Fremd, Buffalo Grove aim to keep pace
Vikings and Bison meet Thursday in Mid-Suburban League tilt
By Gary Larsen
East meets West tonight when Buffalo Grove hosts Fremd for a Mid-Suburban League crossover, as the 2019 MSL race begins to go from a simmer to a boil in September.
“(Thursday’s) game is actually a pivotal game for both of us,” Bison coach Darren Llewellyn said. “We’re trying to get a chin up on the other MSL East Division teams and Fremd is trying to stay tight in the (West Division) race with Barrington.”
East rivals Buffalo Grove, Hersey, and Prospect each have six points in the MSL table, and Fremd has six points in the West behind MSL leader Barrington with nine points. MSL cross-over games count in the league table.
Fremd (2-1-4, 2-0) hopes to snare a win and three more league points against Buffalo Grove (6-3-1, 2-1), but coach Steve Keller will have to work a little magic to get it done.
“We are decimated with injuries right now,” Keller said. “We are without four starters and one player off the bench who contributes every game. I hope to piece together a lineup that will defend well and give us a chance in the game to get a result.”
Fremd is currently ranked no. 16 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25. The Vikings will take on a Buffalo Grove team that has already played four teams ranked among the top 25 in New Trier, Highland Park, Barrington, and Lyons.
Against common opponents, Fremd tied 3-3 with no. 7 New Trier and 0-0 with no. 17 Barrington. Buffalo Grove lost 1-0 to Barrington and led New Trier 1-0 with four minutes remaining when the Trevians scored twice in the game’s final four minutes for a comeback win.
Buffalo Grove — listed as a Chicagoland Soccer honorable mention team — beat no. 22 Highland Park 4-2 and lost 3-0 to no. 4 Lyons this year.
“This team has been scoring more goals than last year but giving up more goals so it’s a trade-off,” Llewellyn said, “but our attack has more flair to it than last year so it’s kind of fun to watch.
“Defensively we have had our ups and downs but have made some improvement in our rotations and marking. I’m confident that we will not give up too many easy goals.”
Fremd has scored 12 goals and given up nine through seven games.
“We haven’t produced offensively in our first seven games,” Keller said. “We’re creating chances but not finishing. We have also given up untimely goals that have caused some of the ties. Overall, I hope to compete (vs. Buffalo Grove) and stay healthy.”
Senior Jake Schoffstall leads the way offensively for Fremd with four goals and one assist, including two goals scored against New Trier. Sophomore brother Eli Schoffstall is second on the team with three goals and one assist.
Josh Bennett and Russell Beaupre lead the Vikings in assists with two apiece.
Senior keeper Artur Cholewa, a 2018 Chicagoland Soccer all-stater, has played in all seven games for Fremd and given up five goals, for a goals-against average of .909. Junior keeper Joey Gillespie has played in three games and given up four goals.
Defenders Jake Schoffstall, Cole Jackson, Kaelen Conway, and Andrew Clark have led the Vikings defense, while John Kating, Beaupre, Eli Schoffstall, and C.J. Williams have anchored the midfield.
Keller wants to see better play in each third from his boys.
“We are not playing well and need to improve tactically,” he said. “Our decision-making has been poor, and we need to find more grit.”
Buffalo Grove has scored 22 goals and given up 13 through its first 10 games. Brian Perez leads all scorers for the Bison with nine goals and the junior also leads the team with seven assists.
Senior Alex Berk is second with four goals and three assists, and junior Alexis Escobar has two goals and three assists. Senior Jack Coughlin has scored twice for the Bison.
Senior defender Marcin Czaplinski has led the way in back, and senior keepers Adam Sempoch and Roman Kudrav have both seen time in net for a team that has given up 13 goals in 10 games and carries a 1.44 goals-against average.
“I expect (Thursday’s) game to go down to the wire unless one of us has one of those games where everything falls in place,” Llewellyn said, “but Fremd is alway hard-working and tough. I think it will be a tight one.”
Vikings and Bison meet Thursday in Mid-Suburban League tilt
By Gary Larsen
East meets West tonight when Buffalo Grove hosts Fremd for a Mid-Suburban League crossover, as the 2019 MSL race begins to go from a simmer to a boil in September.
“(Thursday’s) game is actually a pivotal game for both of us,” Bison coach Darren Llewellyn said. “We’re trying to get a chin up on the other MSL East Division teams and Fremd is trying to stay tight in the (West Division) race with Barrington.”
East rivals Buffalo Grove, Hersey, and Prospect each have six points in the MSL table, and Fremd has six points in the West behind MSL leader Barrington with nine points. MSL cross-over games count in the league table.
Fremd (2-1-4, 2-0) hopes to snare a win and three more league points against Buffalo Grove (6-3-1, 2-1), but coach Steve Keller will have to work a little magic to get it done.
“We are decimated with injuries right now,” Keller said. “We are without four starters and one player off the bench who contributes every game. I hope to piece together a lineup that will defend well and give us a chance in the game to get a result.”
Fremd is currently ranked no. 16 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25. The Vikings will take on a Buffalo Grove team that has already played four teams ranked among the top 25 in New Trier, Highland Park, Barrington, and Lyons.
Against common opponents, Fremd tied 3-3 with no. 7 New Trier and 0-0 with no. 17 Barrington. Buffalo Grove lost 1-0 to Barrington and led New Trier 1-0 with four minutes remaining when the Trevians scored twice in the game’s final four minutes for a comeback win.
Buffalo Grove — listed as a Chicagoland Soccer honorable mention team — beat no. 22 Highland Park 4-2 and lost 3-0 to no. 4 Lyons this year.
“This team has been scoring more goals than last year but giving up more goals so it’s a trade-off,” Llewellyn said, “but our attack has more flair to it than last year so it’s kind of fun to watch.
“Defensively we have had our ups and downs but have made some improvement in our rotations and marking. I’m confident that we will not give up too many easy goals.”
Fremd has scored 12 goals and given up nine through seven games.
“We haven’t produced offensively in our first seven games,” Keller said. “We’re creating chances but not finishing. We have also given up untimely goals that have caused some of the ties. Overall, I hope to compete (vs. Buffalo Grove) and stay healthy.”
Senior Jake Schoffstall leads the way offensively for Fremd with four goals and one assist, including two goals scored against New Trier. Sophomore brother Eli Schoffstall is second on the team with three goals and one assist.
Josh Bennett and Russell Beaupre lead the Vikings in assists with two apiece.
Senior keeper Artur Cholewa, a 2018 Chicagoland Soccer all-stater, has played in all seven games for Fremd and given up five goals, for a goals-against average of .909. Junior keeper Joey Gillespie has played in three games and given up four goals.
Defenders Jake Schoffstall, Cole Jackson, Kaelen Conway, and Andrew Clark have led the Vikings defense, while John Kating, Beaupre, Eli Schoffstall, and C.J. Williams have anchored the midfield.
Keller wants to see better play in each third from his boys.
“We are not playing well and need to improve tactically,” he said. “Our decision-making has been poor, and we need to find more grit.”
Buffalo Grove has scored 22 goals and given up 13 through its first 10 games. Brian Perez leads all scorers for the Bison with nine goals and the junior also leads the team with seven assists.
Senior Alex Berk is second with four goals and three assists, and junior Alexis Escobar has two goals and three assists. Senior Jack Coughlin has scored twice for the Bison.
Senior defender Marcin Czaplinski has led the way in back, and senior keepers Adam Sempoch and Roman Kudrav have both seen time in net for a team that has given up 13 goals in 10 games and carries a 1.44 goals-against average.
“I expect (Thursday’s) game to go down to the wire unless one of us has one of those games where everything falls in place,” Llewellyn said, “but Fremd is alway hard-working and tough. I think it will be a tight one.”