Hersey returns to MSL Cup
Hersey officially began its quest for a second-straight Mid-Suburban League boys soccer championship trophy after gaining a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Hoffman Estates on Wednesday afternoon.
The win helped the Huskies (10-5-3, 8-3-0) book their place in next week's MSL Cup against Barrington in a rematch of last year's thrilling 2-1 triumph which gave coach Darren Llewellyn's club a second-straight league crown.
"I am very proud of the fact the we will be playing in the Cup next week," said Llewellyn, who found out later that division runner-up Wheeling had defeated Barrington 3-2 making the Huskies win all the more important.
Both sides tied with 30 points, however. Hersey would go through on the tiebreaker after an earlier 2-1 decision over the Wildcats.
"It wasn't particularly easy out there today, and we obviously didn't bring enough intensity to match (against Hoffman)," Llewellyn said. "But we came out ahead and now will point toward next week."
The Huskies, according to their coach, looked at times as if they were standing still against a Hawks' club which had nothing to play for on this day.
But Hoffman played with tremendous heart and plenty of pride to give its opponent all it could handle for 80 minutes of play.
"Hard to believe that was a team with a 5-12 record this season," Llewellyn said.
With Salih Golotic running the show in the middle for the Hawks (5-12-1, 2-9-0), teammates Edson Arzate, Brad Powszok, Luis Vargas and Ivan Roa were all forces for most of the match.
The home side searched in vain to find the equalizer after Huskies leading scorer Alex Gardasevic finished close in after a well-thrown toss by Ryan Fox initiated a scrum inside the box.
Powszok was set free at 32 minutes and appeared to have a step on the Huskies. However, defender Nick Boyle and keeper Greg Janicki converged and tackled neatly to stop the Hawks' best chance and a potential one-on-one between Powszok and Janicki.
Gardasevic struck for the eventual game-winner at 48 minutes.
But the Hawks continued to press in the attack with ambition and verve to keep Boyle and his balkline mates focused on its desire to hold onto the lead the rest of the way.
Perhaps the real difference maker for the Huskies was Mike Madsen, who would earn "man-of-the-match" honors from his coach as the senior played both sides of the ball with equal intensity in his tackling, ball winning and distribution.
Madsen gave his club the presence it needed in its most important victory this season.
"After we lost to Palatine (1-0) this past Monday, we just went back and worked as hard as we could to improve on some things," Madsen said. "And especially on our set-piece and dead ball opportunities. And today we were able to score on one of those with Ryan Fox and his long throw."
In the waning moments the Hawks created back-to-back free-kick chances in close.
But Janicki raced from his line to punch away attempts by Golotic, this second with 30 seconds left in regulation.
"There's not much to say but the team gave it all it could today and played as hard as it could," said Hoffman head coach Matt Sriver. "This year we lost 1-0 matches to Hersey and Wheeling, two of the best team in the MSL, and that says something about all of the guys."
Wheeling 3, Barrington 2: Leo Elizalde scored 2 goals and Joel DelToro had the other for the visiting Wildcats who improved to 14-4-2 and 8-3 in the MSL East.
Goalkeeper Ernesto Ballesteros made 5 saves for the Wildcats.
Schaumburg 5, BG 2: Josh Beard scored a hat trick for the Saxons while Erhan Caglayahn and Declan Gerhaghty had the other goals. Goalkeeper Ben Beard made 5 saves for the winners.
Mike Grassa and Josh Pirahmadi had assists for the Saxons.
Girls volleyball
Schaumburg d Barrington: Sarah McGinn (9 kills), Aylssa Saklak (4), Ellen Kostecki (3) and Emily Young (3) led the attack for Schaumburg (5-17, 4-5) in a 25-16, 25-13 triumph over Barrington (6-16, 4-5) in the MSL West.