Fremd's goal explosion does in Wheeling
Vikings score 5 times in 2nd half to cruise to 7-1 Soccer Cup win
By Mike Garofola
PALATINE --After an exciting opening quarter hour of the 43rd MSL Soccer Cup, the playing field was as level as it could be (between) division champions Wheeling and Fremd.
However, the deeper this contest went the more the field tilted havily toward the host Vikings, who unleashed a savage attacking frenzy that knocked out its respected opponent for good.
Fremd wrote its name into the MSL history books and lifted its league-best ninth championship trophy by smashing the Wildcats 7-1 for the biggest goal-differential ever in this long-running clash.
"It feels real good to be MSL champs," said an obviously thrilled Josh Bennett, who earned Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match honor for his work at Hildebrandt Field.
"All of us, especially the seniors, were looking to get back to this game after losing last year to Buffalo Grove, so to accomplish the first of many goals we have is just a great feeling."
"I am very proud of the win, and effort the guys gave tonight," said Vikings manager, Steve Keller. "I've always felt we had the talent that could produce this type of soccer, (but) to be honest, at times we just haven't been at the level we were at for most of tonight.
"We had a lot of experienced players coming back this season so the expectations, of course, were high," continued Keller, who now owns three league championship rings (2010, 2014) in his brilliant managerial career.
"But we haven't always played to those expectations. (Maybe) it was complacency, I don't really know for sure. You would think when you've lost just once in a season, the feeling would be we were going out and giving quality soccer, but that hasn't been the case.
"What I do know (is) we have a very good group of players, who have stayed the course, worked hard. Tonight, they were rewarded for all of that."
One goal to the good with a 2-1 lead at the break, the Vikings conjured up several dead-ball opportunities and piercing the Wildcats defense with such frequency and brute force that Wheeling coach Kevin Lennon might have nightmares for weeks.
"We had such a great start, scoring that opener to give us momentum, and putting Fremd on its heels a little bit," began the Wheeling manager.
"Conceding their equalizer set us back. Then we thought we went back ahead on that offsides goal. But when we allowed them to go up soon afterwards, we began to panic, get away from the way we play. And slowly but surely, they picked us apart."
The opener Lennon spoke of came via Arthur Glinkin through a wonderful individual effort by Luis Aviles, who his mates would find over and over again on the left outside flank to inspire the Wildcats. Keller and his staff told the team to pay attention to Aviles at the intermission.
"No. 6 (Aviles) is a great, technical player," Keller said. "He really broke us down on that side in the first half and caused us to make a few adjustments at the break."
Aviles, on the first of several enterprising runs up the left side, forced Vikings keeper Artur Cholewa into making a fingertip save of his low drive. But the effort allowed a sitter at the back post that the opportunistic Glinkin easily tapped in at three minutes.
However, Bennett and his friends roared right back to grab the equalizer after Kyle Johnston and Nick Austin kept the ball alive in the area following a free kick.
Russell (Joey) Beaupre found Bennett on the right side where the senior went the other way with a nicely paced effort to make it 1-1 in the 7th minute.
"We got caught up a little, and they took advantage of us by scoring that first goal," said Johnston, who opened up-top in Keller's 3-4-3 formation. "But Bennett's goal to get us back even was big because it slowed their momentum down a little bit."
A nice win near the midline by Angel Escobedo appeared to send Aviles in on a 1-v.-1 with Cholewa. As the Wildcats faithful cheered the visitors second goal, they failed to see the assistant referee's flag raised on the far side.
Aviles had come from an offsides position before receiving the Escobedo helper, erasing the go-ahead goal.
Johnston's wonderful touch away from pressure and gorgeous finish from just inside the edge at 15 minutes would be the eventual game-winner, but there was much more to come from Fremd.
"We did really well to create that second goal, and it was a big one for us because it came soon after they thought they went ahead on that offsides goal," said Johnston.
"(It) took away their momentum and gave it to us. After that, I felt like we began to take control of the game."
Indeed.
The first quarter hour aside, when Wheeling hinted at an expansive offensive approach, Keller's tactics were clearly to stay strong defensively and pounce on the counter attack.
Playing with an air of expression and confidence, that's exactly what the home side did after claiming its 2-1 advantage.
Direct balls out of the back pinned the Wildcats down in their own end. Coupled with far too many deep throws, corners and free kicks, the visitors found themselves in the hole.
"Having to defend so many dead-balls really began to its toll on us," Lennon said. "We just never seemed to be able to hold onto the ball long enough to play through Jason Rivas (the 2019 MSL East Division Player of the Year) in the middle, or out wide to Luis to get our attack up and running."
Fremd sophomore Eli Schofstall went wide twice in the first half, as did Bennett. Beaupre's well-aimed serves off free kicks were just as dangerous as the Vikings good looks on frame.
The Bennett-Beaupre combo was vibrant after the break. If not for a brave save by Wildcats keeper Elio Santana, Beaupre would have made it 3-1 in the 48th minute.
However, that soon became the score after another long throw by Beaupre, which the visitors failed to clear properly from the area.
Bennett and Eli Schoffstall kept the ball alive for C.J. Williams, who floated freely through the center channel before smashing home a goal from 18 yards.
Five minutes later, it became 4-1 on the first of two wonder goals from John Kating -- this one a blast from in-close at 57 minutes.
When the clock struck one hour, Kating brought down a Beaupre free kick and unloaded a fierce left-footed, long-range missile that tore into the net.
"Just a great goal by Kating," said Bennett with a smile. "At that point, I think all of us were feeling really good about how this game would end."
Keller began to bring most of his first 11 off the pitch to give a chance for several of his men to experience the action of this championship night.
Two young players whom Keller had described as his most pleasant surprises of the fall, Leo Akashi and Ryan Sapiente, gave a glimpse into the future with some terrific work.
Sapiente went close with his bending, inward-swinging free kick moments before Kating's first goal. Later, Akashi made it 6-1 after Eli Schoffstall's blast rebounded off the bar.
Jake Schoffstall, named MSL West Division Player of the Year earlier in the week, ended the onslaught with his 35-yard free kick one minute from time.
"I was real pleased with the way we created chances and with how we played through our midfield tonight," Keller began. "As often as its overlooked when you score goals, it was our backline all across that was very good.
"Jake, C.J., Andrew Clark and Cole (Jackson) defended well as a unit, won most of the balls in the air and were positionally strong and sharp. In the end, that's what we hope will take us a long way in the playoffs."
The Vikings, the no. 4 seed at the Libertyville Sectional, will open regional play at Stevenson on Tuesday against no. 13 Lake Zurich.
Wheeling (10-5-4) will look to rebound against league rival Buffalo Grove. The no. 7 seed will play the role of host Tuesday at Grant Blaney Stadium.
"Fremd beat us bad tonight, but I know we're not a 7-1 team," began Lennon.
"Congratulations to Steve's guys. They deserved the result tonight, but my hope is that this is the game we need to inspire us next week against Buffalo Grove, and to give us what we need to go out and prove we're the team that has played some very good soccer."
Starting lineups
Wheeling (4-4-2)
G- Elio Santana
D- Joshua Martinez
D- Pablo Herrera
D- Leo Tule
D- Luis Elias
M_ Luis Aviles
M- Jason Rivas
M- Abraham Cisneros
M- Angel Escobedo
F- Gabriel Schiavoni
F- Arthur Glinkin
Fremd (4-3-3)
G- Artur Cholewa
D- Andrew Clark
D- Cole Jackson
D- Jake Schoffstall
D- C.J. Williams
M- John Kating
M- Russell Beaupre
M- Nick Austin
F- Josh Bennett
F- Kyle Johnston
F- Eli Schoffstall
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Josh Bennett, sr., F, Fremd
Referee: Andy Novak
Scoring summary
First half
Wheeling: Glinkin (Aviles) 3'
Fremd: Bennett (Beaupre) 7'
Fremd: Johnston (U/A) 15'
Second half
Fremd: Williams (U/A) 52'
Fremd: Kating (U/A) 57'
Fremd: Kating (Beaupre) 60'
Fremd: Ashana (E. Schoffstall) 76'
Fremd: J. Schoffstall (FK) 79'
Vikings score 5 times in 2nd half to cruise to 7-1 Soccer Cup win
By Mike Garofola
PALATINE --After an exciting opening quarter hour of the 43rd MSL Soccer Cup, the playing field was as level as it could be (between) division champions Wheeling and Fremd.
However, the deeper this contest went the more the field tilted havily toward the host Vikings, who unleashed a savage attacking frenzy that knocked out its respected opponent for good.
Fremd wrote its name into the MSL history books and lifted its league-best ninth championship trophy by smashing the Wildcats 7-1 for the biggest goal-differential ever in this long-running clash.
"It feels real good to be MSL champs," said an obviously thrilled Josh Bennett, who earned Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match honor for his work at Hildebrandt Field.
"All of us, especially the seniors, were looking to get back to this game after losing last year to Buffalo Grove, so to accomplish the first of many goals we have is just a great feeling."
"I am very proud of the win, and effort the guys gave tonight," said Vikings manager, Steve Keller. "I've always felt we had the talent that could produce this type of soccer, (but) to be honest, at times we just haven't been at the level we were at for most of tonight.
"We had a lot of experienced players coming back this season so the expectations, of course, were high," continued Keller, who now owns three league championship rings (2010, 2014) in his brilliant managerial career.
"But we haven't always played to those expectations. (Maybe) it was complacency, I don't really know for sure. You would think when you've lost just once in a season, the feeling would be we were going out and giving quality soccer, but that hasn't been the case.
"What I do know (is) we have a very good group of players, who have stayed the course, worked hard. Tonight, they were rewarded for all of that."
One goal to the good with a 2-1 lead at the break, the Vikings conjured up several dead-ball opportunities and piercing the Wildcats defense with such frequency and brute force that Wheeling coach Kevin Lennon might have nightmares for weeks.
"We had such a great start, scoring that opener to give us momentum, and putting Fremd on its heels a little bit," began the Wheeling manager.
"Conceding their equalizer set us back. Then we thought we went back ahead on that offsides goal. But when we allowed them to go up soon afterwards, we began to panic, get away from the way we play. And slowly but surely, they picked us apart."
The opener Lennon spoke of came via Arthur Glinkin through a wonderful individual effort by Luis Aviles, who his mates would find over and over again on the left outside flank to inspire the Wildcats. Keller and his staff told the team to pay attention to Aviles at the intermission.
"No. 6 (Aviles) is a great, technical player," Keller said. "He really broke us down on that side in the first half and caused us to make a few adjustments at the break."
Aviles, on the first of several enterprising runs up the left side, forced Vikings keeper Artur Cholewa into making a fingertip save of his low drive. But the effort allowed a sitter at the back post that the opportunistic Glinkin easily tapped in at three minutes.
However, Bennett and his friends roared right back to grab the equalizer after Kyle Johnston and Nick Austin kept the ball alive in the area following a free kick.
Russell (Joey) Beaupre found Bennett on the right side where the senior went the other way with a nicely paced effort to make it 1-1 in the 7th minute.
"We got caught up a little, and they took advantage of us by scoring that first goal," said Johnston, who opened up-top in Keller's 3-4-3 formation. "But Bennett's goal to get us back even was big because it slowed their momentum down a little bit."
A nice win near the midline by Angel Escobedo appeared to send Aviles in on a 1-v.-1 with Cholewa. As the Wildcats faithful cheered the visitors second goal, they failed to see the assistant referee's flag raised on the far side.
Aviles had come from an offsides position before receiving the Escobedo helper, erasing the go-ahead goal.
Johnston's wonderful touch away from pressure and gorgeous finish from just inside the edge at 15 minutes would be the eventual game-winner, but there was much more to come from Fremd.
"We did really well to create that second goal, and it was a big one for us because it came soon after they thought they went ahead on that offsides goal," said Johnston.
"(It) took away their momentum and gave it to us. After that, I felt like we began to take control of the game."
Indeed.
The first quarter hour aside, when Wheeling hinted at an expansive offensive approach, Keller's tactics were clearly to stay strong defensively and pounce on the counter attack.
Playing with an air of expression and confidence, that's exactly what the home side did after claiming its 2-1 advantage.
Direct balls out of the back pinned the Wildcats down in their own end. Coupled with far too many deep throws, corners and free kicks, the visitors found themselves in the hole.
"Having to defend so many dead-balls really began to its toll on us," Lennon said. "We just never seemed to be able to hold onto the ball long enough to play through Jason Rivas (the 2019 MSL East Division Player of the Year) in the middle, or out wide to Luis to get our attack up and running."
Fremd sophomore Eli Schofstall went wide twice in the first half, as did Bennett. Beaupre's well-aimed serves off free kicks were just as dangerous as the Vikings good looks on frame.
The Bennett-Beaupre combo was vibrant after the break. If not for a brave save by Wildcats keeper Elio Santana, Beaupre would have made it 3-1 in the 48th minute.
However, that soon became the score after another long throw by Beaupre, which the visitors failed to clear properly from the area.
Bennett and Eli Schoffstall kept the ball alive for C.J. Williams, who floated freely through the center channel before smashing home a goal from 18 yards.
Five minutes later, it became 4-1 on the first of two wonder goals from John Kating -- this one a blast from in-close at 57 minutes.
When the clock struck one hour, Kating brought down a Beaupre free kick and unloaded a fierce left-footed, long-range missile that tore into the net.
"Just a great goal by Kating," said Bennett with a smile. "At that point, I think all of us were feeling really good about how this game would end."
Keller began to bring most of his first 11 off the pitch to give a chance for several of his men to experience the action of this championship night.
Two young players whom Keller had described as his most pleasant surprises of the fall, Leo Akashi and Ryan Sapiente, gave a glimpse into the future with some terrific work.
Sapiente went close with his bending, inward-swinging free kick moments before Kating's first goal. Later, Akashi made it 6-1 after Eli Schoffstall's blast rebounded off the bar.
Jake Schoffstall, named MSL West Division Player of the Year earlier in the week, ended the onslaught with his 35-yard free kick one minute from time.
"I was real pleased with the way we created chances and with how we played through our midfield tonight," Keller began. "As often as its overlooked when you score goals, it was our backline all across that was very good.
"Jake, C.J., Andrew Clark and Cole (Jackson) defended well as a unit, won most of the balls in the air and were positionally strong and sharp. In the end, that's what we hope will take us a long way in the playoffs."
The Vikings, the no. 4 seed at the Libertyville Sectional, will open regional play at Stevenson on Tuesday against no. 13 Lake Zurich.
Wheeling (10-5-4) will look to rebound against league rival Buffalo Grove. The no. 7 seed will play the role of host Tuesday at Grant Blaney Stadium.
"Fremd beat us bad tonight, but I know we're not a 7-1 team," began Lennon.
"Congratulations to Steve's guys. They deserved the result tonight, but my hope is that this is the game we need to inspire us next week against Buffalo Grove, and to give us what we need to go out and prove we're the team that has played some very good soccer."
Starting lineups
Wheeling (4-4-2)
G- Elio Santana
D- Joshua Martinez
D- Pablo Herrera
D- Leo Tule
D- Luis Elias
M_ Luis Aviles
M- Jason Rivas
M- Abraham Cisneros
M- Angel Escobedo
F- Gabriel Schiavoni
F- Arthur Glinkin
Fremd (4-3-3)
G- Artur Cholewa
D- Andrew Clark
D- Cole Jackson
D- Jake Schoffstall
D- C.J. Williams
M- John Kating
M- Russell Beaupre
M- Nick Austin
F- Josh Bennett
F- Kyle Johnston
F- Eli Schoffstall
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Josh Bennett, sr., F, Fremd
Referee: Andy Novak
Scoring summary
First half
Wheeling: Glinkin (Aviles) 3'
Fremd: Bennett (Beaupre) 7'
Fremd: Johnston (U/A) 15'
Second half
Fremd: Williams (U/A) 52'
Fremd: Kating (U/A) 57'
Fremd: Kating (Beaupre) 60'
Fremd: Ashana (E. Schoffstall) 76'
Fremd: J. Schoffstall (FK) 79'