Fremd tops Prospect in regional final
Second-seeded Fremd asserted itself Saturday afternoon, and its regional final opponent Prospect couldn't weather the onslaught as the Mid-Suburban League champs rolled to a 4-1 victory in Palatine and advance into the Libertyville sectional.
Fremd will meet Highland Park, which ousted Lake Zurich 1-0 on Saturday, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
All-state candidate Spencer Filosa whipped in a spectacular goal to give the Vikings (17-2-2) the lead for good at 25 minutes. He later added a PK conversion to help finish off the Knights (12-7-2).
“It was kind of ugly soccer out there today, and not exactly a dazzling effort on our part, but the guys did what they had to do to win today, and for now that's the most important thing that we'll focus on until we get back to training on Monday,” said Fremd coach Steve Keller, who last brought a Fremd club this far in the fall of 2006 when the Vikings lost to Stevenson 2-1 in its sectional semifinal.
Strong winds were present for both sides to deal with, and in the first half the Knights had it at their backs and tried to make something of the powerful gusts.
It started promisingly enough for sixth-seeded Prospect and coach Kurt Trenkle, but the Knights found themselves trailing 2-1 by the break.
“We had hoped to come out and use the wind to get a goal or two in that first half, and I thought we did everything we setout to do, including winning three-quarters of the 50-50 balls, creating corners and knocking the ball around, and almost getting into the net if not for the post,” Trenkle said. “But an own goal and a world-class goal from Filosa put us behind at the break, and we began to dig ourselves a hole, one we just were not able to get out of in that second half.”
Brian Hindle initiated the own goal when his corner from the near flag was redirected off a Prospect defender to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead at 18 minutes.
Moments later, a Prospect shot found the post before bounding away.
Lorenzo Savino was the main architect on the Filosa strike, dancing his way free along the end line before getting free to send a dangerous ball into the 6-yard box, where a short clear from the Knights' backline saw the ball fall into the area and to Filosa, whose one-timer exploded into the upper right corner from 20 yards.
“That was an unfortunate own goal (for) Prospect, no doubt,” said Keller, “but Spencer stepped up to hit a brilliant shot to give us a 2-goal lead, which would be so important for us after they drew a little closer a few minutes later.”
Prospect's Brayhan Nunez struck a superb free kick around the Vikings' wall and past the outstretched gloves of keeper Scott Sutarik at 31 minutes.
“It was big for us to get those 2 goals into the wind, allowing us to go into the break up 2-1, then getting that early goal in the second-half, and with the wind at our backs now,” said Sutarik.
The Vikings struck swiftly just after intermission to put the Knights on their heels.
Hindle initiated the Vikings' third goal with an inward swinging serve from the near touch line. Savino burst through the box and coolly thumped his header past keeper Brad Reibel to give the MSL champs a firm grip on the proceedings with his team-leading 17th goal.
“We came out and were playing so fluid, and having the run of play, but with each goal, we (would) end up losing a little more of our composure, and stop doing the little things that were doing in the early stages of the game, and Fremd is just too good to do those types of things,” said Prospect standout senior David Spudic.
A hand ball inside the box allowed Filosa to finish his spot kick in the 64th minute and all but seal the deal for Fremd.
“The effort was there (today) but we've got to play a lot better if we want to continue playing in the postseason,” said Fremd's senior captain.
“I told the guys winning this regional is nice, but it's not the prize we are after, and we'd better get after it and play the way we can next Wednesday, against our next opponent.”