Hersey moves closer to MSL Cup berth
Hersey (10-3-5, 6-1-2) moved a step closer to its third consecutive Mid-Suburban League Soccer Cup appearance following its 1-1 draw with Fremd on Monday night in Palatine.
The Huskies can book their place in the May 12 championship match with a win over Wheeling on Wednesday. They'll face the winner of Wednesday's MSL West showdown between Barrington and host Schaumburg.
"One more point," is what senior Kathryn Korff would say after the two sides played 100 minutes as each club scored in the early stages in what would eventually become a hard-fought match.
Neither side could find a way to solve the tough defenses, led by two of the best backline stars in the area, Korff, and Fremd senior Danielle Romano.
"I thought both sides played pretty flat, and without too much emotion in that first half," Korff said, "but we've built a very good defense, in which everyone on this team understands (their) role, and I thought tonight we were able to continue playing very good defense from front to back."
The all-area senior struck for the opening goal just inside the quarter-hour mark when her long-range freekick missile hit the woodwork and continued over the endline.
Fremd (10-3-1, 5-2-2) leading scorer Elise Kotsakis brought her club back even with the help of teammate Crystal Rohan, and after that, the race was on to see which side could solve the others defensive fort.
The Vikings' Kathleen Holmberg did a superb job on the Huskies most dangerous player in Maeva Waterman, while Korff and on occasion, Olivia Stastiuk, would do the same against the junior Kotsakis.
"We've been a little up and down of late, and tonight we didn't really create too many chances, and when we did, everything was (right) at the (Hersey) keeper," said Kotsakis.
Hersey head coach Brad Abel would admit afterward that the home-side had the better run of play after intermission. With Alexis Tice, in particular, winning nearly every ball in the air in the center of the park, it was mostly a one-sided second half for the Vikings, who would possess in and around the edge of the box - but would fail to test keeper Julia Fredian with anything serious.
"It's almost as if we didn't want to score," said a half-serious Fremd coach Steve Keller.
It was all Fremd in the first 10-minute extra period, and although both clubs kept up the energy over the 20 additional minutes, this match was destined to end even.
"We played really well (defensively) in that second-half, and we had to, because Fremd was winning every 50-50 ball, and just seemed to be in our end for most of the 40 minutes," Abel said.
Elk Grove 4, Hoffman Estates 0: Michelle Calmeyn scored twice and had an assist, and Kelli Hubly and Jill Zelek also found the back of the net as host Elk Grove rolled to victory. Nicole Ricci earned shutout for the Grens.
Barrington 3, Rolling Meadows 0: Emily Hyde had a goal and an assist, and Sarah Fox and Molly Pfeiffer also scored second-half goals as host Barrington (19-2-1) shut down Rolling Meadows. Liz Burzynski made 4 saves and earned the shutout.
Prospect 3, Buffalo Grove 1: The visiting Knights scored twice in the first half, with goals by Lexi Glennon and Jessie Petrovsky, and managed to stay ahead of host Buffalo Grove in the second half.
Susie Lello supplied a second-half goal for the Knights, and Carolynn Wieland tallied for BG. Prospect goalkeeper Megan McCabe finished with 11 saves.
Schaumburg 5, Wheeling 1: Kelsey Steenstrup came up with 2 goals and an assist, Sarah Christy, Teagan Eberle and Ariel LaRocco also scored and Stephanie Pouse had 2 assists to help the visiting Saxons to victory.