Prospect comeback repels Hersey
Knights back in MSL East race after 2-1 Cardinal Cup win
By Mike Garofola
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS -- The Mid-Suburban League East Division served up its usual fare with a dramatic thriller Thursday night when Prospect came back to defeat host Hersey 2-1 to lift itself right back into contention for the league crown.
Steven Lopez bagged his first goal of the season two minutes after teammate Ryan Novak leveled to help send the Knights faithful into a state of euphoria and the conference race to an exciting finish.
"What a great time for Steven to get his first," said a beaming Novak, who for his efforts first as the Knights center-back and then as a forward, earned Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors.
"We played such a solid first half, pretty much dominating almost all of the play. Then, as we have on several occasions this season, we come out flat after the break, and like we did tonight (found) ourselves chasing the game," continued Novak, who has been a Sockers FC player since U-8, but didn't play last spring and could hardly wait to get back on the roster for his senior year.
"(We) let things get into our heads. This is a very talented team, but when we play very good teams, we let the fact that they're good into our heads.
“We just went out and played in the first half, didn't after the break and allowed them to get an easy one on us. Then we came back and played some great soccer to get a win that we really needed.”
Indeed.
The Knights (8-4-2, 5-2-2, 17 points) were up against it at Roland Goins Stadium. They knew if they dropped a single points it would dash their hopes for the MSL East title.
On the flip side, the Huskies (7-4-1, 6-2-0, 18 points) fresh off their 2-1 victory in extra time on Tuesday over Rolling Meadows, were in a spot to stay clear of Rolling Meadows with three points against the Knights.
"(They) were all over us in that first half, but we weathered the storm, got ourselves a quick goal," said Huskies manager, Mike Rusniak. “It looked like if we defended in our end and stayed dialed in, we could get out of here with the three points that we needed.
"Obviously we didn't do any of that and credit Mike (Andrews, Knights manager) for keeping his guys engaged and focused.
“And kudos to no. 7 (Novak) who is a great all-around player who was fantastic when Mike had him as his center back, and later when he moved him up-top where he was just a handful for us."
Prospect’s impressive beginning was made possible by the aforementioned Lopez, his midfield mates, Daniel Barbaric and Shea Morris, and the frontline trio of Michael Casaletto, Massimo Mho and Owen Walsh in a 4-3-3 formation that went in search for the opener from the opening whistle.
"We all played well in the first half, we did just about everything really well, except put one into the back of the net," offered Lopez.
Freshman Casaletto forced Huskies keeper Joe Lens into action at seven minutes, then Casaletto, and Walsh set up Morris who went just wide at the back post.
The home side came into the game for a brief moment in the 20th minute when on the tail-end of a nicely executed counter, Adrian Szumski sent Alex Ganekov in only to get stopped with some voracious tackling from David Marshall and Novak.
Lens' was at his best just before the intermission when a free kick effort from Walsh spilled freely into the box where Novak collected, then turned before firing through a crowd of shirts. The Huskies keeper was forced to make a reaction save of the attempt, which he didn’t pick up until late.
"We worked really hard in that first half,” said Andrews. “We moved the ball around quickly, got everyone involved, and did a lot of very good things.
"When you've been around this sport, you see this happen time after time. It's still about putting the ball into the back of the net, and when we didn't they came out and put one in. The complexity of the game changes almost immediately."
Prospect’s solid first half crumbled after nine minutes when the visitors allowed a Ganekov free kick to stay inside the box. The ever-opportunistic and unmarked Andrew Hamilton pounced and steered in his one-timer from eight yards with authority.
"One mistake is all it takes, and it cost us," said Novak.
The Hamilton goal at 49 minutes was due largely in part to both Ganekov and Szumski, whose work rate and pace up-top caused Prospect all sorts of trouble, particularly superb keeper Alejandro Rider-Leiner. Two days prior against Elk Grove kept his club in the game, and he did the same Thursday.
"Alejandro has been amazing all year for us," said Andrews.
Rider-Leiner, who has shown brave, intelligent challenges of his line, did so again with Szumski bearing down the him in the 53rd minute. The keeper sent away a dangerous ball sent into his box.
Moments later it was sheer brilliance when Rider-Leiner stoppped a Szumski point-blank effort.
"We had chances in the second half. I had a couple of great chances. If we put just one of them in to make it 2-0, I really don't think they come back from that," said Szumski.
More one-way traffic from the Huskies forced the visitors to defend three consecutive corners. Out of nothing, Novak did something huge to equalize in the 68th minute.
That's when the Huskies gave the ever-dangerous Novak far too much space and time. It allowed him to unleash an unstoppable shot from the right side into the far inside netting for his team leading seventh goal of the season.
"We needed some different energy to get back in the game,” said Andrews. “So moving (Novak) up-top was the logical thing to do for us."
An innocent-looking free kick led to the eventual game-winner from Lopez two minutes later after Novak and Mho kept the ball in the Huskies end with terrific ball movement beginning in the center of the park and then to the right, The ball eventually wound up on the left foot of Lopez, who buried his effort with authority.
"Our guys on the wing were got really active just before Ryan got us back even, and we just didn't stop after that," said Lopez.
The events left Hersey shaken.
"Up until their two quick goals, we defended well. But momentarily lapses in our end really cost us tonight," said a disappointed Rusniak.
A frantic final 10 minutes saw Prospect’s Ari Kemperas tackle Szumski before the senior could get in on Rider-Leiner. On the other end, Casaletto had a go that went just wide three minutes from time.
Charlie Seig shielded the ball well in order to turn and fire one on frame for the Huskies after Simon Hemenway managed to find his Huskies mate in close. Hemenway ended the night with a blistering free kick that went just wide.
By virtue of their draw with Rolling Meadows on Sept. 23 and its victory over Hersey, the Knights carried the trophy as the winners of the inaugural competition for the Cardinal Cup. The hardware commemorates Arlington High School, which opened in 1922. After it closed in 1984, the students fed future students in each of the three area high schools.
"Winning the Cardinal Cup was great, but it wasn't the most important thing we were after tonight. It was three points to give ourselves a chance in the division," admitted Lopez.
"It was a big night for us."
Prospect’s coach left the stadium with a smile on his face.
"I am really proud of the effort from the boys tonight, especially with the way we fought back to get back even and then go-ahead with Steven coming through for us," began Andrews.
"This was, and has been a typical game in our division this year. The games have been intense, action-packed and have all meant something."
The results leaves the top of the East Division table looking like this: Rolling Meadows, 20 points; Hersey, and Prospect, 17. The Knights finish their league slate with Hoffman Estates, then Schaumburg next week.
Hersey must face league-leader Fremd, which is ranked second in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, between games with Schaumburg and Buffalo Grove.
The Huskies need to regroup.
"We had the momentum going before and after Hamilton's goal, and Prospect took it away from us with those two quick goals,” Rusniak said. “I am sure Mike (Andrews) said this is the way this conference goes, and you have to be ready both physically and mentally each time you come out.
"The guys are disappointed right now. We'll get our focus back and just key into our game on Tuesday with Schaumburg and not look past them for sure."
That what the players aim to do.
"We let this one get away from us tonight, but we'll bounce back like we have all year long," said Szumski.
Starting lineups
Prospect (4-3-3)
G: Alejandro Rider-Leiner
D: Sam Heintz
D: Ryan Novak
D: David Marshall
D: Ari Kemperas
M: Daniel Barbaric
M: Shea Morris
M: Steven Lopez
F: Michael Casaletto
F: Owen Walsh
F: Massimo Mho
Hersey (4-4-2)
G: Joe Lens
D: Matt Carlson
D: Alex Masztek
D: Andrew Hamilton
M: Charlie Sieg
M: Simon Hemenway
M: Elliot Suto
M: Danny Duray
D: Charlie Shiffman
F: Alex Ganekov
F: Adrian Szumski
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Ryan Novak, sr., D/F, Prospect
Referee: Adrian Werbicki
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Hersey: Hamilton (Ganekov) 49'
Prospect: Novak (U/A) 68'
Prospect: Lopez (Mho, Novak) 70'
Knights back in MSL East race after 2-1 Cardinal Cup win
By Mike Garofola
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS -- The Mid-Suburban League East Division served up its usual fare with a dramatic thriller Thursday night when Prospect came back to defeat host Hersey 2-1 to lift itself right back into contention for the league crown.
Steven Lopez bagged his first goal of the season two minutes after teammate Ryan Novak leveled to help send the Knights faithful into a state of euphoria and the conference race to an exciting finish.
"What a great time for Steven to get his first," said a beaming Novak, who for his efforts first as the Knights center-back and then as a forward, earned Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors.
"We played such a solid first half, pretty much dominating almost all of the play. Then, as we have on several occasions this season, we come out flat after the break, and like we did tonight (found) ourselves chasing the game," continued Novak, who has been a Sockers FC player since U-8, but didn't play last spring and could hardly wait to get back on the roster for his senior year.
"(We) let things get into our heads. This is a very talented team, but when we play very good teams, we let the fact that they're good into our heads.
“We just went out and played in the first half, didn't after the break and allowed them to get an easy one on us. Then we came back and played some great soccer to get a win that we really needed.”
Indeed.
The Knights (8-4-2, 5-2-2, 17 points) were up against it at Roland Goins Stadium. They knew if they dropped a single points it would dash their hopes for the MSL East title.
On the flip side, the Huskies (7-4-1, 6-2-0, 18 points) fresh off their 2-1 victory in extra time on Tuesday over Rolling Meadows, were in a spot to stay clear of Rolling Meadows with three points against the Knights.
"(They) were all over us in that first half, but we weathered the storm, got ourselves a quick goal," said Huskies manager, Mike Rusniak. “It looked like if we defended in our end and stayed dialed in, we could get out of here with the three points that we needed.
"Obviously we didn't do any of that and credit Mike (Andrews, Knights manager) for keeping his guys engaged and focused.
“And kudos to no. 7 (Novak) who is a great all-around player who was fantastic when Mike had him as his center back, and later when he moved him up-top where he was just a handful for us."
Prospect’s impressive beginning was made possible by the aforementioned Lopez, his midfield mates, Daniel Barbaric and Shea Morris, and the frontline trio of Michael Casaletto, Massimo Mho and Owen Walsh in a 4-3-3 formation that went in search for the opener from the opening whistle.
"We all played well in the first half, we did just about everything really well, except put one into the back of the net," offered Lopez.
Freshman Casaletto forced Huskies keeper Joe Lens into action at seven minutes, then Casaletto, and Walsh set up Morris who went just wide at the back post.
The home side came into the game for a brief moment in the 20th minute when on the tail-end of a nicely executed counter, Adrian Szumski sent Alex Ganekov in only to get stopped with some voracious tackling from David Marshall and Novak.
Lens' was at his best just before the intermission when a free kick effort from Walsh spilled freely into the box where Novak collected, then turned before firing through a crowd of shirts. The Huskies keeper was forced to make a reaction save of the attempt, which he didn’t pick up until late.
"We worked really hard in that first half,” said Andrews. “We moved the ball around quickly, got everyone involved, and did a lot of very good things.
"When you've been around this sport, you see this happen time after time. It's still about putting the ball into the back of the net, and when we didn't they came out and put one in. The complexity of the game changes almost immediately."
Prospect’s solid first half crumbled after nine minutes when the visitors allowed a Ganekov free kick to stay inside the box. The ever-opportunistic and unmarked Andrew Hamilton pounced and steered in his one-timer from eight yards with authority.
"One mistake is all it takes, and it cost us," said Novak.
The Hamilton goal at 49 minutes was due largely in part to both Ganekov and Szumski, whose work rate and pace up-top caused Prospect all sorts of trouble, particularly superb keeper Alejandro Rider-Leiner. Two days prior against Elk Grove kept his club in the game, and he did the same Thursday.
"Alejandro has been amazing all year for us," said Andrews.
Rider-Leiner, who has shown brave, intelligent challenges of his line, did so again with Szumski bearing down the him in the 53rd minute. The keeper sent away a dangerous ball sent into his box.
Moments later it was sheer brilliance when Rider-Leiner stoppped a Szumski point-blank effort.
"We had chances in the second half. I had a couple of great chances. If we put just one of them in to make it 2-0, I really don't think they come back from that," said Szumski.
More one-way traffic from the Huskies forced the visitors to defend three consecutive corners. Out of nothing, Novak did something huge to equalize in the 68th minute.
That's when the Huskies gave the ever-dangerous Novak far too much space and time. It allowed him to unleash an unstoppable shot from the right side into the far inside netting for his team leading seventh goal of the season.
"We needed some different energy to get back in the game,” said Andrews. “So moving (Novak) up-top was the logical thing to do for us."
An innocent-looking free kick led to the eventual game-winner from Lopez two minutes later after Novak and Mho kept the ball in the Huskies end with terrific ball movement beginning in the center of the park and then to the right, The ball eventually wound up on the left foot of Lopez, who buried his effort with authority.
"Our guys on the wing were got really active just before Ryan got us back even, and we just didn't stop after that," said Lopez.
The events left Hersey shaken.
"Up until their two quick goals, we defended well. But momentarily lapses in our end really cost us tonight," said a disappointed Rusniak.
A frantic final 10 minutes saw Prospect’s Ari Kemperas tackle Szumski before the senior could get in on Rider-Leiner. On the other end, Casaletto had a go that went just wide three minutes from time.
Charlie Seig shielded the ball well in order to turn and fire one on frame for the Huskies after Simon Hemenway managed to find his Huskies mate in close. Hemenway ended the night with a blistering free kick that went just wide.
By virtue of their draw with Rolling Meadows on Sept. 23 and its victory over Hersey, the Knights carried the trophy as the winners of the inaugural competition for the Cardinal Cup. The hardware commemorates Arlington High School, which opened in 1922. After it closed in 1984, the students fed future students in each of the three area high schools.
"Winning the Cardinal Cup was great, but it wasn't the most important thing we were after tonight. It was three points to give ourselves a chance in the division," admitted Lopez.
"It was a big night for us."
Prospect’s coach left the stadium with a smile on his face.
"I am really proud of the effort from the boys tonight, especially with the way we fought back to get back even and then go-ahead with Steven coming through for us," began Andrews.
"This was, and has been a typical game in our division this year. The games have been intense, action-packed and have all meant something."
The results leaves the top of the East Division table looking like this: Rolling Meadows, 20 points; Hersey, and Prospect, 17. The Knights finish their league slate with Hoffman Estates, then Schaumburg next week.
Hersey must face league-leader Fremd, which is ranked second in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, between games with Schaumburg and Buffalo Grove.
The Huskies need to regroup.
"We had the momentum going before and after Hamilton's goal, and Prospect took it away from us with those two quick goals,” Rusniak said. “I am sure Mike (Andrews) said this is the way this conference goes, and you have to be ready both physically and mentally each time you come out.
"The guys are disappointed right now. We'll get our focus back and just key into our game on Tuesday with Schaumburg and not look past them for sure."
That what the players aim to do.
"We let this one get away from us tonight, but we'll bounce back like we have all year long," said Szumski.
Starting lineups
Prospect (4-3-3)
G: Alejandro Rider-Leiner
D: Sam Heintz
D: Ryan Novak
D: David Marshall
D: Ari Kemperas
M: Daniel Barbaric
M: Shea Morris
M: Steven Lopez
F: Michael Casaletto
F: Owen Walsh
F: Massimo Mho
Hersey (4-4-2)
G: Joe Lens
D: Matt Carlson
D: Alex Masztek
D: Andrew Hamilton
M: Charlie Sieg
M: Simon Hemenway
M: Elliot Suto
M: Danny Duray
D: Charlie Shiffman
F: Alex Ganekov
F: Adrian Szumski
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Ryan Novak, sr., D/F, Prospect
Referee: Adrian Werbicki
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Hersey: Hamilton (Ganekov) 49'
Prospect: Novak (U/A) 68'
Prospect: Lopez (Mho, Novak) 70'