Schaumburg prepares
for surging Buffalo Grove
Last 2 unbeaten teams in Mid-Suburban League set to battle
By Ken Keenan
Sitting atop the Mid-Suburban League standings, Schaumburg
passed its first big conference test of the season with a 3-0 win
over Barrington last week. But another huge challenge awaits the
Saxons (10-1-0 overall, 5-0-0 in conference) when surging Buffalo
Grove visits at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
After beginning the 2015 campaign with a 0-3-1 mark, the Bison have
reeled off six-straight wins, including a 1-0 decision over Mundelein
in nonconference action Saturday. Buffalo Grove (6-3-1, 4-0-0)
allowed eight goals while scoring only three in its first four
matches. But it's been a different story since then, with a total of
15 goals scored and only three surrendered during the streak -- which includes
four shutouts.
"It might have been a rough start in terms of getting only one result
(a 2-2 tie with New Trier on Aug. 29) in our first four games, but we
were able to compete with those teams and play nice soccer at times,"
said Buffalo Grove head coach Brad Abel. "However, we were still finding our
identity and learning to play as a team for a full match ... having
trouble putting it all together for a full 80 minutes. Once we started
to do that, things started to click a little more.
"We really take each game one at a time and don't look past any
opponent. Each training session, each game, is a learning tool we use
to move forward. Obviously, we're in a better position record-wise
than the start of the season, but we will stay focused and realize
that we are as good as our last game -- win or lose."
Bison senior midfielder/forward Drew Brauner tallied the lone goal in
the win over Mundelein, and sophomore goalkeeper Daniel Sempoch -- who
splits time in net with classmate Caleb Mayhorn -- earned the shutout.
"Mundelein was a tough opponent with nice speed and ability to
possess," Abel said. "They had us on our heels throughout most of the
game, but we were able to stay disciplined and organized in the back
and tighten up marks in the middle. All in all, it's really been a
team effort."
Abel cited senior defenders Gorgis Yelda, Brendan Carr, Andy Tanabe
and Ryan Drum, senior defender/midfielder Hans Haller and junior
defender Tyler Nieman -- along with Sempoch and Mayhorn -- as being
key components in the back end. The BG skipper also had high marks for
senior midfielders Hector Herrera, Alexis Alvarez, Chris Damien and
Richard Segura, and sophomore mid Manny Marzariego -- as well as
Brauner, fellow senior forward Colin Doyle, junior forwards Alex
Alfaro, Colin Dekorski and Danny Zickert, and junior middie Patrick
McLoone on offense.
"Yelda, Carr, Tanabe, Drum, Haller and Nieman are playing very
organized and disciplined, and Sempoch and Mayhorn have been great in
goal for us," Abel said. "Herrera, Alvarez, Marzariego, Damien and
Segura give us great work ethic in the middle of the pitch -- and
Alfaro, Brauner, Degorski, Zickert, Doyle and McLoone have been good
attack-minded players."
Schaumburg -- the new no. 1 team in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
poll -- has been off since shutting down Barrington on Wednesday. The win over the
Broncos made it seven in a row for the Saxons, including four
clean sheets. Senior forward Jessie Lopez, a returning All-American,
scored a pair of goals in the second half to snap a 0-0 tie, and
freshman forward Nick Marino finished it off with a goal in the final
minute.
Senior goalkeeper Edgar Avila collected the goose egg. Saxons
co-captain Jason Schoo, a senior midfielder, played a huge role in the
victory -- all over the field.
"He's the same kid every game," Schaumburg head coach Hamid
Mehreioskouei said, regarding Schoo. "He'll outwork everybody, attack
defend -- whatever needs to be done. He's the heart of our team, and
that keeps us moving. He's ready to battle no matter what."
Buffalo Grove knows what it's up against.
"It will take a total team effort to beat Schaumburg, one
that must be organized and disciplined in the back, and being able to
attack and keep (the Saxons) on their heels," Abel said. "They are a very talented
team with one of the best players not only in the state, but in the
country with Jessie Lopez.
"But there is more to Schaumburg than just
one player. They have forwards who can score, and they're very
disciplined in the back as well. They have flair and style, and can
keep opposing teams out of the net. And they are extremely
well-coached.
"The bottom line is that we need to come out ready to play against a
high-powered team. Still, we're looking at this game just how we go
into every other MSL game. The conference schedule is grueling, and
winning any one game doesn't mean much other than you have to turn
around and play another solid team.
"Again, it's one game at a time. We just want to put ourselves in a
position to control our own destiny -- both in the MSL and when the
playoffs begin."
With a Schaumburg that features 14 seniors, Mehreioskouei said the Saxons are
well-versed in the rigors of Mid-Suburban League play, and that no
extra motivation will be necessary when the Bison rumble into town for
a match with huge implications on the line.
"We know we have a target, not just on our back but in between the
eyes, too," Mehreioskouei said. "In the MSL, that's a tough road. But
we're fortunate to be in a conference like this. We get to experience
a level of soccer in an environment that's really enhanced. You fight
through the MSL ... through the course of a season, you get hardened.
If you get out alive, chances are you'll do well in the playoffs.
"And for us, the urgency of 'now' is obvious. Our team knows it can
be something special this year, and if they keep the right mentality,
things will fall into place."
for surging Buffalo Grove
Last 2 unbeaten teams in Mid-Suburban League set to battle
By Ken Keenan
Sitting atop the Mid-Suburban League standings, Schaumburg
passed its first big conference test of the season with a 3-0 win
over Barrington last week. But another huge challenge awaits the
Saxons (10-1-0 overall, 5-0-0 in conference) when surging Buffalo
Grove visits at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
After beginning the 2015 campaign with a 0-3-1 mark, the Bison have
reeled off six-straight wins, including a 1-0 decision over Mundelein
in nonconference action Saturday. Buffalo Grove (6-3-1, 4-0-0)
allowed eight goals while scoring only three in its first four
matches. But it's been a different story since then, with a total of
15 goals scored and only three surrendered during the streak -- which includes
four shutouts.
"It might have been a rough start in terms of getting only one result
(a 2-2 tie with New Trier on Aug. 29) in our first four games, but we
were able to compete with those teams and play nice soccer at times,"
said Buffalo Grove head coach Brad Abel. "However, we were still finding our
identity and learning to play as a team for a full match ... having
trouble putting it all together for a full 80 minutes. Once we started
to do that, things started to click a little more.
"We really take each game one at a time and don't look past any
opponent. Each training session, each game, is a learning tool we use
to move forward. Obviously, we're in a better position record-wise
than the start of the season, but we will stay focused and realize
that we are as good as our last game -- win or lose."
Bison senior midfielder/forward Drew Brauner tallied the lone goal in
the win over Mundelein, and sophomore goalkeeper Daniel Sempoch -- who
splits time in net with classmate Caleb Mayhorn -- earned the shutout.
"Mundelein was a tough opponent with nice speed and ability to
possess," Abel said. "They had us on our heels throughout most of the
game, but we were able to stay disciplined and organized in the back
and tighten up marks in the middle. All in all, it's really been a
team effort."
Abel cited senior defenders Gorgis Yelda, Brendan Carr, Andy Tanabe
and Ryan Drum, senior defender/midfielder Hans Haller and junior
defender Tyler Nieman -- along with Sempoch and Mayhorn -- as being
key components in the back end. The BG skipper also had high marks for
senior midfielders Hector Herrera, Alexis Alvarez, Chris Damien and
Richard Segura, and sophomore mid Manny Marzariego -- as well as
Brauner, fellow senior forward Colin Doyle, junior forwards Alex
Alfaro, Colin Dekorski and Danny Zickert, and junior middie Patrick
McLoone on offense.
"Yelda, Carr, Tanabe, Drum, Haller and Nieman are playing very
organized and disciplined, and Sempoch and Mayhorn have been great in
goal for us," Abel said. "Herrera, Alvarez, Marzariego, Damien and
Segura give us great work ethic in the middle of the pitch -- and
Alfaro, Brauner, Degorski, Zickert, Doyle and McLoone have been good
attack-minded players."
Schaumburg -- the new no. 1 team in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
poll -- has been off since shutting down Barrington on Wednesday. The win over the
Broncos made it seven in a row for the Saxons, including four
clean sheets. Senior forward Jessie Lopez, a returning All-American,
scored a pair of goals in the second half to snap a 0-0 tie, and
freshman forward Nick Marino finished it off with a goal in the final
minute.
Senior goalkeeper Edgar Avila collected the goose egg. Saxons
co-captain Jason Schoo, a senior midfielder, played a huge role in the
victory -- all over the field.
"He's the same kid every game," Schaumburg head coach Hamid
Mehreioskouei said, regarding Schoo. "He'll outwork everybody, attack
defend -- whatever needs to be done. He's the heart of our team, and
that keeps us moving. He's ready to battle no matter what."
Buffalo Grove knows what it's up against.
"It will take a total team effort to beat Schaumburg, one
that must be organized and disciplined in the back, and being able to
attack and keep (the Saxons) on their heels," Abel said. "They are a very talented
team with one of the best players not only in the state, but in the
country with Jessie Lopez.
"But there is more to Schaumburg than just
one player. They have forwards who can score, and they're very
disciplined in the back as well. They have flair and style, and can
keep opposing teams out of the net. And they are extremely
well-coached.
"The bottom line is that we need to come out ready to play against a
high-powered team. Still, we're looking at this game just how we go
into every other MSL game. The conference schedule is grueling, and
winning any one game doesn't mean much other than you have to turn
around and play another solid team.
"Again, it's one game at a time. We just want to put ourselves in a
position to control our own destiny -- both in the MSL and when the
playoffs begin."
With a Schaumburg that features 14 seniors, Mehreioskouei said the Saxons are
well-versed in the rigors of Mid-Suburban League play, and that no
extra motivation will be necessary when the Bison rumble into town for
a match with huge implications on the line.
"We know we have a target, not just on our back but in between the
eyes, too," Mehreioskouei said. "In the MSL, that's a tough road. But
we're fortunate to be in a conference like this. We get to experience
a level of soccer in an environment that's really enhanced. You fight
through the MSL ... through the course of a season, you get hardened.
If you get out alive, chances are you'll do well in the playoffs.
"And for us, the urgency of 'now' is obvious. Our team knows it can
be something special this year, and if they keep the right mentality,
things will fall into place."