Wary Hersey, Prospect know what to expect
Local rivals aim for an edge in tight MSL East race
By Gary Larsen
When evenly-matched local rivals meet with weighty conference ramifications hanging in the balance, it brings the potential for a good, heated soccer game.
With only a point or two separating the top three or four teams in the Mid-Suburban League’s East Division, and only three miles separating Hersey and Prospect, the Huskies and Knights could provide just such a game Wednesday.
The reality of the season winding down should inject additional urgency into the meeting in Mt. Prospect.
“Where the conference is concerned, it’s pretty much a must-win game for both teams,” Hersey coach Mike Rusniak said. “We both need those three (MSL) points.”
The East Division chase is wide open between the rivals and Buffalo Grove (5-4-3, 2-2-2), which is ranked no. 22 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
Freshmen-heavy Hersey (2-5-1, 2-4-0) is led by quality seniors, and Rusniak hopes those seniors have his squad on the brink of putting inexperience in the rearview.
“For us, a lot of it will be decided by how much intensity we bring in the first 10 minutes,” Rusniak said. “We’re on the verge of being able to come into a game with the confidence to not let a team take the game to us, and allow us to set the pace.
“They’re extremely resilient for a younger group, with a very positive attitude going into every game, and I think that comes from our senior group, taking that one-game-at-a-time approach.”
Senior starters in midfielder Avery Larson, central defender Jane Stefaniak, and midfielder/forward Maddy Kim have led the way. Larson has been an engine at midfield.
“She’s such a big creator for us,” Rusniak said. “She’s so patient with a ball at her foot, and she lets plays develop. I think that calmness and her presence really helps move the ball forward.”
Freshman striker Faith Sena has also found her footing as a converted midfielder.
Veteran Stefaniak has anchored the defense next to a rock-solid freshman center back in Natalie Suto, a converted midfielder. Outside backs Abi Beck and Cassie Caruso have also keyed the backline.
“They’re very aggressive, and they play extremely smart,” Rusniak said. “They adjust, absorb, play as a unit — we’re spoiled in that department. We have some really strong defenders on our team.”
The Huskies played four games in six days last week, so rested legs and a few days of training have them primed to meet the challenge of a Prospect team that’s likely better than its record indicates.
“They’re always going to come out as a very organized side and they have a little more experience than us, like every team we seem to play,” Rusniak said of Prospect. “They’ll move the ball, they have speedy outsides so it’ll be a matter of how well we adjust to that. It should be a good, equal match.”
Prospect (2-3-2, 2-2-2) had most of the ball but failed to score in a 1-0 loss to Hoffman Estates on Friday, but followed that up with a 3-0 win over Palatine on Monday.
Knights coach Tom Froats was happy his players were able to harvest the fruits of their labor against Palatine.
“Every game the effort has been there in trying to implement the things we’re doing in training, every single game,” Froats said. “We’ve seen that growth on the field but not necessarily with our results. Our result (vs. Palatine) was certainly something that was
deserved, and hopefully it gives us confidence moving forward.”
The Knights have a pair of steadying influences on the field in senior keeper Annie Ninness and junior midfielder Hannah Mekky.
“We have a terrific senior class, starting with Annie in goal,” Froats said, “and Hannah Mekky is solidifying our midfield and doing a really nice job.
“We also have some young players starting to feel more comfortable. Abby Knott has done a nice job, Maggie Rosenburg has played well, and Jillian Sawadski has played multiple positions for us. We have some depth and having several players being able to play multiple positions has really helped us."
Senior defender Isabella Hubrich is also bringing a calming presence to the backline. Sophomore Kayley Bouzas and senior Madison Culli “have shined in individual matches,” Froats said. “What we’re working on now is getting them all to shine together.”
Froats expects another typically hard-fought MSL game on Wednesday, with familiarity bringing an additional edge to the game.
“Traditionally, Hersey will be hard-working and aggressive, stingy defensively, and we’ll need to be well-prepared and motivated in order to compete against them,” Froats said. “It’s a rivalry matchup so it always has that feeling that it’s anybody’s match."ch.”
Local rivals aim for an edge in tight MSL East race
By Gary Larsen
When evenly-matched local rivals meet with weighty conference ramifications hanging in the balance, it brings the potential for a good, heated soccer game.
With only a point or two separating the top three or four teams in the Mid-Suburban League’s East Division, and only three miles separating Hersey and Prospect, the Huskies and Knights could provide just such a game Wednesday.
The reality of the season winding down should inject additional urgency into the meeting in Mt. Prospect.
“Where the conference is concerned, it’s pretty much a must-win game for both teams,” Hersey coach Mike Rusniak said. “We both need those three (MSL) points.”
The East Division chase is wide open between the rivals and Buffalo Grove (5-4-3, 2-2-2), which is ranked no. 22 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
Freshmen-heavy Hersey (2-5-1, 2-4-0) is led by quality seniors, and Rusniak hopes those seniors have his squad on the brink of putting inexperience in the rearview.
“For us, a lot of it will be decided by how much intensity we bring in the first 10 minutes,” Rusniak said. “We’re on the verge of being able to come into a game with the confidence to not let a team take the game to us, and allow us to set the pace.
“They’re extremely resilient for a younger group, with a very positive attitude going into every game, and I think that comes from our senior group, taking that one-game-at-a-time approach.”
Senior starters in midfielder Avery Larson, central defender Jane Stefaniak, and midfielder/forward Maddy Kim have led the way. Larson has been an engine at midfield.
“She’s such a big creator for us,” Rusniak said. “She’s so patient with a ball at her foot, and she lets plays develop. I think that calmness and her presence really helps move the ball forward.”
Freshman striker Faith Sena has also found her footing as a converted midfielder.
Veteran Stefaniak has anchored the defense next to a rock-solid freshman center back in Natalie Suto, a converted midfielder. Outside backs Abi Beck and Cassie Caruso have also keyed the backline.
“They’re very aggressive, and they play extremely smart,” Rusniak said. “They adjust, absorb, play as a unit — we’re spoiled in that department. We have some really strong defenders on our team.”
The Huskies played four games in six days last week, so rested legs and a few days of training have them primed to meet the challenge of a Prospect team that’s likely better than its record indicates.
“They’re always going to come out as a very organized side and they have a little more experience than us, like every team we seem to play,” Rusniak said of Prospect. “They’ll move the ball, they have speedy outsides so it’ll be a matter of how well we adjust to that. It should be a good, equal match.”
Prospect (2-3-2, 2-2-2) had most of the ball but failed to score in a 1-0 loss to Hoffman Estates on Friday, but followed that up with a 3-0 win over Palatine on Monday.
Knights coach Tom Froats was happy his players were able to harvest the fruits of their labor against Palatine.
“Every game the effort has been there in trying to implement the things we’re doing in training, every single game,” Froats said. “We’ve seen that growth on the field but not necessarily with our results. Our result (vs. Palatine) was certainly something that was
deserved, and hopefully it gives us confidence moving forward.”
The Knights have a pair of steadying influences on the field in senior keeper Annie Ninness and junior midfielder Hannah Mekky.
“We have a terrific senior class, starting with Annie in goal,” Froats said, “and Hannah Mekky is solidifying our midfield and doing a really nice job.
“We also have some young players starting to feel more comfortable. Abby Knott has done a nice job, Maggie Rosenburg has played well, and Jillian Sawadski has played multiple positions for us. We have some depth and having several players being able to play multiple positions has really helped us."
Senior defender Isabella Hubrich is also bringing a calming presence to the backline. Sophomore Kayley Bouzas and senior Madison Culli “have shined in individual matches,” Froats said. “What we’re working on now is getting them all to shine together.”
Froats expects another typically hard-fought MSL game on Wednesday, with familiarity bringing an additional edge to the game.
“Traditionally, Hersey will be hard-working and aggressive, stingy defensively, and we’ll need to be well-prepared and motivated in order to compete against them,” Froats said. “It’s a rivalry matchup so it always has that feeling that it’s anybody’s match."ch.”