. Schoffstall (FK), 76'
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
No scoring
PKs
Fremd: Lesiuk (save); Sapiente (goal); J. Schoffstall (save); E. Schoffstall (miss); Austin (goal)
Lbertyville: Rasmussen (goal); Herbek (goal); Jack VanDixhorn (save); Kelly (save); Williams (goal)