Schaumburg invades Barrington
for battle of conference unbeatens
By Ken Keenan
The stage is set for some real drama when Schaumburg faces host
Barrington at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The match pits two of the area's best teams
in a clash better suited for late in the season.
The pair prepped for the big game with Tuesday night Mid-Suburban League wins.
Tenth-ranked Barrington improved to 7-1-1 overall, 3-0-0 in conference play with a 3-1 road win over Rolling Meadows.
Schaumburg, ranked no. 8 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, defeated
sixth-ranked Wheeling 3-0. The home win moved Schaumburg's record to 9-1-0, 4-0-0 in Mid-Suburban League play.
"We're fortunate to have an experienced, talented team," said
Schaumburg head coach Hamid Mehreioskouei, whose squad boasts 14
seniors, including returning All-American midfielder Jesse Lopez.
"In the MSL, every game is important, and you don't want to give up
three points in the standings. It's a big three points on the line
(Wednesday night), and it'll be two good teams fighting for that. It
will be a playoff-type atmosphere, and it should be an exciting match.
If we play the type of soccer we're capable of, we'll put ourselves in
a position to win."
Barrington skipper Scott Steib's 2015 roster counts only three seniors
and a handful of returning juniors. Most of the team consists
of juniors who played at the JV 1 level the last two seasons. But the
new mix has been meshing well, leaving Steib with little doubt that
the Broncos will be focused for the invasion of the Saxons.
"Playing back-to-back conference games isn't something I'm excited
about, but I'm also not too worried about it, either," Steib said. "We
have excellent team chemistry, and a great group of guys in terms of
being coachable, hard-working and committed. The new guys have come in
well-prepared, due to their work and the work of JV 1 coaches Ryan
Stengren and Chris Rierson.
"And with both (Barrington and Schaumburg) playing Tuesday night, it's
not like one team will be more rested than the other. Obviously, we'll
need to be aware of Jesse Lopez -- one of the most creative and
skilled players in Illinois -- but they have several other quality
players as well.
"I anticipate the game being won by the team who is
able to maximize their quality chances better than the other."
Speaking of Lopez, the heralded middie is tied for the lead in
Schaumburg goal scoring at seven (plus three assists) with senior
forward Alexis Flores (six assists). Next in line is senior forward
Noah Kostkiewicz with six goals and junior
forward Edward Gomez with five. Senior midfielder Jason
Schoo (three goals, three assists) and senior forward Omar Ali (three assists)
have also chimed in on the attack.
"(Lopez) is your consummate playmaker -- dynamic, electric on the
ball," Mehreioskouei said. "You can't defend him 1-v.-1. He gets
his teammates involved, too. But we have a lot of weapons. Flores,
Kostkiewicz and Gomez have been scoring a lot as well.
"Schoo is our general on the field. He wins most 50/50 battles, and
that allows Jesse and the others to keep the tempo going."
Defensively, Schaumburg is led by the quartet of seniors Andrew
Ralston, Chris Melecio and Niko Davis, and junior Andrew Bird.
"I'm very fortunate to have them as a foursome," Mehreioskouei said.
"I'm not surprised to see our goals-against average (0.44) where it
is."
Starting goalkeeper Edgar Avila deserves a lot of credit as
well. The senior had six shutouts and a 0.67 goals-against average
in the Saxons' first nine games.
"He's really an extra defender on the ball," Mehreioskouei said. "We
like to spread the field, and he gets involved in the play... plays as
a field player."
Senior defender Mike Marino, younger brother Nick Marino (a freshman
forward) and senior mid Austin Lara have contributed key minutes off
the bench.
"We're lucky -- when our subs come in, the level of play picks up,"
Mehreioskouei said.
Leading Barrington in scoring this season is senior forward
Hans Pallan, with four goals and two assists. Junior midfielders Caleb
Orr (three goals, assist) and Zach Carbonara (goal, four assists)
have paced the attack as well. Sophomore forward Klaus Pallan (Hans'
brother) had three goals, and junior defender Nash Pirie counted six
assists. Junior forward Kyle Owen added a goal and an assist.
"Hans (Pallan) is our big-target striker," Steib said. "He's been
effective and instrumental in our attacking play. Klaus (Pallan) and
Orr have both been excellent, too, and Owen is another player we're
excited about. He breaks down defenses as well as any of our players."
Junior keeper Alex Ruffolo has been breaking the hearts of
Barrington's opponents, to the tune of five shutouts and a 0.67
goals-against average. The Broncos' backline features Pirie, and
fellow juniors Braeden Nelson, John Gadbois and Josh Coulter.
"They have all been very steady," Steib said. "And Nash (Pirie) has
been a standout from both a defensive and attacking standpoint."
Manning the midfield, along with Orr and Carbonara, are senior Luke
Sellers (goal, two assists) and sophomore newcomer Gio Guarnero (goal).
"Carbonara is an intelligent and skilled all-around player, while
Sellers takes a lot of pride in winning balls and defending, as well
as creating, too," Steib said. "Guarnero is a crafty, technically skilled player who
slips balls through and has great vision on the field."
When the curtain rises Wednesday, each of these solid squads will
be looking to slip past the other.
"Schaumburg has a potent attack, so we'll need to be very good
defensively," Steib said. "I don't think this will be a game where
either team can afford to miss on the chances they get if they hope to
win."
Mehreioskouei said, "Scott (Steib) and I have competed against each
other many times. It's going to be fierce competition, and somebody
has to win at the end of the day."
Stay tuned.
for battle of conference unbeatens
By Ken Keenan
The stage is set for some real drama when Schaumburg faces host
Barrington at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The match pits two of the area's best teams
in a clash better suited for late in the season.
The pair prepped for the big game with Tuesday night Mid-Suburban League wins.
Tenth-ranked Barrington improved to 7-1-1 overall, 3-0-0 in conference play with a 3-1 road win over Rolling Meadows.
Schaumburg, ranked no. 8 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, defeated
sixth-ranked Wheeling 3-0. The home win moved Schaumburg's record to 9-1-0, 4-0-0 in Mid-Suburban League play.
"We're fortunate to have an experienced, talented team," said
Schaumburg head coach Hamid Mehreioskouei, whose squad boasts 14
seniors, including returning All-American midfielder Jesse Lopez.
"In the MSL, every game is important, and you don't want to give up
three points in the standings. It's a big three points on the line
(Wednesday night), and it'll be two good teams fighting for that. It
will be a playoff-type atmosphere, and it should be an exciting match.
If we play the type of soccer we're capable of, we'll put ourselves in
a position to win."
Barrington skipper Scott Steib's 2015 roster counts only three seniors
and a handful of returning juniors. Most of the team consists
of juniors who played at the JV 1 level the last two seasons. But the
new mix has been meshing well, leaving Steib with little doubt that
the Broncos will be focused for the invasion of the Saxons.
"Playing back-to-back conference games isn't something I'm excited
about, but I'm also not too worried about it, either," Steib said. "We
have excellent team chemistry, and a great group of guys in terms of
being coachable, hard-working and committed. The new guys have come in
well-prepared, due to their work and the work of JV 1 coaches Ryan
Stengren and Chris Rierson.
"And with both (Barrington and Schaumburg) playing Tuesday night, it's
not like one team will be more rested than the other. Obviously, we'll
need to be aware of Jesse Lopez -- one of the most creative and
skilled players in Illinois -- but they have several other quality
players as well.
"I anticipate the game being won by the team who is
able to maximize their quality chances better than the other."
Speaking of Lopez, the heralded middie is tied for the lead in
Schaumburg goal scoring at seven (plus three assists) with senior
forward Alexis Flores (six assists). Next in line is senior forward
Noah Kostkiewicz with six goals and junior
forward Edward Gomez with five. Senior midfielder Jason
Schoo (three goals, three assists) and senior forward Omar Ali (three assists)
have also chimed in on the attack.
"(Lopez) is your consummate playmaker -- dynamic, electric on the
ball," Mehreioskouei said. "You can't defend him 1-v.-1. He gets
his teammates involved, too. But we have a lot of weapons. Flores,
Kostkiewicz and Gomez have been scoring a lot as well.
"Schoo is our general on the field. He wins most 50/50 battles, and
that allows Jesse and the others to keep the tempo going."
Defensively, Schaumburg is led by the quartet of seniors Andrew
Ralston, Chris Melecio and Niko Davis, and junior Andrew Bird.
"I'm very fortunate to have them as a foursome," Mehreioskouei said.
"I'm not surprised to see our goals-against average (0.44) where it
is."
Starting goalkeeper Edgar Avila deserves a lot of credit as
well. The senior had six shutouts and a 0.67 goals-against average
in the Saxons' first nine games.
"He's really an extra defender on the ball," Mehreioskouei said. "We
like to spread the field, and he gets involved in the play... plays as
a field player."
Senior defender Mike Marino, younger brother Nick Marino (a freshman
forward) and senior mid Austin Lara have contributed key minutes off
the bench.
"We're lucky -- when our subs come in, the level of play picks up,"
Mehreioskouei said.
Leading Barrington in scoring this season is senior forward
Hans Pallan, with four goals and two assists. Junior midfielders Caleb
Orr (three goals, assist) and Zach Carbonara (goal, four assists)
have paced the attack as well. Sophomore forward Klaus Pallan (Hans'
brother) had three goals, and junior defender Nash Pirie counted six
assists. Junior forward Kyle Owen added a goal and an assist.
"Hans (Pallan) is our big-target striker," Steib said. "He's been
effective and instrumental in our attacking play. Klaus (Pallan) and
Orr have both been excellent, too, and Owen is another player we're
excited about. He breaks down defenses as well as any of our players."
Junior keeper Alex Ruffolo has been breaking the hearts of
Barrington's opponents, to the tune of five shutouts and a 0.67
goals-against average. The Broncos' backline features Pirie, and
fellow juniors Braeden Nelson, John Gadbois and Josh Coulter.
"They have all been very steady," Steib said. "And Nash (Pirie) has
been a standout from both a defensive and attacking standpoint."
Manning the midfield, along with Orr and Carbonara, are senior Luke
Sellers (goal, two assists) and sophomore newcomer Gio Guarnero (goal).
"Carbonara is an intelligent and skilled all-around player, while
Sellers takes a lot of pride in winning balls and defending, as well
as creating, too," Steib said. "Guarnero is a crafty, technically skilled player who
slips balls through and has great vision on the field."
When the curtain rises Wednesday, each of these solid squads will
be looking to slip past the other.
"Schaumburg has a potent attack, so we'll need to be very good
defensively," Steib said. "I don't think this will be a game where
either team can afford to miss on the chances they get if they hope to
win."
Mehreioskouei said, "Scott (Steib) and I have competed against each
other many times. It's going to be fierce competition, and somebody
has to win at the end of the day."
Stay tuned.