Schaumburg grabs MSL lead

So, look who’s atop the Mid-Suburban League table.

With its 3-2 boys soccer victory at home Thursday night, Schaumburg (5-1-0, 4-0-0, 12 points) finds itself clear of all others in the league, and leading the MSL West following its come-from-behind win over visiting Hoffman Estates.

Jake Savino’s spectacular strike in the 89th minute made the difference for Schaumburg.

“There is never an easy night in the MSL,” said Saxons coach Hamid Mehreioskouei, who watched his team squander a handful of quality chances in the first half while falling behind against the winless Hawks (0-5-0, 0-2-0).

Hoffman Estates’ confidence slowly began to grow, leading up to an equalizer from Misael Vargas. And it soared when Alex Corona stunned the hosts with a go-ahead goal in the 50th minute.

“It was a real battle out there tonight,” said Mehreioskouei, “and especially when you’re playing a side which is your close rival and a team which deserves a lot of credit for really coming at us for 80 minutes.”

“This is kind of how our season has gone so far,” said Hawks coach Matt Sriver. “We can play with just about everyone because of our skill and technical ability, but we tend to give away a goal here and there, and we have such a short bench, it doesn’t allow us to get some fresh legs in there. And again, that’s what happened to us tonight.”

The match opened with a fast rate of play. Coupled with too many fouls from each club, there wasn’t much flow in the match for the first 40 minutes, much to the disappointment of Mehreiouskouei.

“We got caught up playing too fast, and hats off to Hoffman for that,” he said. “But again, if we could have finished some of our chances, maybe it’s a little different kind of match after that.”

Schaumburg senior Drew Simon finished in a crowd at four minutes when Savino flicked a long throw from Nick Abel.

Another Abel toss nearly put the Saxons ahead by 2 goals eight minutes later, but Joey Faleni’s header hit the post.

Moments later, Vargas brought the visitors even after Jose Sanchez kept things alive in the area following a Hawks corner.

If not for some carelessness in its own end, the Hawks would have clearly enjoyed the run of play as Sanchez, Corona, Victor Sanchez, and Lenin Roa, who came forward regularly from his stopper position, attacked well on the counter with quick touches while using width at the same time.

“There are times when the guys are an absolute joy to watch, but we’ve got to be more consistent if we want to compete in the MSL,” said Sriver.

Savino hit the post once again when he roared down the left side at 24 minutes, then forced Hawks keeper Michael Gordon to save his low drive.

Just before intermission, Carlos Sarasti skimmed the post from 25 yards to signal the end of a first half which saw 4 players carded.

Things settled down after intermission, and the Hawks took the lead when the Saxons allowed Michael Wnek’s throw to bounce inside the box and fall to an awaiting Corona, who buried his side half-volley with ease.

The Saxons were gifted their second goal when John Franco’s 40-yard free kick went off the normally sure-handed Gordon.

“Michael makes that save a million times, but that type of stuff just happens,” said Sriver.

The Hawks nearly conceded another goal 60 seconds later, but a quick-thinking Jose Sanchez smartly tracked back to take a ball off the line after Alan Santana headed a Franco corner inside the 6-yard box.

As it began to look like the match might be going into extra time, Mehreiouskouei went with only three along the backline, leaning heavily on Christian Michalowski and Peter Piers while the Hawks’ trio of Victor and Jose Sanchez, and Corona hoped to take advantage of one less defender.

The Hawks did create a corner at 76 minutes, but nothing came of it. That set up the heroics from Savino, who transfered the ball of to his left foot before unleashing an absolute thunderbolt from 30 yards.

“I don’t how to explain my goal,” said Savino, “but I do know that everyone, regardless (if) you’re a starter or coming off the bench, has been giving 110 percent every time we go out, and we’re also a team which plays together and with a lot of heart.”