Curylo, Falotico power another Palatine win

Palatine's flying start to the boys soccer season continued as Tyler Curylo and Gavin Falotico kept the Pirates unbeaten with a 6-4 victory over Hoffman Estates in a wide-open affair Wednesday night in the rain at Chic Anderson Stadium.

Palatine (4-0-0, 2-0-0) got ahead almost instantly as Curylo struck for the first of his three goals in the fourth minute. Another eight minutes later, it was Adan Flores finishing what Colin O'Meara started as the Hawks came undone along the back line.

Then Curylo made the visitors pay for some careless play in their own end, giving the Pirates a 3-goal advantage just 20 minutes into this Mid-Suburban West matchup.

"We gave away 4 goals tonight, and that's something you just cannot do in the MSL, let alone against a team like Palatine," said Hoffman Estates coach Matt Sriver, whose squad fell to 1-4-0 overall (0-2-0 MSL).

Despite chasing the three goals so early on, the Hawks tried to battle back into the match with senior Angeal Sarti, a tremendous force all evening long up top, getting his club on the board in the 24th minute thanks in part to a nice helper from teammate Konrad Kieruzal.

Sarti grabbed a well-deserved second goal with an astonishing effort from 22 yards in the 45th minute, striking a nasty left-footed shot on the turn to give the visitors some much needed energy.

"We played with a lot of heart when we could have folded up for good, and that's something we need to build on heading into our next game," said Sriver.

With Hawks midfielders Kieruzal and Ricky Choi providing some timely 50-50 victories, it appeared the resolve of the Pirates might be weakening - until Falotico dashed any comeback hopes with a 30-yard strike off the gloves of keeper Christian Peralta and into the net in the 52nd minute.

"We're a little bit different of a team this year after struggling at times to score last season," said Falotico. "We counted so heavily on Kyle Clancy and Kyle Leber along our backline and in goal for the past couple of years, but this year we have someone like Tyler who can take people on and score or create for others. But I am also very confident that our back line will become a stronger unit after getting more time together as a group."

Curylo scored his 10th goal of the season in the 66th minute on a PK. Five minutes later, Logan Hedrick made it 6-2 when he drove a low shot through a crowd.

But the Hawks' Remi Ahmeti fashioned a wonderful half-volley that rattled the net from in close, then followed that one up with another three minutes later as he thumped a header off a nice feed from Noe Padilla.

"We've got to tighten things up along the back, but to be fair, we gave up a couple of great goals to some very talented players from Hoffman tonight," said Palatine coach Willie Filian. "This isn't your normal 1-0, 1-1, 2-1 Palatine team right now, but we know we can't allow 4 goals if we hope to compete in the MSL. We have to stop the attack much better in the midfield, pressure more, and get a little more organized."

Palatine travels to Hersey next Tuesday, while the Hawks host Prospect on the same night.