New Trier visits Fremd with playoffs in mind
By Mike Garofola
Max Clark feels the atmosphere surrounding his club at Fremd is now at its zenith after the team put its poor early-season form behind them. So it's a good time to host tough New Trier at 7 p.m. Monday at Hildebrandt Field.
During that 2-7-0 start to the campaign, the Vikings struggled in the attack -- scoring just nine while conceding 17, thought seven of those goals came in losses to reigning MSL champ Wheeling (3-0) and 2016 state runner-up Barrington (4-3).
Since then Fremd has done a full 180. When the Vikings entertain New Trier, ranked fourth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, on Monday in Palatine, they'll try to continue a six-game winning streak, all against league rivals. The run has guaranteed Fremd, which started 0-3-0 in the league race, a top-four finish in the MSL table.
"It was a frustrating start for all of us. (We) were playing as individuals and not as a team," admitted Clark, a three-year varsity veteran.
"We had quite a few new guys on our roster, and a bunch of others who play club soccer, like myself, who all came together thinking we could play the way we did in club. It wasn't working too well."
Clark said a change in the Vikings formation has been a major factor in te unbeaten stretch.
"We're kind of playing a 4-1-4-1 now, with a defensive-mid sitting in front of our back four, plus two attacking midfielders and two wingers, with me the lone guy up-top."
Clark feels the center midfielder duo of Matt Austin and Angel Virgos has been a key in the Vikings revival, as has Jake Schoffstall, whom manager Steve Keller has deployed as a second center back.
"Even though Jake is just a sophomore, he brings size, strength and good speed to that position, and he rarely, if ever, plays a ball into danger from his position," said Austin.
Austin credits Keller with much of the Vikings success of late, pointing to his manager's tactical trademark of using the early stages of the season as the time to sort his roster out, try different formations, and bring players up from his reserve teams in order to find the best use of his talent.
"I love playing for Keller, and I really appreciate how much he knows and how he can figure out a way to make us compete at our highest level," began Clark.
"I think a lot of us were waiting to see how he was going to do that. And now that he has, we're playing our best soccer of the year."
Clark, who will either attend college in the states, or in his father's home country of England, plans on continuing to play wherever he lands next fall.
The school soccer career of New Trier senior Mateo Blair will officially end when the Trevians season finishes, but the affable midfielder is in no hurry for that day to come.
The Trevians, one of the top clubs in the state, enter the game with a distraction. On Wednesday they'll have a chance to avenge an earlier 1-0 loss to Glenbrook North when the two meet in the Central Suburban League championship match.
But first comes Fremd.
"This game will be a great tune-up in advance of GBN, and I, for one, like the idea of playing a quality opponent before Wednesday, and the other opponents we will play before the state playoffs begin," said Blair, who has his eyes on Duke, Vanderbilt, Washington University (Mo.) and the University of Chicago to continue his studies.
Trevians manager Matt Ravenscraft knows what to expect.
"There's a reason why Fremd is always in the mix for a MSL title ... and that's because Steve Keller teams are always disciplined, hardworking and very dangerous in their set pieces," he said.
"We've got five games to improve as a team before the playoffs, and playing quality opposition helps us achieve that."
Ravenscraft said he and Keller had to work a little to keep this game from being dropped from the schedule because of the Jewish holiday calendar.
"There was a lot of back-and-forth between Steve and I, but I am thrilled it all worked out for both of us," he said.
Things have been 'working' out just fine for Ravenscraft, Blair and the Trevians this fall.
Three hiccups along the way have kept the Trevians from a perfect season thus far. One came against currently top-ranked Libertyville by a 5-2 tally in the Northside College Showcase final. New Trier fell to Glenbrook South 2-1 Sept. 22, but it's the other Glenbrook school that's on its mind.
"That was a tough loss for us, especially since GBN has several guys on their team that many of us play with during the club season," says Blair.
"When you lose a game like that, it inspires the desire to improve. Since that loss, I feel like we have all improved individually as well as a team.
"That day, the pressure (Glenbrook North) brought forced us out of our style. Since then, we have our style and identity back. We're playing fast with quick touches and movement, getting good looks on frame, and our focus is where it needs to be."
Blair likes the way the midfield unit has come into its own and praised JoJo Farina, Logan Weaver, Dominic deBoer and Alex Powell.
"JoJo is a phenomenal defensive midfielder who brings his size and strength to the role of playing in front of our backline.
"Logan is your classic no. 10, who has been one of our leaders in goal scoring and assists all year long, and he's the ultimate playmaker, whose aggressive play puts our opponents under pressure all of the time.
"Dominic and Alex are a couple of our younger players to the team. Dominic is someone who can fill in at the (10) or (8) with his technical skill, while Alex does really well at the (6) or (8) whenever, and wherever, we need him."
This group, along with the Trevians top-flight duo up-top, Ryan Krueger (16 goals) and Will Felitto (11) have been responsible for the 21 goals the club has scored since its loss to Glenbrook North, while conceding just three in a 6-1-0 run.
"I guess I didn't realize we've scored that many after (that), And honestly, we've done a very good job of killing the game when we've had the opportunity do to so," said Ravenscraft.
"When we're playing our best soccer, everyone is involved in the attack.
"Our front line has been ruthless when we've generated chances, but it's been our ability to keep the ball and build from the back which has been key to our success going forward."
New Trier, which was recently awarded the no. 2 seed in its own sectional, will wrap-up its regular season with fixtures against Stevenson this week, and St. Ignatius and Round Lake in the final week of the regular season.
Fremd, an 11 seed in the loaded Carmel Regional, finishes out its pre-tournament slate with league games against Rolling Meadows and Schaumburg, before traveling to Downers Grove South on Saturday. The Vikings finish the regular season next week with a Mid-Suburban League cross-over.
By Mike Garofola
Max Clark feels the atmosphere surrounding his club at Fremd is now at its zenith after the team put its poor early-season form behind them. So it's a good time to host tough New Trier at 7 p.m. Monday at Hildebrandt Field.
During that 2-7-0 start to the campaign, the Vikings struggled in the attack -- scoring just nine while conceding 17, thought seven of those goals came in losses to reigning MSL champ Wheeling (3-0) and 2016 state runner-up Barrington (4-3).
Since then Fremd has done a full 180. When the Vikings entertain New Trier, ranked fourth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, on Monday in Palatine, they'll try to continue a six-game winning streak, all against league rivals. The run has guaranteed Fremd, which started 0-3-0 in the league race, a top-four finish in the MSL table.
"It was a frustrating start for all of us. (We) were playing as individuals and not as a team," admitted Clark, a three-year varsity veteran.
"We had quite a few new guys on our roster, and a bunch of others who play club soccer, like myself, who all came together thinking we could play the way we did in club. It wasn't working too well."
Clark said a change in the Vikings formation has been a major factor in te unbeaten stretch.
"We're kind of playing a 4-1-4-1 now, with a defensive-mid sitting in front of our back four, plus two attacking midfielders and two wingers, with me the lone guy up-top."
Clark feels the center midfielder duo of Matt Austin and Angel Virgos has been a key in the Vikings revival, as has Jake Schoffstall, whom manager Steve Keller has deployed as a second center back.
"Even though Jake is just a sophomore, he brings size, strength and good speed to that position, and he rarely, if ever, plays a ball into danger from his position," said Austin.
Austin credits Keller with much of the Vikings success of late, pointing to his manager's tactical trademark of using the early stages of the season as the time to sort his roster out, try different formations, and bring players up from his reserve teams in order to find the best use of his talent.
"I love playing for Keller, and I really appreciate how much he knows and how he can figure out a way to make us compete at our highest level," began Clark.
"I think a lot of us were waiting to see how he was going to do that. And now that he has, we're playing our best soccer of the year."
Clark, who will either attend college in the states, or in his father's home country of England, plans on continuing to play wherever he lands next fall.
The school soccer career of New Trier senior Mateo Blair will officially end when the Trevians season finishes, but the affable midfielder is in no hurry for that day to come.
The Trevians, one of the top clubs in the state, enter the game with a distraction. On Wednesday they'll have a chance to avenge an earlier 1-0 loss to Glenbrook North when the two meet in the Central Suburban League championship match.
But first comes Fremd.
"This game will be a great tune-up in advance of GBN, and I, for one, like the idea of playing a quality opponent before Wednesday, and the other opponents we will play before the state playoffs begin," said Blair, who has his eyes on Duke, Vanderbilt, Washington University (Mo.) and the University of Chicago to continue his studies.
Trevians manager Matt Ravenscraft knows what to expect.
"There's a reason why Fremd is always in the mix for a MSL title ... and that's because Steve Keller teams are always disciplined, hardworking and very dangerous in their set pieces," he said.
"We've got five games to improve as a team before the playoffs, and playing quality opposition helps us achieve that."
Ravenscraft said he and Keller had to work a little to keep this game from being dropped from the schedule because of the Jewish holiday calendar.
"There was a lot of back-and-forth between Steve and I, but I am thrilled it all worked out for both of us," he said.
Things have been 'working' out just fine for Ravenscraft, Blair and the Trevians this fall.
Three hiccups along the way have kept the Trevians from a perfect season thus far. One came against currently top-ranked Libertyville by a 5-2 tally in the Northside College Showcase final. New Trier fell to Glenbrook South 2-1 Sept. 22, but it's the other Glenbrook school that's on its mind.
"That was a tough loss for us, especially since GBN has several guys on their team that many of us play with during the club season," says Blair.
"When you lose a game like that, it inspires the desire to improve. Since that loss, I feel like we have all improved individually as well as a team.
"That day, the pressure (Glenbrook North) brought forced us out of our style. Since then, we have our style and identity back. We're playing fast with quick touches and movement, getting good looks on frame, and our focus is where it needs to be."
Blair likes the way the midfield unit has come into its own and praised JoJo Farina, Logan Weaver, Dominic deBoer and Alex Powell.
"JoJo is a phenomenal defensive midfielder who brings his size and strength to the role of playing in front of our backline.
"Logan is your classic no. 10, who has been one of our leaders in goal scoring and assists all year long, and he's the ultimate playmaker, whose aggressive play puts our opponents under pressure all of the time.
"Dominic and Alex are a couple of our younger players to the team. Dominic is someone who can fill in at the (10) or (8) with his technical skill, while Alex does really well at the (6) or (8) whenever, and wherever, we need him."
This group, along with the Trevians top-flight duo up-top, Ryan Krueger (16 goals) and Will Felitto (11) have been responsible for the 21 goals the club has scored since its loss to Glenbrook North, while conceding just three in a 6-1-0 run.
"I guess I didn't realize we've scored that many after (that), And honestly, we've done a very good job of killing the game when we've had the opportunity do to so," said Ravenscraft.
"When we're playing our best soccer, everyone is involved in the attack.
"Our front line has been ruthless when we've generated chances, but it's been our ability to keep the ball and build from the back which has been key to our success going forward."
New Trier, which was recently awarded the no. 2 seed in its own sectional, will wrap-up its regular season with fixtures against Stevenson this week, and St. Ignatius and Round Lake in the final week of the regular season.
Fremd, an 11 seed in the loaded Carmel Regional, finishes out its pre-tournament slate with league games against Rolling Meadows and Schaumburg, before traveling to Downers Grove South on Saturday. The Vikings finish the regular season next week with a Mid-Suburban League cross-over.