Palatine steps up against St. Viator
In an annual early-season match between long-time rivals Palatine and St. Viator, the host Pirates proved too strong for the reigning East Suburban Catholic Conference champion Lions.
Piotr Karpierz struck once on each side of intermission, his first coming on a trademark set piece and the second at 72 minutes to all but put away the visitors.
“We got spanked today, clear and simple,” said Lions coach Mike Taylor, who earlier in the week watched his team come back from a 2-0 deficit at Lake Zurich to earn a draw against one of the favorites in the North Suburban Conference this fall. “Except for a spark or two, here and there, we just didn’t play well, so what we’ll be looking for is our seniors to step up and show the leadership that we seem to be lacking when we come out next time against Joliet Catholic.”
Just four minutes into this match, Karpierz ran onto a long throw from teammate Jeremy Velinski to head in the first goal.
The Pirates (2-0-0) looked dangerous for the next quarter hour, with all-area senior Jon Clark providing creative flair and pace at midfield.
“We really feel that we have a good group of players this season who will be able to attack and get into the back of the net,” said Clark, “and once our backline gets a few more matches (together), I believe we can challenge in the MSL West, which looks like it’s going to be wide open in the race for first place.”
Off the counter, Clark forced Lions keeper Mike McGrath to push his shot up and over the bar. Moments later, McGrath raced off his line to challenge Josh Lee for a 50-50 to help keep the Lions (0-1-1) close at the half-hour mark.
But the junior could do nothing when Kyle Clancy converted his spot kick after a foul resulted in a PK for the Pirates at 31 minutes.
“We gave up an early goal, then gave up (another) bad one with that PK, and once again we’re down 2-0 at the half,” said Taylor. “It’s just something we’ve got to stop doing.”
Off a set piece, Adam Fetter found Ashwin Cornelius with a low ball through the wall. But an alert Kyle Leber, brought on for the second-half for starting keeper Evan Held, made the save.
The Pirates regrouped for a few minutes after the Lions failed to cut into the lead and stretched their opponents with a handful of quality early balls sent in from Clark, Velinski and Jack Reynolds. The extra heat from the field turf, and the Pirates’ inability to possess and connect, allowed most of the play to be in their own end midway through the second half.
“We might have gotten a little complacent with our 2-goal lead, and (that) and the hot weather may have contributed to St. Viator having us on our heels for awhile,” said Palatine coach Willie Filian.
But the final 10 minutes of regulation provided a return to form as Karpierz made it 3-0 when he went the other way from 25 yards, past the outstretched gloves of McGrath. Josh Lee put the finishing touches on the day with a nice half-volley strike in the 80th minute.
The Pirates open play in the Mid-Suburban League on Monday at Conant, while the Lions do the same on the road in ESCC action.