Schoffstall 'trick delivers Fremd treat
Vikings notch 13th program regional title, top Wheeling 4-1
By Mike Garofola
PALATINE -- Jake Schoffstall stole the show with a home hat-trick Saturday afternoon to send fifth-seeded Fremd to a 4-1 victory over Mid-Suburban League rival Wheeling in the Vikings regional title game.
Schoffstall scored the first three goals, and Nick Austin kicked in the fourth to give the Vikings their 13th regional title in program history and first since 2014. Incidentally, Schoffstall's older brothers Zach and Luke led that club to a third place finish at the Class 3A state tournament.
"I was just doing what was needed to win today," said Schoffstall, who made his memorable day sound as if it didn't even happen.
"That's Fremd!," said a disappointed Wheeling manager Kevin Lennon. He starred at Palatine in the early 90s for Pirates manager Willie Filian, who forever has trained his club in the art of dead ball and set piece chances, especially during the postseason when those type of opportunities could dictate whether you advance or go home.
"Steve (Keller) knows the importance of those types of chances and his guys are always one of the best, but we've been working the last part of this season defending set pieces and dead balls," Lennon continued. "There wasn't much we could do on that first one; and the second, that was really something else."
The second Fremd goal that Lennon spoke of was Schoffstall's strike from 22 yards -- a bending effort around the Wildcats wall and into the upper-right corner to give the Vikings an all-important two-goal advantage.
Wheeling (13-6-1) was undone earlier by some marvelous passing between Connor Sapiente and Schoffstall that ended with the Vikings center back beating keeper Christian Ruiz in a 1-v.-1 confrontation.
"Connor did most of the work on that first goal," said Schoffstall. "We knew it would be important to try to get that first goal (even) though we were playing into such a strong first half wind, but to get (two) was even better."
Still, that could have been better.
"It's too bad we gave one back before the break," said Sapiente, who partnered with Anthony Tambellini to create, disrupt and hold onto the ball much more than their counterparts on the other side of the park.
The wind Schoffstall spoke of blew through the Vikings soccer park with terrific force all throughout the contest. Mother Nature threw in light snow flurries, after a brief mixture of rain, snow and high winds soaked and chilled a big crowd on hand.
"With us playing into the wind during the first half, the plan all along was to defend our end, keep their chances to a minimum and came out of it at 0-0, (then) take our chances with the wind at our backs," began Keller.
"Those two goals from Jake were a pleasant surprise, but to concede that late goal before the half was not a way to go into the break."
Keller said afterward the overall effort in the first period was as close to the one put forth by his lads nearly one month ago when Naperville North visited.
Despite the 1-0 loss to the two-time reigning state champions, Keller was thrilled to see his club play at the level of the Huskies, who entered the postseason as the no. 1 team in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 and ranked second nationally by two internet lists.
"Wheeling has the type of players who can attack, be dangerous and create in a lot of ways," Keller said. "In that first half we rarely, if ever allowed them time and space, and we defended extremely well as a team."
To the credit of Wheeling and its fine staff, Lennon and former all-state stars Leo Elizalde (Wheeling) and Tim King (Conant), the visitors did not shrivel up and die when they were forced to chase two goals.
With all-state candidate Jared Urueta leading the way along with Jason Rivas and Luis Aviles, the Wildcats got on the board before intermission.
When the second of two deep throws by Urueta was cleared just to the edge of the box, Rivas punished the home side with a deadly left-footed one-timer that flew just under the woodwork and crashed into the back of the net.
"One of the great things about this team is it never quits," Lennon said. "It would have been easy to when we went down 2-0 (knowing) we would be playing into that wind.
"The guys came back to get us into the game. Even though the effort was there, we just couldn't get anything past them in the second half."
Fremd's long-throw specialist Joe Beaupre unloaded a pair of deep throws into the Wheeling box early into the second period, while Scesniak sent in two inward-swinging corners, one of which was headed wide by Sapiente. Afterward. Tambellini went wide, as did Beaupre.
As if the Vikings offense wasn't daunting enough, the defensive ability of Vince Daidone-Petrovich to tackle and intercept just in front of the Vikings backline meant few Wheeling forays found their way into the area of the eventual regional champs.
"It was important for us to lock things down when it was 2-0," Sapiente said. "(We) had a little letdown but came back to play good defense (from) front to back in the second half."
Schoffstall's third goal, his seventh of the season, was YouTube-worthy -- it traveled from afar before exploding into the back of the net to stun both the Wheeling faithful and Keller.
"When you have a chance to put (one) in on frame with the wind at your back have at it, but that one was really something," said the Vikings manager.
Added Schoffstall of the sensational 55-yard strike: "With the wind at my back I felt if I could get something into the box, maybe we could have a chance to put another one in."
On the defensive end, Cole Jackson's timely tackle on Urueta likely stopped a potential scoring opportunity for the Wheeling three-year star.
Meanwhile, Fremd's offense did not slow. An offsides flag interrupted a brilliant turn at top speed from Dorian Lesiuk that prevented the chance to add another goal.
Lennon moved to three up-top -- Bryan Macias, Angel Escobedo and Luis Aviles -- while pushing Jesus Avila into the midfield next to Urueta to add to the Wildcats firepower with 10 minutes remaining.
Austin, a sophomore, smashed home his 30-yard cracker in the 77th minute to finish off the Wildcats' season.
"We had our struggles in the early part of the season when we began at 3-3-1," said Lennon. "But the effort and extra work from the guys turned our season around, and that's what I am most proud of this year
Fremd celebrated the seeded upset but already knew what lay in store.
"It's a good win anytime you can beat an opponent like Wheeling, but we'll have to be at our best on Wednesday in our sectional semifinal," said Keller.
The Vikings will meet 2017 3A state runner-up and 2015 state champion Libertyville (18-0-0) at the Barrington Sectional. The north suburban Wildcats have won their first two postseason games by an aggregate 14-1.
Starting lineups
Wheeling (4-4-2)
G- Christian Ruiz
D- Jose Flores
D- Jesus Avila
D- Alex Ibarra
D- Pablo Herrera
M- Angel Escobedo
M- Miggy Rodriguez
M- Jared Urueta
M- Jason Rivas
F- Bryan Macias
F- Luis Avila
Fremd (4-4-2)
G- Artur Cholewa
D- Jake Scesniak
D- Jake Schoffstall
D- Cole Jackson
D- Kaelan Conway
M- Vince Daidone-Petrovich
M- Anthony Tambellini
M- Connor Sapiente
M- Josh Bennett
F- Dorian Lesiuk
F- Joe Beaupre
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jake Schoffstall, jr., D, Fremd
Referee: Jay Cummins
Scoring summary
First half
Fremd: J. Schoffstall (Sapiente)
Fremd: J. Schoffstall (FK)
Wheeling: Rivas (Urueta)
Second half
Fremd: J. Schoffstall (FK)
Fremd: Austin (U/A)
Vikings notch 13th program regional title, top Wheeling 4-1
By Mike Garofola
PALATINE -- Jake Schoffstall stole the show with a home hat-trick Saturday afternoon to send fifth-seeded Fremd to a 4-1 victory over Mid-Suburban League rival Wheeling in the Vikings regional title game.
Schoffstall scored the first three goals, and Nick Austin kicked in the fourth to give the Vikings their 13th regional title in program history and first since 2014. Incidentally, Schoffstall's older brothers Zach and Luke led that club to a third place finish at the Class 3A state tournament.
"I was just doing what was needed to win today," said Schoffstall, who made his memorable day sound as if it didn't even happen.
"That's Fremd!," said a disappointed Wheeling manager Kevin Lennon. He starred at Palatine in the early 90s for Pirates manager Willie Filian, who forever has trained his club in the art of dead ball and set piece chances, especially during the postseason when those type of opportunities could dictate whether you advance or go home.
"Steve (Keller) knows the importance of those types of chances and his guys are always one of the best, but we've been working the last part of this season defending set pieces and dead balls," Lennon continued. "There wasn't much we could do on that first one; and the second, that was really something else."
The second Fremd goal that Lennon spoke of was Schoffstall's strike from 22 yards -- a bending effort around the Wildcats wall and into the upper-right corner to give the Vikings an all-important two-goal advantage.
Wheeling (13-6-1) was undone earlier by some marvelous passing between Connor Sapiente and Schoffstall that ended with the Vikings center back beating keeper Christian Ruiz in a 1-v.-1 confrontation.
"Connor did most of the work on that first goal," said Schoffstall. "We knew it would be important to try to get that first goal (even) though we were playing into such a strong first half wind, but to get (two) was even better."
Still, that could have been better.
"It's too bad we gave one back before the break," said Sapiente, who partnered with Anthony Tambellini to create, disrupt and hold onto the ball much more than their counterparts on the other side of the park.
The wind Schoffstall spoke of blew through the Vikings soccer park with terrific force all throughout the contest. Mother Nature threw in light snow flurries, after a brief mixture of rain, snow and high winds soaked and chilled a big crowd on hand.
"With us playing into the wind during the first half, the plan all along was to defend our end, keep their chances to a minimum and came out of it at 0-0, (then) take our chances with the wind at our backs," began Keller.
"Those two goals from Jake were a pleasant surprise, but to concede that late goal before the half was not a way to go into the break."
Keller said afterward the overall effort in the first period was as close to the one put forth by his lads nearly one month ago when Naperville North visited.
Despite the 1-0 loss to the two-time reigning state champions, Keller was thrilled to see his club play at the level of the Huskies, who entered the postseason as the no. 1 team in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 and ranked second nationally by two internet lists.
"Wheeling has the type of players who can attack, be dangerous and create in a lot of ways," Keller said. "In that first half we rarely, if ever allowed them time and space, and we defended extremely well as a team."
To the credit of Wheeling and its fine staff, Lennon and former all-state stars Leo Elizalde (Wheeling) and Tim King (Conant), the visitors did not shrivel up and die when they were forced to chase two goals.
With all-state candidate Jared Urueta leading the way along with Jason Rivas and Luis Aviles, the Wildcats got on the board before intermission.
When the second of two deep throws by Urueta was cleared just to the edge of the box, Rivas punished the home side with a deadly left-footed one-timer that flew just under the woodwork and crashed into the back of the net.
"One of the great things about this team is it never quits," Lennon said. "It would have been easy to when we went down 2-0 (knowing) we would be playing into that wind.
"The guys came back to get us into the game. Even though the effort was there, we just couldn't get anything past them in the second half."
Fremd's long-throw specialist Joe Beaupre unloaded a pair of deep throws into the Wheeling box early into the second period, while Scesniak sent in two inward-swinging corners, one of which was headed wide by Sapiente. Afterward. Tambellini went wide, as did Beaupre.
As if the Vikings offense wasn't daunting enough, the defensive ability of Vince Daidone-Petrovich to tackle and intercept just in front of the Vikings backline meant few Wheeling forays found their way into the area of the eventual regional champs.
"It was important for us to lock things down when it was 2-0," Sapiente said. "(We) had a little letdown but came back to play good defense (from) front to back in the second half."
Schoffstall's third goal, his seventh of the season, was YouTube-worthy -- it traveled from afar before exploding into the back of the net to stun both the Wheeling faithful and Keller.
"When you have a chance to put (one) in on frame with the wind at your back have at it, but that one was really something," said the Vikings manager.
Added Schoffstall of the sensational 55-yard strike: "With the wind at my back I felt if I could get something into the box, maybe we could have a chance to put another one in."
On the defensive end, Cole Jackson's timely tackle on Urueta likely stopped a potential scoring opportunity for the Wheeling three-year star.
Meanwhile, Fremd's offense did not slow. An offsides flag interrupted a brilliant turn at top speed from Dorian Lesiuk that prevented the chance to add another goal.
Lennon moved to three up-top -- Bryan Macias, Angel Escobedo and Luis Aviles -- while pushing Jesus Avila into the midfield next to Urueta to add to the Wildcats firepower with 10 minutes remaining.
Austin, a sophomore, smashed home his 30-yard cracker in the 77th minute to finish off the Wildcats' season.
"We had our struggles in the early part of the season when we began at 3-3-1," said Lennon. "But the effort and extra work from the guys turned our season around, and that's what I am most proud of this year
Fremd celebrated the seeded upset but already knew what lay in store.
"It's a good win anytime you can beat an opponent like Wheeling, but we'll have to be at our best on Wednesday in our sectional semifinal," said Keller.
The Vikings will meet 2017 3A state runner-up and 2015 state champion Libertyville (18-0-0) at the Barrington Sectional. The north suburban Wildcats have won their first two postseason games by an aggregate 14-1.
Starting lineups
Wheeling (4-4-2)
G- Christian Ruiz
D- Jose Flores
D- Jesus Avila
D- Alex Ibarra
D- Pablo Herrera
M- Angel Escobedo
M- Miggy Rodriguez
M- Jared Urueta
M- Jason Rivas
F- Bryan Macias
F- Luis Avila
Fremd (4-4-2)
G- Artur Cholewa
D- Jake Scesniak
D- Jake Schoffstall
D- Cole Jackson
D- Kaelan Conway
M- Vince Daidone-Petrovich
M- Anthony Tambellini
M- Connor Sapiente
M- Josh Bennett
F- Dorian Lesiuk
F- Joe Beaupre
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jake Schoffstall, jr., D, Fremd
Referee: Jay Cummins
Scoring summary
First half
Fremd: J. Schoffstall (Sapiente)
Fremd: J. Schoffstall (FK)
Wheeling: Rivas (Urueta)
Second half
Fremd: J. Schoffstall (FK)
Fremd: Austin (U/A)