Fremd celebrates win over Meadows
Vikings 4-1 win heightens Senior Night, Homecoming festivities
By Ken Keenan
PALATINE -- With the Mid-Suburban League West Division title already in the bag, all Fremd needed to put the cherry on top of coinciding Homecoming and Senior Night festivities Friday evening was a win. The Vikings delivered with a 4-1 decision over league foe Rolling Meadows.
Fremd, ranked no. 10 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, improved to 11-5-1 overall and 9-1-1 in conference play with the victory. After entering the match on a competitive 2-3-1 stretch, the Mustangs exited at 3-10-2, 3-8-0.
Fans were treated to an intense tilt from the start, with Rolling Meadows giving the home team all it could handle in the opening 40 minutes en route to a 1-1 deadlock at the break. After changing formations from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 to begin the second session, Fremd pounced on the scrappy Mustangs for three goals from the 50th minute on to lock down the victory.
The scoring spree included a goal by versatile Vikings junior defender/midfielder and Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match Jake Schoffstall, who tallied on a free kick in the 71st minute to give his team a 3-1 cushion.
"I didn't feel we were getting any width in the first half," said Vikings head coach Steve Keller. "We needed more offense and better spacing, and putting two guys wide spreads the field. At halftime, I said, 'If you don't start putting opportunities away, we could easily tie or lose the game.'
Keller continued: "It never felt like we weren't in control, but one little mistake can make a difference. You can't have any lapses. We scored three in the second half, but I'm also glad we didn't give up a goal in the run of play. You still have to hustle and track back in the midfield."
The Vikings drew first blood, grabbing a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute on a goal by steady senior midfielder Connor Sapiente. Junior mid Josh Bennett earned the assist, sending a sharp cross from the right side to Sapiente, who buried a short shot to the left of Mustangs junior goalkeeper Matt Galvan.
Rolling Meadows knotted the score at 1-1 with 14:24 to go in the first half. After a Fremd foul gave the Mustangs a free kick from 25 yards, junior mid Joao Sanchez delivered with a hard blast that escaped the low-left dive of Vikings junior keeper Artur Cholewa.
All in all, Fremd had more chances in the first half, including a 25-yard missile on a free kick by Sapiente in the 11th minute that Galvan nabbed with a leaping stop, followed soon after by a Vikings corner kick from senior defender Jake Scesniak that resulted in a solid one-timer by senior forward Dorian Lesiuk that sailed wide-right.
Helping to keep Fremd off the scoreboard in the early going -- and throughout the match -- was Rolling Meadows junior defender Issac San Roman. At least a half-dozen times in the opening session, San Roman was in the right spot to clear balls out of danger with the Vikings on the rush.
The tough-as-nails San Roman also blocked a shot by Fremd sniper Lesiuk in the 42nd minute, and did the same to spoil a strong try by Schoffstall with 20:10 to go the second half.
"Collectively, Issac (San Roman) and (junior defender) Jesus Padilla played their best games of the year," said Mustangs skipper Brett Olson. "Isaac had a slow start, but lately he's been playing really well."
Utilizing their 4-3-3 set-up, Fremd broke the tie in the 50th minute. Vikings senior mid Anthony Tambellini started the play with a nice cross to junior forward Russell Beaupre, who finished from the left side inside the near post.
Numerous chances followed for the home team, including a dipping, 35-yard strike by Sapiente that Galvan saved in the 55th minute, a head attempt by Bennett from the left side that nipped the far post in the 58th minute, and a wicked, bending shot from 20 yards by Beaupre that barely missed wide-right in the 59th minute.
"In the second half, we were more compact in the middle to create more chances," Tambellini said.
Added Beaupre: "With the 4-3-3, the offense was a lot more clean through the middle. That helped us score goals in the second half."
Schoffstall made it 3-1 when his 35-yard free kick smashed through Galvan's upraised hands and into the top left corner with 9:01 remaining in the match.
"Rolling Meadows came out with a lot of energy," Schoffstall said. "We bounced back in the second half."
"He's our glue," Keller said of Schoffstall. "He solidifies us in the back. He's great in the air; he comes out on set pieces. He's the anchor for us. We have a sense of security with him in the back -- or we can move him up. He reads the game really well, too."
Keller, who also praised the work of junior defender C.J. Williams, substituted freely down the stretch. Fremd junior mid John Kating concluded the scoring with a 30-yard bomb that sizzled into the top left corner with 6:40 remaining. Freshman forward Eli Schoffstall started the rush, and veteran Lesiuk earned the helper.
Fighting to the end, Rolling Meadows had a couple good looks in the waning moments, with senior midfielder Sergio Lucero Herrera missing wide-right from 15 yards in the 77th minute and sophomore mid Luis Marquez rifling a shot that was blocked a by a Fremd defender with 2:10 showing.
"I'm happy with the effort," Olson said. "We got spaced out by Fremd a bit in the second half, and we were down a couple guys. But I wasn't upset with our effort. We're trying to build for the playoffs."
The Mustangs will visit Round Lake in the first round of the Highland Park Regional at 6 p.m. Oct. 12.
"We've got to work on being more physical," San Roman said. "We can't be too soft and get pushed around. You've got to want it more than the other team."
Padilla agreed, adding: "We've got to be more tough, but it's also important to stay focused. We have to keep our head in the game and stay encouraged."
Meanwhile, Keller was encouraged with his team's ability to finish off the gritty Mustangs. But he expects even more when the Vikings open postseason play against Waukegan in the Fremd Regional at 7 p.m. Oct. 16.
"The first half was uninspiring," Keller said. "The second half was much better, but we're still not as focused as we need to be. The positive is, we put the game away ... had the killer instinct."
Added Schoffstall: "I think our chemistry is getting better. We want to keep winning and go to State."
Beaupre said, "We're getting to the end of the season, and we don't want to lose focus. We have to keep our heads on straight and keep going."
Starting lineups
Rolling Meadows
G: Matt Galvan
D: Issac San Roman
D: Cesar Perez
D: Jesus Padilla
D: Ryan Stubitsch
M: Adan Ramirez
M: Ethan Kakavetsis
M: Michael Taskin
M: Erik Martens
M: Rosendo Montiel
F: Jonathan Gonzalez
Fremd
G: Artur Cholewa
D: Kaelan Conway
D: Jake Scesniak
D: Jake Schoffstall
D: C.J. Williams
M: Anthony Tambellini
M: Connor Sapiente
M: Vince Daidone
M: Josh Bennett
F: Dorian Lesiuk
F: Russell Beaupre
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jake Schoffstall, jr., D, Fremd
Officials: Mohammed Mushtaq, Costel Lungan, Rafal Zielinski
Scoring summary
First half
Fremd: Connor Sapiente (Josh Bennett), 20th minute
Rolling Meadows: Joao Sanchez (unassisted), 26th minute
Second half
Fremd: Russell Beaupre (Anthony Tambellini), 50th minute
Fremd: Jake Schoffstall (unassisted), 71st minute
Fremd: John Kating (Dorian Lesiuk), 74th minute
Vikings 4-1 win heightens Senior Night, Homecoming festivities
By Ken Keenan
PALATINE -- With the Mid-Suburban League West Division title already in the bag, all Fremd needed to put the cherry on top of coinciding Homecoming and Senior Night festivities Friday evening was a win. The Vikings delivered with a 4-1 decision over league foe Rolling Meadows.
Fremd, ranked no. 10 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, improved to 11-5-1 overall and 9-1-1 in conference play with the victory. After entering the match on a competitive 2-3-1 stretch, the Mustangs exited at 3-10-2, 3-8-0.
Fans were treated to an intense tilt from the start, with Rolling Meadows giving the home team all it could handle in the opening 40 minutes en route to a 1-1 deadlock at the break. After changing formations from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 to begin the second session, Fremd pounced on the scrappy Mustangs for three goals from the 50th minute on to lock down the victory.
The scoring spree included a goal by versatile Vikings junior defender/midfielder and Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match Jake Schoffstall, who tallied on a free kick in the 71st minute to give his team a 3-1 cushion.
"I didn't feel we were getting any width in the first half," said Vikings head coach Steve Keller. "We needed more offense and better spacing, and putting two guys wide spreads the field. At halftime, I said, 'If you don't start putting opportunities away, we could easily tie or lose the game.'
Keller continued: "It never felt like we weren't in control, but one little mistake can make a difference. You can't have any lapses. We scored three in the second half, but I'm also glad we didn't give up a goal in the run of play. You still have to hustle and track back in the midfield."
The Vikings drew first blood, grabbing a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute on a goal by steady senior midfielder Connor Sapiente. Junior mid Josh Bennett earned the assist, sending a sharp cross from the right side to Sapiente, who buried a short shot to the left of Mustangs junior goalkeeper Matt Galvan.
Rolling Meadows knotted the score at 1-1 with 14:24 to go in the first half. After a Fremd foul gave the Mustangs a free kick from 25 yards, junior mid Joao Sanchez delivered with a hard blast that escaped the low-left dive of Vikings junior keeper Artur Cholewa.
All in all, Fremd had more chances in the first half, including a 25-yard missile on a free kick by Sapiente in the 11th minute that Galvan nabbed with a leaping stop, followed soon after by a Vikings corner kick from senior defender Jake Scesniak that resulted in a solid one-timer by senior forward Dorian Lesiuk that sailed wide-right.
Helping to keep Fremd off the scoreboard in the early going -- and throughout the match -- was Rolling Meadows junior defender Issac San Roman. At least a half-dozen times in the opening session, San Roman was in the right spot to clear balls out of danger with the Vikings on the rush.
The tough-as-nails San Roman also blocked a shot by Fremd sniper Lesiuk in the 42nd minute, and did the same to spoil a strong try by Schoffstall with 20:10 to go the second half.
"Collectively, Issac (San Roman) and (junior defender) Jesus Padilla played their best games of the year," said Mustangs skipper Brett Olson. "Isaac had a slow start, but lately he's been playing really well."
Utilizing their 4-3-3 set-up, Fremd broke the tie in the 50th minute. Vikings senior mid Anthony Tambellini started the play with a nice cross to junior forward Russell Beaupre, who finished from the left side inside the near post.
Numerous chances followed for the home team, including a dipping, 35-yard strike by Sapiente that Galvan saved in the 55th minute, a head attempt by Bennett from the left side that nipped the far post in the 58th minute, and a wicked, bending shot from 20 yards by Beaupre that barely missed wide-right in the 59th minute.
"In the second half, we were more compact in the middle to create more chances," Tambellini said.
Added Beaupre: "With the 4-3-3, the offense was a lot more clean through the middle. That helped us score goals in the second half."
Schoffstall made it 3-1 when his 35-yard free kick smashed through Galvan's upraised hands and into the top left corner with 9:01 remaining in the match.
"Rolling Meadows came out with a lot of energy," Schoffstall said. "We bounced back in the second half."
"He's our glue," Keller said of Schoffstall. "He solidifies us in the back. He's great in the air; he comes out on set pieces. He's the anchor for us. We have a sense of security with him in the back -- or we can move him up. He reads the game really well, too."
Keller, who also praised the work of junior defender C.J. Williams, substituted freely down the stretch. Fremd junior mid John Kating concluded the scoring with a 30-yard bomb that sizzled into the top left corner with 6:40 remaining. Freshman forward Eli Schoffstall started the rush, and veteran Lesiuk earned the helper.
Fighting to the end, Rolling Meadows had a couple good looks in the waning moments, with senior midfielder Sergio Lucero Herrera missing wide-right from 15 yards in the 77th minute and sophomore mid Luis Marquez rifling a shot that was blocked a by a Fremd defender with 2:10 showing.
"I'm happy with the effort," Olson said. "We got spaced out by Fremd a bit in the second half, and we were down a couple guys. But I wasn't upset with our effort. We're trying to build for the playoffs."
The Mustangs will visit Round Lake in the first round of the Highland Park Regional at 6 p.m. Oct. 12.
"We've got to work on being more physical," San Roman said. "We can't be too soft and get pushed around. You've got to want it more than the other team."
Padilla agreed, adding: "We've got to be more tough, but it's also important to stay focused. We have to keep our head in the game and stay encouraged."
Meanwhile, Keller was encouraged with his team's ability to finish off the gritty Mustangs. But he expects even more when the Vikings open postseason play against Waukegan in the Fremd Regional at 7 p.m. Oct. 16.
"The first half was uninspiring," Keller said. "The second half was much better, but we're still not as focused as we need to be. The positive is, we put the game away ... had the killer instinct."
Added Schoffstall: "I think our chemistry is getting better. We want to keep winning and go to State."
Beaupre said, "We're getting to the end of the season, and we don't want to lose focus. We have to keep our heads on straight and keep going."
Starting lineups
Rolling Meadows
G: Matt Galvan
D: Issac San Roman
D: Cesar Perez
D: Jesus Padilla
D: Ryan Stubitsch
M: Adan Ramirez
M: Ethan Kakavetsis
M: Michael Taskin
M: Erik Martens
M: Rosendo Montiel
F: Jonathan Gonzalez
Fremd
G: Artur Cholewa
D: Kaelan Conway
D: Jake Scesniak
D: Jake Schoffstall
D: C.J. Williams
M: Anthony Tambellini
M: Connor Sapiente
M: Vince Daidone
M: Josh Bennett
F: Dorian Lesiuk
F: Russell Beaupre
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jake Schoffstall, jr., D, Fremd
Officials: Mohammed Mushtaq, Costel Lungan, Rafal Zielinski
Scoring summary
First half
Fremd: Connor Sapiente (Josh Bennett), 20th minute
Rolling Meadows: Joao Sanchez (unassisted), 26th minute
Second half
Fremd: Russell Beaupre (Anthony Tambellini), 50th minute
Fremd: Jake Schoffstall (unassisted), 71st minute
Fremd: John Kating (Dorian Lesiuk), 74th minute