Prospect aims to upend
Fremd's division title hopes
By Mike Garofola
During this COVID-19-shortened soccer season, it's not a good idea to be going in the opposite direction of others. There's just not enough time to find the remedy to turn around your fortunes.
Both Fremd and Prospect each found themselves chasing their collective tails early on. Fremd opened league play with two shutout losses, while Prospect went 0-4-1, including a 6-2 away loss at state powerhouse New Trier.
But the light is burning brighter than ever for both clubs, who meet Thursday night in Palatine in a contest that is vitally important in the Mid-Suburban League West Division race for Fremd (6-3-0). But it holds its own value for visiting Prospect according to manager Mike Andrews.
"The trophy is out of reach for us in the East Division, but we're playing real well, and our goal is to come away with nine more points to finish out the season by playing our best soccer," said Andrews following the Knights 2-1 victory over Conant on Tuesday evening.
The Knights' 0-4-1, 0-3-1 start to this season has been erased with four-consecutive victories. The first game of the streak was a 3-1 win over high-flying Buffalo Grove that gave the Bison their only conference loss. Buffalo Groe sits atop the East Division along with Hersey; each team has an 8-1-0 record and 24 points.
"Our turnaround has been a full-team effort with every guy out there stepping up their game," said Andrews. "The magic of Declan Flanagan and Eryk Limanowka (six goals each) has been the engine in our attack. Our defense has been much more organized and making quicker decisions and sharper passes out of the back."
The Knights topped Schaumburg and then Wheeling before its hard-fought win over Conant on Tuesday. The victory saw Limanowka bagging the game-winner with a well-struck free kick.
Andrews figures its the improvement along the back that has been the difference of late. The arrival of David Marshall, back from basketball, was a key addition.
"David was not part of the backline during the early part of the season. He's made his mark since coming back from basketball, because he's a real physical presence in the air," said Andrews.
"I've also been impressed with Alex Mho, whose energy is inexhaustible, while being fearless defensively and quite capable of joining the attack as well."
Fremd keeper Joey Gillespie has an outside back in Ryan Sapiente, who excelled last season in the center of the park but has made a smooth transition to the left outside of his backline for this 2021 spring campaign.
"Our entire backline is rebuilt from our last season. Sapiente has been amazing as a defender and a player who is so good on the ball and able to provide great balls out of the back with precision," said Gillespie.
Vikings fans will remember the sensational job Gillespie turned in in the sectional final victory over Warren in 2019 when the then junior came in for starter Artur Cholewa who suffered a concussion in the previous contest.
Gillespie took total command of his box and was quick in his decision-making when coming off his line. He distributed with quality to jumpstart the Vikings attack during its 4-1 victory.
"We all kind of knew the start of the season might be a struggle for us while (coach) Keller sorted things out, and how we would be playing," continued Gillespie, who will attend Indiana University next fall and enter the elite Kelly Business School.
"The first two-three games there wasn't much chemistry from front-to-back, and it showed in our first two results. Since then we've become more comfortable with each other. There's been a big improvement in our overall play."
The affable keeper feels his job is to direct his teammates in front of him, distribute with accuracy and keep his defensive unit organized and alert for trouble.
"We've become so much better with our pressure cover balance and with our tackling as well. It all came together in what I felt was our best game of the season when we beat Hersey in overtime. They have a great player in Ronan Wilcox."
In that 3-2 thriller, Eli Schoffstall bagged the game-winner, with none other than Sapiente providing the assist.
"Sapi must have five-six assists on the season. He is just awesome in that part of his game," said Gillespie.
Fremd's division title hopes
By Mike Garofola
During this COVID-19-shortened soccer season, it's not a good idea to be going in the opposite direction of others. There's just not enough time to find the remedy to turn around your fortunes.
Both Fremd and Prospect each found themselves chasing their collective tails early on. Fremd opened league play with two shutout losses, while Prospect went 0-4-1, including a 6-2 away loss at state powerhouse New Trier.
But the light is burning brighter than ever for both clubs, who meet Thursday night in Palatine in a contest that is vitally important in the Mid-Suburban League West Division race for Fremd (6-3-0). But it holds its own value for visiting Prospect according to manager Mike Andrews.
"The trophy is out of reach for us in the East Division, but we're playing real well, and our goal is to come away with nine more points to finish out the season by playing our best soccer," said Andrews following the Knights 2-1 victory over Conant on Tuesday evening.
The Knights' 0-4-1, 0-3-1 start to this season has been erased with four-consecutive victories. The first game of the streak was a 3-1 win over high-flying Buffalo Grove that gave the Bison their only conference loss. Buffalo Groe sits atop the East Division along with Hersey; each team has an 8-1-0 record and 24 points.
"Our turnaround has been a full-team effort with every guy out there stepping up their game," said Andrews. "The magic of Declan Flanagan and Eryk Limanowka (six goals each) has been the engine in our attack. Our defense has been much more organized and making quicker decisions and sharper passes out of the back."
The Knights topped Schaumburg and then Wheeling before its hard-fought win over Conant on Tuesday. The victory saw Limanowka bagging the game-winner with a well-struck free kick.
Andrews figures its the improvement along the back that has been the difference of late. The arrival of David Marshall, back from basketball, was a key addition.
"David was not part of the backline during the early part of the season. He's made his mark since coming back from basketball, because he's a real physical presence in the air," said Andrews.
"I've also been impressed with Alex Mho, whose energy is inexhaustible, while being fearless defensively and quite capable of joining the attack as well."
Fremd keeper Joey Gillespie has an outside back in Ryan Sapiente, who excelled last season in the center of the park but has made a smooth transition to the left outside of his backline for this 2021 spring campaign.
"Our entire backline is rebuilt from our last season. Sapiente has been amazing as a defender and a player who is so good on the ball and able to provide great balls out of the back with precision," said Gillespie.
Vikings fans will remember the sensational job Gillespie turned in in the sectional final victory over Warren in 2019 when the then junior came in for starter Artur Cholewa who suffered a concussion in the previous contest.
Gillespie took total command of his box and was quick in his decision-making when coming off his line. He distributed with quality to jumpstart the Vikings attack during its 4-1 victory.
"We all kind of knew the start of the season might be a struggle for us while (coach) Keller sorted things out, and how we would be playing," continued Gillespie, who will attend Indiana University next fall and enter the elite Kelly Business School.
"The first two-three games there wasn't much chemistry from front-to-back, and it showed in our first two results. Since then we've become more comfortable with each other. There's been a big improvement in our overall play."
The affable keeper feels his job is to direct his teammates in front of him, distribute with accuracy and keep his defensive unit organized and alert for trouble.
"We've become so much better with our pressure cover balance and with our tackling as well. It all came together in what I felt was our best game of the season when we beat Hersey in overtime. They have a great player in Ronan Wilcox."
In that 3-2 thriller, Eli Schoffstall bagged the game-winner, with none other than Sapiente providing the assist.
"Sapi must have five-six assists on the season. He is just awesome in that part of his game," said Gillespie.