Fremd, Palatine set for Kinsella Cup battle
By Bill McLean
Overall records?
Mere numbers.
The Kinsella Cup?
Now that’s something substantial, something meaningful, something covetous.
To the victor of Tuesday afternoon’s Fremd-Palatine boys crosstown soccer match goes the annual hardware.
Kickoff is set for 4:45 p.m. at Palatine.
“A trophy to be presented upon the conclusion of the game always adds intensity,” said Palatine coach Willie Filian, in his 29th season of roaming the Pirates’ sideline. “It’s always a good, intense game because most of the guys from both teams are well acquainted with each other, and many played on the same Celtic teams while growing up.”
Fremd coach Steve Keller and his Vikings enter the clash with an eye-catching 8-1-4 overall mark. The lone loss was a 2-1 setback to Illinois 10 no. 1 and nationally recognized Notre Dame (Peoria) on Aug. 30. Fremd, seeded fourth in the Class 3A Libertyville Sectional, is ranked no. 10 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, up three spots from the previous week.
“We’re looking to see our players elevate their game as we come down the home stretch of the regular season,” said Keller, whose club’s MSL table record is 7-0-2.
Filian’s boys are 5-7-2, 4-5-0, but don’t let the middling figures fool you.
“I am excited about our team’s scoring of late,” Filian said. “We are finally finding the net.”
Junior forward Omar Marin paces the Pirates with five goals, followed by senior midfielder James Hawran’s four.
Fremd’s top net jostlers are the Schoffstall brothers, Eli and Jake. Eli, a sophomore midfielder, and Jake, a senior defender, have nine and eight goals, respectively. They also have three assists apiece.
Fremd senior forward Josh Bennett (three goals, two assists) and senior midfielder Russell Beaupre (one goal, four assists) are difference-makers as well: Bennett because of his speed; and Beaupre because of his corner kick-esque throw-ins.
Senior Artur Cholewa has been a reliable presence in goal for the Vikings.
“Fremd’s strengths,” Filian noted, “include very talented players, physically and technically. The players are also very unselfish. Also, Steve Keller and [assistant] Gerardo Pagnani are outstanding coaches.”
Palatine’s backline glue guy is senior sweeper Kevin Reynolds, who also serves as a major presence in set pieces on the other half of the pitch. Filian counts on senior holding central midfielder Connor Aikman to win 50-50 balls in the midfield and boot dangerous free and corner kicks. Pirates junior central midfielder Matt Geisel “plays from box to box and is an outstanding distributor of the ball,” Filian said.
Filian expects a fast, physical match between the rivals, with a side of savory set pieces.
It should be a feast for the spectators.
“Fremd has been outstanding the past couple of years, and it’s no different this year,” Filian said. “Steve always has them well-prepared, and they are always deep on the bench.”
Each coach was asked to pick the most memorable Fremd-Palatine contest in his career.
Each was stumped.
“Too many good games to pick out just one,” Filian said. “There have been a handful of very exciting OT games over the years.”
Said Keller: “All are battles of the fittest.”
By Bill McLean
Overall records?
Mere numbers.
The Kinsella Cup?
Now that’s something substantial, something meaningful, something covetous.
To the victor of Tuesday afternoon’s Fremd-Palatine boys crosstown soccer match goes the annual hardware.
Kickoff is set for 4:45 p.m. at Palatine.
“A trophy to be presented upon the conclusion of the game always adds intensity,” said Palatine coach Willie Filian, in his 29th season of roaming the Pirates’ sideline. “It’s always a good, intense game because most of the guys from both teams are well acquainted with each other, and many played on the same Celtic teams while growing up.”
Fremd coach Steve Keller and his Vikings enter the clash with an eye-catching 8-1-4 overall mark. The lone loss was a 2-1 setback to Illinois 10 no. 1 and nationally recognized Notre Dame (Peoria) on Aug. 30. Fremd, seeded fourth in the Class 3A Libertyville Sectional, is ranked no. 10 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, up three spots from the previous week.
“We’re looking to see our players elevate their game as we come down the home stretch of the regular season,” said Keller, whose club’s MSL table record is 7-0-2.
Filian’s boys are 5-7-2, 4-5-0, but don’t let the middling figures fool you.
“I am excited about our team’s scoring of late,” Filian said. “We are finally finding the net.”
Junior forward Omar Marin paces the Pirates with five goals, followed by senior midfielder James Hawran’s four.
Fremd’s top net jostlers are the Schoffstall brothers, Eli and Jake. Eli, a sophomore midfielder, and Jake, a senior defender, have nine and eight goals, respectively. They also have three assists apiece.
Fremd senior forward Josh Bennett (three goals, two assists) and senior midfielder Russell Beaupre (one goal, four assists) are difference-makers as well: Bennett because of his speed; and Beaupre because of his corner kick-esque throw-ins.
Senior Artur Cholewa has been a reliable presence in goal for the Vikings.
“Fremd’s strengths,” Filian noted, “include very talented players, physically and technically. The players are also very unselfish. Also, Steve Keller and [assistant] Gerardo Pagnani are outstanding coaches.”
Palatine’s backline glue guy is senior sweeper Kevin Reynolds, who also serves as a major presence in set pieces on the other half of the pitch. Filian counts on senior holding central midfielder Connor Aikman to win 50-50 balls in the midfield and boot dangerous free and corner kicks. Pirates junior central midfielder Matt Geisel “plays from box to box and is an outstanding distributor of the ball,” Filian said.
Filian expects a fast, physical match between the rivals, with a side of savory set pieces.
It should be a feast for the spectators.
“Fremd has been outstanding the past couple of years, and it’s no different this year,” Filian said. “Steve always has them well-prepared, and they are always deep on the bench.”
Each coach was asked to pick the most memorable Fremd-Palatine contest in his career.
Each was stumped.
“Too many good games to pick out just one,” Filian said. “There have been a handful of very exciting OT games over the years.”
Said Keller: “All are battles of the fittest.”