Kotsakis' goal carries Fremd over Lake Zurich

Maybe it wasn't the best-looking soccer for Fremd on Thursday night, but the Vikings managed to pull out a 1-0 victory over host Lake Zurich in a nonconference game.

Elise Kotsakis scored the game-winning goal for the Vikings (2-0), who earned their second straight shutout to begin the season while sending the Bears to defeat in their season opener.

"I thought this was ugly and not our best game," Fremd coach Steve Keller said. "It was sloppy and our first touch was very poor. We really didn't play our style that we wanted to, but we got the job done."

Fremd had opened the season with a 2-0 win over St. Charles East on Tuesday. The Vikings saw another competitive foe in Lake Zurich.

"(Lake Zurich) put a little pressure on us, more so than St. Charles East," Keller said. "I thought some girls' legs weren't there."

Fremd goalkeepers Shannon Norris (2 saves) and Allison Norenberg (1 save) split time in goal in earning the shutout.

"Our defense was very solid on individual defending," Keller said. "We did some team defending tactics out there. We still have some things to work on."

Fremd was led in the back by Danielle Romano, Jennifer Freeman, Jen Merlitti and Kristen Kupstys.

"We've got some things to work out in the back, but for the first two games we're doing pretty well," said Romano, a senior sweeper. "We switched formations. I played sweeper in the first half and then we played a flat four in the second half. I think the way I read the players has improved and I can play off them. (Lake Zurich) pressured us a lot up top."

Kotsakis scored her second goal in two games in the 30th minute.

"I had one defender in front of me and faked," Kotsakis said. "Then I made a move around another (Lake Zurich) player. I saw an open space in front of me and shot it into the upper-90 (corner). I really didn't know it would drop in."

Lake Zurich keeper Maggie Eisenhuth made 4 saves. But the Bears were missing the finishing touch around the net.

"We played as a team with some good combinations," Lake Zurich coach Meghan Kolze said. "But we need to work better in our offensive third.

"I thought the girls were anxious and excited coming out here to play. It was our first competitive game against a good team. Maybe it's natural to be nervous. We did take it to (Fremd) in the second half and won the 50/50 balls."

The Bears held their own defensively with defenders Stacey Sanders, Kate Arends, Brooke Sill and Alexandra Nasca.

"I think we can learn a lot from this game with communication," said Sanders, who moved to sweeper for the first time after playing stopper and in the midfield the last couple of years. "I thought our defense did pretty good out there."