Meadows corrals 1st MSL win, tops HE 1-0
New formation turns fortunes around for Mustangs
By Mike Garofola
ROLLING MEADOWS -- Sometimes change is good.
Take the case of Rolling Meadows and its affable manager Brett Olson.
He looked for any way to maximize the strength of his roster, while giving his lads an old-fashioned jump start. Olson, after two-consecutive losses in Mid-Suburban League play, switched to a non-traditional 3-2-3-2 formation in advance of playing powerful Fremd after toying with the look at the Jim Wolter Titan Invitational at Glenbrook South.
The results proved genious.
His men fought hard to earn a 1-1 draw in Palatine against the reigning MSL West Division champions, then held Prospect goal-less for 100 minutes in a 0-0 draw.
Friday night at Robert Hoese Field, the Mustangs (2-4-5, 1-2-3) collected their first three points of the season after a well-deserved 1-0 victory over visiting Hoffman Estates.
"Over 200 minutes were we haven't conceded a goal, and you can see the guys like playing in this new formation -- so far, so good," beamed Olson after a wonder goal from Joao Sanchez at 47 minutes proved to be the difference in this contest.
The victory was a relief.
"Finally, our first win in conference; it feels real good especially after being close to getting one against Fremd, then Prospect," said Mustangs star veteran Adan Ramirez, who for his efforts on this night was honored as the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match.
"I think our formation change has been good for us. (Isaac) San Roman has been very good playing in front of our backline, and the three guys back there haved worked well together. So I feel like we have a better chance each time out."
Of course, there's that little matter of putting the ball into the back of the net, which is something the Mustangs have not done all that much.
"That's why we have to be as strong defensively this season, (we) lost two-big scoring guys," said Olson, whose team has just nine goals in 11 games. "Our guys are doing their best, but they cannot match what we've had."
Those guys Olson mentions were Sammy Olague and Sergio Lucero Herrera.
The all-area, all-sectional duo combined for 40-plus goals and close to 30 helpers during their careers. They created enough trouble in their opponents end to help other Mustangs on the attack.
"Edwin and Isaac have been real solid sitting in front of our back three, while Ryan (Stubitsch) is the guy who has solidified things along the back," Olson says of his defensive unit.
"Christian Rubio is a big-time ball-winner on the outside, while Niko (Nikolay Pavlov) up from the JV, has been a nice surprise on the outside for us also."
All this positive talk is never lost on Hoffman Estates (4-8-1, 0-3-0) manager Sean Armstrong, who despite watching his lads drop their third match in the MSL, remained upbeat in defeat.
"This is a team that I really believe in," Armstrong said. "The pieces are there up and down our roster. What a team with this much inexperience must learn to do (is) learn how to win games like this one."
"We've played a lot of quality opponents tough. And really, except for a bad loss in our season opener with Evanston, each game that we've lost has been there for us. We have to learn how to win those games."
Armstrong started two freshmen in his first 11, which is highly unusual in the boys game, and a handful of others with little or no varsity playing experience on their resume.
"And it shows sometimes," begins Hawks senor Siva Nakka, who along with Simeon Georgiev and Julian Rios wears the captains' armband with pride for Armstrong.
"We've had an incredibly busy week of games, beginning with three-straight road games at the PepsiCo Showdown (including last) night way up in Woodstock," continued the Hawks terrific center back.
"You would have thought we would come out flat tonight, but we didn't. After 15-20 minutes, we went flat, and I feel like the energy on our team disappeared."
The Hawks bright start was all the more impressive when you consider they opened play in the PepsiCo last Saturday in Joilet, then went to the far western burbs and West Chicago, before heading way north to Woodstock.
It's 2-1-0 record for the week proved the point of Armstrong that his men can play during trying times.
"That (1-0) loss to a very good West Chicago team said a lot about the talent we have here. But as you saw tonight, we're still a work in progress," said Armstrong.
Arnulfo Mora, Tyler Dawson and the aforementioned Ramirez were the most active in the first quarter hour for the home side. On the other side of the park Georgi Kyosev, Jesus Martinez, Simeon Kyosev and freshman Connor Kurzynski were most involved in the action.
There was a sense of relief from the Hawks faithful during a 10-minute sequence in which the Mustangs went close with a handful of efforts on frame beginning with Dawson going wide at 16 minutes.
Ramirez then went over the bar; Ethan Kakavetsis had his attempt blocked on the way in; then a Dawson blast was saved nicely by Hawks keeper Adrian Huerta.
"We started to play with more confidence after that first 15 minutes, and actually had a bunch of good chances during the half," said Ramirez.
The visitors slowly got back into the game with the help of Manny Amezcua, Logan Garcia, and Martinez, who set up Georgi Kyosev on a mazy run close the edge that resulted in an attempt over the bar in the 27th minute.
The best chance of the half by the Hawks came at 37 minutes when Kyosev put through Garcia. If not for a strong, sharp pressure from the Mustangs backline, Garcia could have been in a 1-v.-1 with keeper Matt Galvan.
"We had some chances in the first half, and we sent three great balls through the box (untouched) in the second half," said Armstrong. "So we created opportunities tonight but not many in the run of play."
Joao Sanchez broke the hearts of his opponent with a brilliant individual effort at 47 minutes. The art of deception, and sublime control and touch would overcame a case of nerves after Sanchez latched onto a Ramirez helper.
At the end of his enterprising run up the center channel, Sanchez was given an inch-perfect ball that he: collected in a crowd; carried away from pressure to his right; and unloaded a low drive the opposite way of Huerta, who could only watch the ball settle into the back end of his net.
"I was a little nervous when Adan gave me that ball, and I was able to get free from the defense," Sanchez said. "I wasn't sure if I could get the shot off to beat the keeper, but I guess I did.
"Our intensity and speed of play in our attack was very good tonight. Our defense was solid all night also."
It could have been an even game seven minutes after the Sanchez goal if not for a sensational save by Pablo Zarate, who took over for Galvan between the sticks after the break.
The diminutive keeper went airborne to push a seemingly sure goal from Georgiev up and over the woodwork to keep the Mustangs one-goal advantage.
"Pablo just missed almost the same ball against Fremd last week, but tonight he just elevated to keep that one from going in," said Olson.
To their credit, Hoffman Estates didn't go away despite the disappointing near-miss. The Hawks threw numbers forward and were able to pressure the home side for the final 10 minutes before time.
The Hawks created a handful of deep throws and corners from their counterattack with Garcia going over the bar and Georgiev skimming the football upright after a corner by Kyosev.
"I was happy with the way we played hard in those final 10-15 minutes, but we have to find a balance in order to play that way for an entire game," offered Nakka in closing.
Armstrong concluded: "It was the transition game that was our undoing tonight just as it's been of late in our other conference games.
"We really are making progress in the right direction, so I feel we'll be at a good place with the second half of the season upon us."
The Hawks missed the chance to advance into their group championship match of the PepsiCo Showdown with a 1-0 loss to Huntley on Saturday in Joliet. They advance to meet with Elk Grove on Tuesday and then face a tough Schaumburg squad Friday.
With its three points, the Mustangs now stand four points clear of Elk Grove (one point) in its division and chase fourth place Prospect by just two points heading into the new week.
"The guys like this formation, and they understand their roles in it," Olson said. "So to get a win helps send us into Senior Night on Tuesday against Schaumburg with confidence and momentum."
The Mustangs then travel to Wheeling on Thursday where they will meet the resurgent Wildcats.
Starting lineups
Hoffman Estates (4-4-2)
G- Adrian Huerta
D- Bryan Flores
D- Siva Nakka
D- Julian Rios
D- Jesus Martinez
M- Manny Amezcua
M- Connor Kurzynski
M- Georgi Kyosev
M- Erik Morales
F- Danny Grochal
F- Simeon Georgiev
Rolling Meadows (3-2-3-2)
GK- Matt Galvan
D- Cristian Rubio
D- Ryan Stubitsch
D- Nikolay Pavlov
DM- Isaac San Roman
DM- Edwin Fuentes
M- Erik Martens
M- Joao Sanchez
M- Ethan Kakavetsis
F- Adan Ramirez
F- Tyler Dawson
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Adan Ramirez, sr., MF, Rolling Meadows
Referee: Vitaly Hansavage
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Rolling Meadows: Sanchez (Ramirez) 47'
New formation turns fortunes around for Mustangs
By Mike Garofola
ROLLING MEADOWS -- Sometimes change is good.
Take the case of Rolling Meadows and its affable manager Brett Olson.
He looked for any way to maximize the strength of his roster, while giving his lads an old-fashioned jump start. Olson, after two-consecutive losses in Mid-Suburban League play, switched to a non-traditional 3-2-3-2 formation in advance of playing powerful Fremd after toying with the look at the Jim Wolter Titan Invitational at Glenbrook South.
The results proved genious.
His men fought hard to earn a 1-1 draw in Palatine against the reigning MSL West Division champions, then held Prospect goal-less for 100 minutes in a 0-0 draw.
Friday night at Robert Hoese Field, the Mustangs (2-4-5, 1-2-3) collected their first three points of the season after a well-deserved 1-0 victory over visiting Hoffman Estates.
"Over 200 minutes were we haven't conceded a goal, and you can see the guys like playing in this new formation -- so far, so good," beamed Olson after a wonder goal from Joao Sanchez at 47 minutes proved to be the difference in this contest.
The victory was a relief.
"Finally, our first win in conference; it feels real good especially after being close to getting one against Fremd, then Prospect," said Mustangs star veteran Adan Ramirez, who for his efforts on this night was honored as the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match.
"I think our formation change has been good for us. (Isaac) San Roman has been very good playing in front of our backline, and the three guys back there haved worked well together. So I feel like we have a better chance each time out."
Of course, there's that little matter of putting the ball into the back of the net, which is something the Mustangs have not done all that much.
"That's why we have to be as strong defensively this season, (we) lost two-big scoring guys," said Olson, whose team has just nine goals in 11 games. "Our guys are doing their best, but they cannot match what we've had."
Those guys Olson mentions were Sammy Olague and Sergio Lucero Herrera.
The all-area, all-sectional duo combined for 40-plus goals and close to 30 helpers during their careers. They created enough trouble in their opponents end to help other Mustangs on the attack.
"Edwin and Isaac have been real solid sitting in front of our back three, while Ryan (Stubitsch) is the guy who has solidified things along the back," Olson says of his defensive unit.
"Christian Rubio is a big-time ball-winner on the outside, while Niko (Nikolay Pavlov) up from the JV, has been a nice surprise on the outside for us also."
All this positive talk is never lost on Hoffman Estates (4-8-1, 0-3-0) manager Sean Armstrong, who despite watching his lads drop their third match in the MSL, remained upbeat in defeat.
"This is a team that I really believe in," Armstrong said. "The pieces are there up and down our roster. What a team with this much inexperience must learn to do (is) learn how to win games like this one."
"We've played a lot of quality opponents tough. And really, except for a bad loss in our season opener with Evanston, each game that we've lost has been there for us. We have to learn how to win those games."
Armstrong started two freshmen in his first 11, which is highly unusual in the boys game, and a handful of others with little or no varsity playing experience on their resume.
"And it shows sometimes," begins Hawks senor Siva Nakka, who along with Simeon Georgiev and Julian Rios wears the captains' armband with pride for Armstrong.
"We've had an incredibly busy week of games, beginning with three-straight road games at the PepsiCo Showdown (including last) night way up in Woodstock," continued the Hawks terrific center back.
"You would have thought we would come out flat tonight, but we didn't. After 15-20 minutes, we went flat, and I feel like the energy on our team disappeared."
The Hawks bright start was all the more impressive when you consider they opened play in the PepsiCo last Saturday in Joilet, then went to the far western burbs and West Chicago, before heading way north to Woodstock.
It's 2-1-0 record for the week proved the point of Armstrong that his men can play during trying times.
"That (1-0) loss to a very good West Chicago team said a lot about the talent we have here. But as you saw tonight, we're still a work in progress," said Armstrong.
Arnulfo Mora, Tyler Dawson and the aforementioned Ramirez were the most active in the first quarter hour for the home side. On the other side of the park Georgi Kyosev, Jesus Martinez, Simeon Kyosev and freshman Connor Kurzynski were most involved in the action.
There was a sense of relief from the Hawks faithful during a 10-minute sequence in which the Mustangs went close with a handful of efforts on frame beginning with Dawson going wide at 16 minutes.
Ramirez then went over the bar; Ethan Kakavetsis had his attempt blocked on the way in; then a Dawson blast was saved nicely by Hawks keeper Adrian Huerta.
"We started to play with more confidence after that first 15 minutes, and actually had a bunch of good chances during the half," said Ramirez.
The visitors slowly got back into the game with the help of Manny Amezcua, Logan Garcia, and Martinez, who set up Georgi Kyosev on a mazy run close the edge that resulted in an attempt over the bar in the 27th minute.
The best chance of the half by the Hawks came at 37 minutes when Kyosev put through Garcia. If not for a strong, sharp pressure from the Mustangs backline, Garcia could have been in a 1-v.-1 with keeper Matt Galvan.
"We had some chances in the first half, and we sent three great balls through the box (untouched) in the second half," said Armstrong. "So we created opportunities tonight but not many in the run of play."
Joao Sanchez broke the hearts of his opponent with a brilliant individual effort at 47 minutes. The art of deception, and sublime control and touch would overcame a case of nerves after Sanchez latched onto a Ramirez helper.
At the end of his enterprising run up the center channel, Sanchez was given an inch-perfect ball that he: collected in a crowd; carried away from pressure to his right; and unloaded a low drive the opposite way of Huerta, who could only watch the ball settle into the back end of his net.
"I was a little nervous when Adan gave me that ball, and I was able to get free from the defense," Sanchez said. "I wasn't sure if I could get the shot off to beat the keeper, but I guess I did.
"Our intensity and speed of play in our attack was very good tonight. Our defense was solid all night also."
It could have been an even game seven minutes after the Sanchez goal if not for a sensational save by Pablo Zarate, who took over for Galvan between the sticks after the break.
The diminutive keeper went airborne to push a seemingly sure goal from Georgiev up and over the woodwork to keep the Mustangs one-goal advantage.
"Pablo just missed almost the same ball against Fremd last week, but tonight he just elevated to keep that one from going in," said Olson.
To their credit, Hoffman Estates didn't go away despite the disappointing near-miss. The Hawks threw numbers forward and were able to pressure the home side for the final 10 minutes before time.
The Hawks created a handful of deep throws and corners from their counterattack with Garcia going over the bar and Georgiev skimming the football upright after a corner by Kyosev.
"I was happy with the way we played hard in those final 10-15 minutes, but we have to find a balance in order to play that way for an entire game," offered Nakka in closing.
Armstrong concluded: "It was the transition game that was our undoing tonight just as it's been of late in our other conference games.
"We really are making progress in the right direction, so I feel we'll be at a good place with the second half of the season upon us."
The Hawks missed the chance to advance into their group championship match of the PepsiCo Showdown with a 1-0 loss to Huntley on Saturday in Joliet. They advance to meet with Elk Grove on Tuesday and then face a tough Schaumburg squad Friday.
With its three points, the Mustangs now stand four points clear of Elk Grove (one point) in its division and chase fourth place Prospect by just two points heading into the new week.
"The guys like this formation, and they understand their roles in it," Olson said. "So to get a win helps send us into Senior Night on Tuesday against Schaumburg with confidence and momentum."
The Mustangs then travel to Wheeling on Thursday where they will meet the resurgent Wildcats.
Starting lineups
Hoffman Estates (4-4-2)
G- Adrian Huerta
D- Bryan Flores
D- Siva Nakka
D- Julian Rios
D- Jesus Martinez
M- Manny Amezcua
M- Connor Kurzynski
M- Georgi Kyosev
M- Erik Morales
F- Danny Grochal
F- Simeon Georgiev
Rolling Meadows (3-2-3-2)
GK- Matt Galvan
D- Cristian Rubio
D- Ryan Stubitsch
D- Nikolay Pavlov
DM- Isaac San Roman
DM- Edwin Fuentes
M- Erik Martens
M- Joao Sanchez
M- Ethan Kakavetsis
F- Adan Ramirez
F- Tyler Dawson
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Adan Ramirez, sr., MF, Rolling Meadows
Referee: Vitaly Hansavage
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Rolling Meadows: Sanchez (Ramirez) 47'