Hersey stuns Prospect on late goal
Soph Wilcox delivers game-winner in 1-0 Huskies triumph
By Mike Garofola
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS -- It was not a soccer match that gave great aesthetic pleasure, all the interviewees agreed.
Despite this less than pretty 80-minute league season-ending contest between Prospect and Hersey at Roland Goins Stadium, there was a moment of dramatic brilliance from Ronan Wilcox.
With this Mid-Suurban League East Divison match seemingly headed to overtime, the Hersey sophomore helped begin a big Homecoming weekend here in Arlington Heights by firing in the game-winner in the 77th minute to give the Huskies a 1-0 result.
"Wow, it sure wasn't pretty out there today," said relieved Hersey coach Mike Rusniak."But it's still nice to get a win when we play so poorly, and especially on Senior Night and at the start of Homecoming, and before the school has its big Bonfire to celebrate the weekend.
"It's easy to make excuses for the way we played. Again, Senior Night, Homecoming, playoffs around the corner, or even a 4:45 kickoff compared to our usual 6:30, but that's not fair to (coach) Mike's guys over at Prospect.
"The reality is (we) have struggled with coming out to play from the first whistle. (If) we cannot find our rhythm early, then we begin to lose all the trust we have in our own abilities as well with each other."
Wilcox, and his sophomore teammate Tommy Steger, were in absolute agreement in what their manager would say about the Huskies performance.
"We didn't play anywhere near as well as we did the other night against Rolling Meadows," said Wilcox, who together with Trey Schmidt have formed a terrific partnership in the middle of the park for their club this season.
"Yes, we just didn't seem to be in sync today as a team," added Steger. "But all of us along the back are doing to our best to improve each time out and to try to be as solid as we can to help our team."
Rusniak appreciated the work rate of his backline Thursday.
"Tommy was terrific. Jacob (Tolwinski) played well and was essential at winning balls in the air," he said. "(Outside backs) Cade Milligan and Nick Bell worked really hard all throughout and also gave us strong support in our attack."
Both sides were coming from victories earlier in the week and hoped to use that success as a springboard to the state series, which begins in earnest in two weeks.
"Our 2-1 win over Palatine was a high-energy game, a little chaotic to be honest," started Prospect coach Mike Andrews. "Guys like Brian Morrison and Declan Flanagan put forth great effort. Michael Kaczowka and Peyton Myers really came through with big goals for us
"Palatine is always a tough opponent, one that forces you to play the way you don't want to.
"But that hard work and ability to fight in order to get that win was not the effort we put forth today. (You) saw it, as we did. I just don't have an answer for it right now."
At the heart of this 1-0 victory over the Knights (8-6-2, 4-6-1) was the struggle by a home side that was unable to generate much of anything through the run of play. It was unlike the 3-0 win at Rolling Meadows were the dynamic duo of Wilcox and Schmidt successfully targeted front-runners Major Hassan and Patryk Bujak.
These two created plenty of havoc against Rolling Meadows. On this windy, cold afternoon, Hassan was involved in two chances, one of which could be described as quality.
That's when the senior was in tune with Wilcox and Eddie Marin, who helped their teammate fire a screamer off the football crossbar in the 18th minute.
Steger and his mates along the back enjoyed a easy time of it in the first half. The visitors had most of the possession but little of it could be termed dangerous.
Thanks in part to a failure to be sharp with its final touch in the area, the Knights' attack stalled, despite the work of the aforementioned Flanagan and Kaczowka, in addition to Patrick Limanowka and Chris Rubio, who was brought on by Andrews near the quarter hour.
"Our intentions were good, but we just didn't execute well at all in the first half, except for a little towards the end of the half," said Andrews.
"What was clear today is how much we miss Joey Boduch in our midfield. Although we used a couple of other looks with other players, he's the guy we need to get back from his injury."
The senior has been the power plant in the Knights attack, using his pace, ability to distribute, and keen awareness of when to push and pull when called upon.
Rubio helped the visitors earn a trio of deep throws in the late stages of the first period, plus a corner from Flanagan that Limanowka headed wide.
Both clubs showed a little more life in the attack following the intermission: Hersey's Bujak had a half-chance saved by Szymon Mocarski; and Myers' attempt collected by Huskies keeper Nick Clarizio.
The senior was alert and strong when dealing with a Knights chance moments later that saw Tengis Tulga's deft touch chip a ball past the Huskies backline and into the six-yard box to Myers.
The big Knights forward saw his near-shot taken off his foot by a fearless Clarizio, who stopped a close-range scoring opportunity.
"Nick had another great game for us," said Rusniak.
"His continued ability to lead from the back and orchestrate our defense and its overall shape has kept us from totally breaking down when we're in trouble or being countered."
The Knights best chance of second half came when Myers came roaring down the left side. With Tolwinski draped all over him, he just missed the back post with his low flying attempt that whipped through the six-yard box before nearly finding the corner of Clarizio's net.
Rusniak brought off six starters just before the hour to give them a stern look and lecture regarding their efforts. When the Huskies manager sent them back on, the attack was full of vim and vigor, for a short while anyway.
Bujak and Hassan went close, with Marin and Kostadin Stoyanov showing pace and energy, but it would be the tremendous individual effort from Hassan and Wilcox that helped the visitors find the game-winner.
The two moved up the center channel rapidly with a nicely played one-two combination that ended when Wilcox slotted past Mocarski.
"We just connected with other when we really needed to," said Wilcox matter of factly.
"We had our trouble getting going today, just like we did when we needed to get over a three-game slump two weeks ago. We came out of it, and I really feel like we'll be ready to go for regionals."
The win kept the Huskies (7-3-3, 7-3-1) in a tie with Wheeling for second place in the final MSL East Divison standings behind repeat champion Buffalo Grove. Hersey will host upstart Hoffman Estates next Tuesday in its MSL cross-over match.
The Knights face have Palatine once again in their last pre-playoff test.
"Give credit to Hersey for its ability to get a win out there today," said Andrews. "They finished their chance when it was there for them, we didn't."
"We'll look to get our heads clear, train for Tuesday, and hopefully come out with a strong performance before our regional opener with Loyola, a team we don't know much about, except that they have some impressive wins to their record.
"We're coming to that part in the season when you have to make the most of it.
"I know they understand the urgency, and the importance of the Prospect Soccer experience, and they look ready to take it as far as they can."
Starting lineups
Prospect (4-4-2)
G- Szymon Mocarski
D- Jacob Keil
D- Edmund Conroy
D- Colin Sand
D- Bryan Morrison
M- Tengis Tulga
M- Daniel LaCost
M- DeClan Flanagan
M- Patrick Limanowka
F- Michael Kaczowka
F- Peyton Myers
Hersey (4-4-2)
G- Nick Clarizio
D- Nicholas Bell
D- Jacob Tolwinski
D- Thomas Steger
D- Cade Milligan
M- Eddie Marin
M- Trey Schmidt
M- Ronan Wilcox
M- Kostadin Stoyanov
F- Major Hassan
F- Patryk Bujak
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Ronan Wilcox, so. M, Hersey
Referee: Adrian Werbecki
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Hersey: Wilcox (Hassan) 77'
Soph Wilcox delivers game-winner in 1-0 Huskies triumph
By Mike Garofola
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS -- It was not a soccer match that gave great aesthetic pleasure, all the interviewees agreed.
Despite this less than pretty 80-minute league season-ending contest between Prospect and Hersey at Roland Goins Stadium, there was a moment of dramatic brilliance from Ronan Wilcox.
With this Mid-Suurban League East Divison match seemingly headed to overtime, the Hersey sophomore helped begin a big Homecoming weekend here in Arlington Heights by firing in the game-winner in the 77th minute to give the Huskies a 1-0 result.
"Wow, it sure wasn't pretty out there today," said relieved Hersey coach Mike Rusniak."But it's still nice to get a win when we play so poorly, and especially on Senior Night and at the start of Homecoming, and before the school has its big Bonfire to celebrate the weekend.
"It's easy to make excuses for the way we played. Again, Senior Night, Homecoming, playoffs around the corner, or even a 4:45 kickoff compared to our usual 6:30, but that's not fair to (coach) Mike's guys over at Prospect.
"The reality is (we) have struggled with coming out to play from the first whistle. (If) we cannot find our rhythm early, then we begin to lose all the trust we have in our own abilities as well with each other."
Wilcox, and his sophomore teammate Tommy Steger, were in absolute agreement in what their manager would say about the Huskies performance.
"We didn't play anywhere near as well as we did the other night against Rolling Meadows," said Wilcox, who together with Trey Schmidt have formed a terrific partnership in the middle of the park for their club this season.
"Yes, we just didn't seem to be in sync today as a team," added Steger. "But all of us along the back are doing to our best to improve each time out and to try to be as solid as we can to help our team."
Rusniak appreciated the work rate of his backline Thursday.
"Tommy was terrific. Jacob (Tolwinski) played well and was essential at winning balls in the air," he said. "(Outside backs) Cade Milligan and Nick Bell worked really hard all throughout and also gave us strong support in our attack."
Both sides were coming from victories earlier in the week and hoped to use that success as a springboard to the state series, which begins in earnest in two weeks.
"Our 2-1 win over Palatine was a high-energy game, a little chaotic to be honest," started Prospect coach Mike Andrews. "Guys like Brian Morrison and Declan Flanagan put forth great effort. Michael Kaczowka and Peyton Myers really came through with big goals for us
"Palatine is always a tough opponent, one that forces you to play the way you don't want to.
"But that hard work and ability to fight in order to get that win was not the effort we put forth today. (You) saw it, as we did. I just don't have an answer for it right now."
At the heart of this 1-0 victory over the Knights (8-6-2, 4-6-1) was the struggle by a home side that was unable to generate much of anything through the run of play. It was unlike the 3-0 win at Rolling Meadows were the dynamic duo of Wilcox and Schmidt successfully targeted front-runners Major Hassan and Patryk Bujak.
These two created plenty of havoc against Rolling Meadows. On this windy, cold afternoon, Hassan was involved in two chances, one of which could be described as quality.
That's when the senior was in tune with Wilcox and Eddie Marin, who helped their teammate fire a screamer off the football crossbar in the 18th minute.
Steger and his mates along the back enjoyed a easy time of it in the first half. The visitors had most of the possession but little of it could be termed dangerous.
Thanks in part to a failure to be sharp with its final touch in the area, the Knights' attack stalled, despite the work of the aforementioned Flanagan and Kaczowka, in addition to Patrick Limanowka and Chris Rubio, who was brought on by Andrews near the quarter hour.
"Our intentions were good, but we just didn't execute well at all in the first half, except for a little towards the end of the half," said Andrews.
"What was clear today is how much we miss Joey Boduch in our midfield. Although we used a couple of other looks with other players, he's the guy we need to get back from his injury."
The senior has been the power plant in the Knights attack, using his pace, ability to distribute, and keen awareness of when to push and pull when called upon.
Rubio helped the visitors earn a trio of deep throws in the late stages of the first period, plus a corner from Flanagan that Limanowka headed wide.
Both clubs showed a little more life in the attack following the intermission: Hersey's Bujak had a half-chance saved by Szymon Mocarski; and Myers' attempt collected by Huskies keeper Nick Clarizio.
The senior was alert and strong when dealing with a Knights chance moments later that saw Tengis Tulga's deft touch chip a ball past the Huskies backline and into the six-yard box to Myers.
The big Knights forward saw his near-shot taken off his foot by a fearless Clarizio, who stopped a close-range scoring opportunity.
"Nick had another great game for us," said Rusniak.
"His continued ability to lead from the back and orchestrate our defense and its overall shape has kept us from totally breaking down when we're in trouble or being countered."
The Knights best chance of second half came when Myers came roaring down the left side. With Tolwinski draped all over him, he just missed the back post with his low flying attempt that whipped through the six-yard box before nearly finding the corner of Clarizio's net.
Rusniak brought off six starters just before the hour to give them a stern look and lecture regarding their efforts. When the Huskies manager sent them back on, the attack was full of vim and vigor, for a short while anyway.
Bujak and Hassan went close, with Marin and Kostadin Stoyanov showing pace and energy, but it would be the tremendous individual effort from Hassan and Wilcox that helped the visitors find the game-winner.
The two moved up the center channel rapidly with a nicely played one-two combination that ended when Wilcox slotted past Mocarski.
"We just connected with other when we really needed to," said Wilcox matter of factly.
"We had our trouble getting going today, just like we did when we needed to get over a three-game slump two weeks ago. We came out of it, and I really feel like we'll be ready to go for regionals."
The win kept the Huskies (7-3-3, 7-3-1) in a tie with Wheeling for second place in the final MSL East Divison standings behind repeat champion Buffalo Grove. Hersey will host upstart Hoffman Estates next Tuesday in its MSL cross-over match.
The Knights face have Palatine once again in their last pre-playoff test.
"Give credit to Hersey for its ability to get a win out there today," said Andrews. "They finished their chance when it was there for them, we didn't."
"We'll look to get our heads clear, train for Tuesday, and hopefully come out with a strong performance before our regional opener with Loyola, a team we don't know much about, except that they have some impressive wins to their record.
"We're coming to that part in the season when you have to make the most of it.
"I know they understand the urgency, and the importance of the Prospect Soccer experience, and they look ready to take it as far as they can."
Starting lineups
Prospect (4-4-2)
G- Szymon Mocarski
D- Jacob Keil
D- Edmund Conroy
D- Colin Sand
D- Bryan Morrison
M- Tengis Tulga
M- Daniel LaCost
M- DeClan Flanagan
M- Patrick Limanowka
F- Michael Kaczowka
F- Peyton Myers
Hersey (4-4-2)
G- Nick Clarizio
D- Nicholas Bell
D- Jacob Tolwinski
D- Thomas Steger
D- Cade Milligan
M- Eddie Marin
M- Trey Schmidt
M- Ronan Wilcox
M- Kostadin Stoyanov
F- Major Hassan
F- Patryk Bujak
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Ronan Wilcox, so. M, Hersey
Referee: Adrian Werbecki
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Hersey: Wilcox (Hassan) 77'