Gardasevic, Hersey deliver
A rallying call from Alex Gardasevic may have heralded the imminent arrival of defending Mid-Suburban League champ Hersey back into the race for yet another trip to the MSL Cup this October.
The Huskies' leading scorer struck for 2 second-half goals just moments apart against a stunned Wheeling (12-3-2, 5-3-0). Then the Huskies held off a determined Wildcats club to earn a 2-1 victory Monday afternoon in Wheeling.
The victory puts the Huskies (7-4-3, 5-2-0) on the fast track to the biggest match of the season in the MSL as it now draws even with Wheeling, both each with 15 points in the division. But Hersey now has the advantage of having won head-to-head.
"We've been up and down this entire season because we just haven't been playing the way that we should as a team," said Hersey coach Darren Llewellyn. "And quite frankly, I wasn't sure what we were going to do against a team like Wheeling which is so technically skilled and talented from front to back.
"Early on, we really didn't do anything very well in this match. But after we went to 3 forwards in the second half, things began to open up for us, then G (Gardasevic) hit for two unbelievable goals to put us out in front for good."
The Wildcats, who up until a week ago were the talk of the town after building a 9-0-2 record, suddenly found themselves in a bit of a struggle as injuries beset four starters, including its leader and star in the middle, Leo Elizalde. He recently had surgery to repair a damaged ligament he tore in his thumb.
However, on Monday the 'Cats were at full strength, and except for a less-than-sharp opening, the home side came out and held possession and looked dangerous all throughout the first 40 minutes. That carried into the second half, when Dan Hehn scored just seconds after the break.
For long spells the Huskies were on the back foot and relied on keeper Greg Janicki, who played his position flawlessly, including a confident save on Joel Del Toro at 13 minutes and near the hour mark when the junior stopped Didher Machado after he was sent through by Christian Ramirez.
"It was a match of missed opportunities," said Wheeling coach Ed Uhrik. "We had our chances. Trevor hit the post. and we failed to capitalize on quality chances to score."
Hehn roared in from his spot on the right flank to finish a superb serve from Del Toro, which fell right onto the his teammate's foot. Afterward, the Wildcats came at the Huskies with all of their might in an effort to extend its lead.
The Huskies somehow withstood the pressure to stay in the match while searching to equalize.
Gardasevic did so at 72 minutes when he re-directed a long, well paced serve from Manius Waterman out of the back. Then the big junior found the upper left corner from 25 yards on a free kick.
"I saw were the keeper was, and knew if I hit the ball as far away from (his) right and up and over the wall, there was no way he could save it," Gardasevic said.
"Unfortunately, I had the perfect view of (that) free kick and Alex just hit it perfectly," said Uhrik.
The Huskies have a game in hand with Buffalo Grove, Prospect, Palatine and Hoffman Estates left to play, while Wheeling has Buffalo Grove, Hoffman Estates and Barrington left on its MSL schedule.