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Schaumburg tops Fremd, claims MSL lead

Well, look who's on top of the Mid-Suburban League standings - Schaumburg.

After sweeping three league opponents, highlighted by a 1-0 victory over visiting Fremd on Saturday afternoon, the Saxons stand 3 three points clear of their closest challenger as Week 4 in the MSL drew to a close.

Edward Gomez popped in the lone strike of the day two minutes before intermission, while Andrew Ralston and his back-line mates along with keeper Alexis Flores kept the Vikings (7-5-0, 3-1-0-9 points) from finding the equalizer.

Schaumburg (4-1-1, 4-0-1-13) picked up its biggest victory of the season so far.

"We treated this week like championship week," said Ralston, who provided the assist on the Gomez game-winner. "You win Tuesday, advance to Thursday, win there and play for the championship on Saturday. It's a great way to get ready for a big like that we had ahead of us."

"Quarterfinals, semis, finals - win all three and we get 9 important points," said Schaumburg coach Hamid Mehreioskouei, who guided his club to wins over Elk Grove (1-0) and Conant (4-2) before ending the Vikings' five-game win streak.

The opening quarter-hour was played almost entirely in the visitor's end, as a strong tailwind along with too much pace and energy from midfielder Jessie Lopez kept the qaction in Schaumburg's favor.

"It was a terrific start for us," Mehreioskouei said. "Jessie can be so much to handle. He and and the rest of the guys put (the Vikings) on their heels from the opening, which was exactly what we wanted to do today."

In hopes of finding an answer to his club's first-period woes, Fremd coach Steve Keller brought on a half-dozen new players at 10 minutes. But the change did little to keep the home side from pouring forward with nearly each possession.

Ralston sprunt Gomez free with a lovely ball from out of the back, and when the Vikings' back line failed to react to the Ralston serve, it allowed Gomez to score against first-half keeper Michael Kramer, who came off his line just a step too late.

"We would have liked more, but it was important to get the first goal," said Ralston. "After that, it was some strong work from our midfield and backline, and especially Alexis in goal to help us get out of here with the win."

Andrew Bird, Conor Geraghty, Ryan McGowan and Ralston were tested during the second period, with the Vikings getting more direct in the search for a tying goal.

"We just knew Fremd would come at us with all its might in the second half - they had four up top at times - but the guys along the back, who have been getting better each time out, where there when we needed them," said Mehreioskouei. "And so was Alexis."

Just two minutes into the second half, Flores faced his biggest challenge. Zach Schoffstall unloaded a left-footed blast fromr 8 yards that the Saxons junior stayed with and turned away.

"It was just a reaction thing for me, because it all happened so fast, and I didn't really see it coming," said Flores, who was shaken up in the 73rd minute, along with Bird, during a long throw from Schoffstall.

Ben Borst found the side netting after he was put through on the left side by Luke Schoffstall, and a minute later, the sophomore helped get the Vikings a corner after Rohan Menon found him up top. But except for a low drive hit wide from Jacob Cuthbert, that was about all the visitors could get on frame in the closing 10 minutes of regulation.

"This was a big week for us, but there's still a long way to go, and all the guys know that," said Mehreioskouei, as the rain began at Gary Scholz Stadium.

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