Fremd tops Elk Grove for MSL Cup
Elk Grove's dream of winning its first major trophy was erased Thursday night as Fremd handled the host Grens 3-1 before a big crowd at the 34th edition of the Mid-Suburban League's Soccer Cup.
The MSL West Division champion Vikings (15-2-2) lifted their sixth overall trophy in their 11th appearance in league championship match, and the first in a superb career of coach Steve Keller, who last brought his side here in 2006 when Hersey won the first of three straight in OT.
“This may not be one of the most talented teams that I've had at Fremd, but it's a team that always finds a way to get a win, and that says a lot about this group of players this season, said Keller, now in his 13th year at Fremd. “Before this season began, I thought by having a core group of players back, and in their third year together, and with a solid keeper in (Scott) Sutarik with our club this fall, that we had a chance to have a pretty good year.
“It never crossed my mind that we would be in this match and actually winning a conference title, but I am very happy for the players and our program and its accomplishment tonight.
The match began with a surprise in the Elk Grove lineup when coach Joe Bush welcomed back Frankie Ortiz in net after the senior missed nearly 8 full matches with a shoulder separation.
The arrival of the Grens' starting keeper may have inspired the hosts in the early stages. Elk Grove played splendid soccer for the first half-hour of the night, creating several dangerous chances against Sutarik while putting plenty of pressure on the Vikings midfielders.
“We really weren't very organized in the middle in that first half, and (the Grens) stacked their numbers in the back to make it nearly impossible for us to do much of anything in our attack at the same time, said Vikings junior midfielder Brian Hindle.
“Elk Grove had a terrific game in place, and worked it to perfection in that first half, said Keller, “and even after we went up 1-0 after the break, they still were knocking the ball around and really making us work for everything that we got.
The MSL East champs fashioned wonderful soccer during its first-ever chance in a starring role on the big stage, with several of its main characters taking turns stepping forward. The sophomore duo of Carlos Cisneros and Justin Gavros was effective from the middle, and two of the Grens' captains, Nick Jordan and Ernesto Rodriguez, showed their leadership on both sides of the ball.
Super sub Cesar Rodriguez came on at 18 minutes and nearly made a major imprint on the match five minutes later, but a tackle by Jake Nedza on a retreating mission cleared what looked like a scoring chance.
The Rodriguez duo was at it again just after the half-hour mark, with each having a go from in close. If not for a save by Sutarik at 35 minutes and a Cesar Rodriguez header sprayed just wide in the 40th minute, the Grens might have taken a lead into the break.
“We got ourselves into the final third a lot in that first half, and for that matter in the second half, but we (just) had to find a way to finish (and) we didn't, said Cesar Rodriguez.
Bush had been hounding his players all week about the importance of cutting down on corners and dead-ball opportunities, and both scenarios ended up hurting Elk Grove.
On the fourth corner of the second half, the Vikings struck when their big senior out of the back, Alex Prelipceanu, flashed a powerful header past a diving Ortiz, who just moments before had made a sensational acrobatic save on a Jeremy Kosacz shot.
“Coach Keller had been on me all week during training about my far post runs, and on (this) one I just looped around and met a great corner serve from Hindle, Prelipceanu said.
The match finally opened up after that goal. With the visitors looking to double their lead and the hosts searching to get the equalizer, the speed of play increased two-fold.
Prelipceanu, Alex Bochat and freshmen Eric Leonard helped spur Fremd's effort, while their counterparts, Matt and Mike Ginter and senior three-year standout and tri-captain Rafal Borys did the same for Elk Grove.
The Vikings took advantage of their opponent's desire to push forward, and at 67 minutes, Matt Burkhardt brilliantly sent Lorenzo Savino through. The team's leading scorer was ready and converted his 12th goal of the year.
“The thing about Elk Grove which impressed me was the fact that they didn't give up when we went up 2-0, and just kept coming at us right until the end of the match, said Keller.
Cesar Rodriguez scored a superb goal when he tricked his way free and scored at 76 minutes, but an alert Savino put a dagger in the Grens' hopes when he alertly chipped the Grens' Trevor Cwiok, who was brought on to serve as another attacker in the closing moments of regulation.
“I brought our team together after the match and told everyone that we weren't outplayed tonight, and that there is no shame in losing to a program and opponent such as Fremd, said Jordan.