Powzsok, Hawks edge BG
Brad Powszok provided the edge for Hoffman Estates with a controversial strike in the dying moments of the second overtime period to give the visiting Hawks a 2-1 victory Monday evening against a resilient boys soccer squad from Buffalo Grove.
The sophomore striker broke free from his marker on the tail end of a strong center-channel run to collect a ball sent through from teammate Sishun Zerihun before slotting under charging Bison keeper Mike McEvoy in the 96th minute. BG pleaded for an offsides flag, to no avail.
"I was kind of nervous after the ball went in because the defenders were yelling for an offside call," said Powszok, who at 15 minutes combined with Zerihun once again to give the Hawks (3-2-0, 3-1-0) a lead they would hold until the home-side drew even just seconds before intermission.
"All I could think after Sishun gave me that great through ball was that I had better put this one away," continued Powszok, who, like his coach Matt Sriver, said the Hawks' effort lacked a certain something on this day.
"When we get away from doing the things we do best -- that is, knocking the ball around and playing good combination soccer -- we are going to struggle," said Sriver.
Some of the Hawks' difficulties could be traced to the energy and hard work the Bison (4-6-2, 0-2-0) put forth, particularly in the middle, where coach Rick Schoffstall's team won nearly every ball, and up top with a group which kept the heat on with plenty of high pressure.
"What this team might lack in pure soccer talent, they all make up for it with a great work ethic for 80 minutes," said Schoffstall.
Despite falling behind at the quarter-hour mark on the strike from Powszok, the home side dominated play and had several quality scoring chances.
Plenty of powerful long throws by Kevin Okamoto caused Hawks keeper Sebastian Kieruzal to be alert, as did a handful of corners off the foot of co-captain Frank Atchison .
Atchison initiated the lone Bison goal when his driving free kick from 35 yards handcuffed Kieruzal and fell near the spot to an alert Brian Urban, who scored from in close.
The Hawks' lack of sharp play on the ball led to more frustration after the break as the Bison continued to stymie the visitors' attack.
The Bison watched in anguish at 75 minutes when sweeper Ryan Franz was caught grabbing hold of Powszok as the last man and was given an automatic red-card, forcing BG to play a man down the rest of the way.
Good fortune found the Hawks in the 95th minute. Urban was brought down inside the box to set up a PK opportunity for Atchison, but the Bison senior struck high over the bar to keep things tied until the Powszok game-winner just two minutes later.
"Hoffman played hard tonight, and (Matt) has to be given a lot of credit for putting together a competitive club with so many young players on his roster," Schoffstall said.