Ballasco, Obernesser help Palatine to draw with Leyden

One day after combining to defeat crosstown rival Fremd for the Kinsella Cup, Johan Ballasco and Liam Obernesser were at it again on Saturday.

The duo helped Palatine's boys soccer team cement a hard-fought 1-1 draw with visiting Leyden at Chic Anderson Stadium in the first meeting between the two clubs.

Ballasco, who scored the game winner in a 1-0 victory on Friday, came to the rescue once again.

He finished an Obernesser free kick to draw the Pirates (8-3-3) back level in the 31st minute, setting up a wide-open affair for the next 49 minutes.

"Mark (Valintis, Leyden's head coach) and Jimmy (Rosetti, assistant) have a very good program, and we were anxious to get them on our schedule because of the quality team they've had, plus the connection we have with Rosetti," said Pirates coach Willie Filian, who watched Rosetti (a 2000 grad) star for him along the back line while on the varsity club.

"It was a battle out there for us today, especially after a tough one the day before with Fremd. They certainly had a couple of chances to put one or two in on us in the last 15 minutes so we were a little bit fortunate to come away with the draw."

The home side hauled itself back into the game after the Eagles (8-4-2) struck early.

Albert Arabik steered in his close-range attempt into the underside of the roof, after teammates, Angel Lopez and Francisco Toral initiated the opportunity with some creative work of their own.

"It was good to see us score one going into the wind, because we figured it would be a dogfight of sorts with Palatine having the wind, and how well they play to their strength of creating lot's of dead-balls and deep throws - which with the strong winds today, made them that more dangerous," said Leyden coach Mark Valintis.

The visitors were missing three starters from their first eleven, including senior keeper, Alfredo Recendez.

He was replaced by freshmen David Duwal, who was immediately tested by one of Obernesser's patented long throws. He also had top stop a corner sent in from Tadeo Lara, in which the rookie keeper fearlessly challenged off his line to parry the ball out of the area.

"We've got a big week with three conference games coming up, so it was important to give Alfredo another day of rest," Valintis said. " But I thought Duwal had a very good showing in his first start, as did a few other players who were asked to play in spots they are not accustomed to be in.

"Duwal was good in his first start with us, and my other teammates who filled in at different positions also did well," said Arabik, who leads the club with 10 goals this season. " We didn't finish the couple of good chances we had in the second half."

The Eagles were unable to take advantage of the guests, who sleep walked through the first 20 minutes. A lovely piece of work from Arabik was driven wide after combining with David Senk.

Shortly after, the Pirates drew even when Obernesser's free kick was misplayed inside the box, resulting in Ballasco' second goal in as many games.

Leyden began the second period with more energy and pace than the Pirates.

The Eagles used the wind and more urgency in its step to nearly make a breakthrough in the 43rd minute. That's when their best combination of the match from Senk, Salavado Salgado and Toral ended with Toral heading wide from in close.

Senior Steven Gatica fired back with a chance of his own for the home side, unloading a snapshot which grazed the bar from 25 yards.

The Pirates were forced on their back foot during an impressive 15 minutes of play.

That stretch began Lopez going just wide when Senk, and his midfield mates pried open the center of the park. It ended with keeper Dylan Ruzbasan making a brilliant save on Lopez, who was set free up the right side.

"I feel like we dominated most of the last part of the second half, against an opponent which plays defensively very strong," Arabik said. "And it's that effort from us that tells me were getting close to being where we have to be for the upcoming playoffs."

The Eagles, who have Addison Trail, league power Morton, and Willowbrook next week in the West suburban Gold, gave their coach good reason to smile despite the draw.

"The reason we upgraded our schedule this season to include terrific teams like Palatine is to prepare for what lies ahead in the final couple weeks of the season," Valintis said. "I know we were on a three-game losing streak, but during that time, we showed a lot of good things, and the ability to play soccer at a level that we know we can be.

"The guys are hanging their heads a little bit because of the draw, but we had our chances in that second half, and played very good soccer at times, so we'll take with us, and go forward from here on out."

Palatine will finish in the MSL against Prospect and Rolling Meadows and then prepare for the postseason tournament. The No. 11-seeded Pirates will begin at the Fremd regional against No. 6 Buffalo Grove on Tuesday, Oct. 20.