Fremd edges Barrington
Barrington and Fremd are two of the best girls soccer clubs in the Mid-Suburban League.
On Wednesday night, Fremd was just this much better than the Fillies.
Laura Mayer and teammate Allison Norenberg each had an eventful night. Mayer struck for a pair of spectacular goals, and Norenberg was superb in goal to help the Vikings record a suspense-filled 3-2 victory that went right down to the final moments before a big youth league crowd in Barrington.
The Vikings (8-1-0, 6-1-0, 12 points), who host Lincoln-Way East tonight in the Naperville Inite, took over the top spot in the MSL West Division.
"Barrington is our biggest rival, and all of us knew that a win tonight could determine a division title and a place in the MSL Cup later on in the season," said Mayer, whose remarkable shot from a free-kick at 10 minutes jump-started the Vikings.
"For 65 minutes, it might have been our best effort as a team that we've seen all season," said Vikings coach Steve Keller. "However, those last 15 minutes are not the way to finish and close out an opponent when you're up 3-1."
The two sides tested each other for the lion's share of the opening minutes, until Mayer unloaded a swerving right-footed blast from 25 yards that found the back of the net just inside the far post.
The Fillies (9-2-1, 5-1-0, 10 points) were unable to answer, as the Vikings' midfield controlled the run of play with deft tackling and ball winning while using quick touches and sharp passing to find Mayer, Elise Kotsakis and Crytstal Rohan.
"Tonight was the first time this season that our players in the middle would take control the way we've been asking them to do," Keller said, who received solid efforts from Kaitlyn Kinsella and Nicole Leginski were key figures at that position.
Despite their dominance, the Vikings needed Norenberg to make several goal-saving stops to help them keep the lead. The junior came far off her line to stuff an attempt by Lauren Decraene, who raced onto a ball over the top from Emily Hyde.
Just before intermission, Mayer made it 2-0 when she finished a zig-zag run with a wicked drive off the woodwork for a goal.
"Those 2 goals from Mayer were fantastic, and their keeper made a big save in the first half, and a couple of others in the second half and that was the difference for (Fremd) tonight," said Fillies coach Ryan Stengren.
The Vikings hit straight out after the break looking to extend their lead, but the Fillies scored when Emmelie Hirdes finished an Amy Johnson pass at 67 minutes.
About eight minutes before, Norenberg pulled a potential goal out of the air with a full-extension save on a ball hammered in close by Mary Kubuik.
Later in the half, Norenberg turned a Johnson free kick harmlessly around the post 70 minutes.
Kinsella went up and over Fillies keeper Kelly Pedersen at 75 minutes to give the Vikings a 3-1 lead, but the last five minutes featured a frantic Fillies rally.
Kubiuk scored a highlight-film goal in the 79th minute, but the Vikings held on for the victory.
Hersey 2, Schaumburg 1: Hersey rallied to win the MSL crossover on second-half goals by Kristen Gierman and Megan Boyle. Sarah Christy scored for Schaumburg.
Prospect 3, Palatine 0: Rachel Lenke had a goal and an assist, Julie Schmoldt and Jessie Petrovski scored and Bridget McDermott had 5 saves for Prospect (6-3, 4-3) in the MSL crossover.
Elk Grove 1, Buffalo Grove 0: Jessie Hubly had a first-half goal and Nicole Ricci stopped 5 shots for Elk Grove in the MSL crossover.
Conant 2, Wheeling 1: Lauren Jason and Courtney Raetzman scored for Conant and Valerie Lelle scored for Wheeling in the MSL crossover.
Meadows 1, Hoffman 1: Ann Marie Lynch scored for Rolling Meadows and Kara Hartel connected for Hoffman Estates in the double-overtime MSL crossover.
St. Viator 5, Marist 0: Lauren Cozzi, Meghan McGrath and Katelyn Hammarlund each had a goal and an assist for St. Viator (6-3-2) in the East Suburban Catholic Conference win.