Schaumburg nets MSL Cup appearance
A sensational opening goal from Jake Savino helped fuel another strong 80-minute performance from Schaumburg, which impressively brushed aside gritty Rolling Meadows 4-2 to earn a spot in the Mid-Suburban League Cup final for the first time since 1995.
The MSL West champs will host Prospect next Thursday at 7 p.m. in the 35th MSL Cup.
“It is never easy to win a conference championship, let alone a division title in a soccer conference which is so competitive night after night,” said Schaumburg coach Hamid Mehreioskouei, who was a sophomore striker on the ’95 club when the Saxons defeated Wheeling 2-1 in OT to win their first league crown. “I told the boys when we brought everyone together after we clinched that they should be proud of their division title, because they don’t come along that often.”
The hosts never looked like they would surrender their advantage following Savino’s wonderous side-volley smash at nine minutes as they controlled the run of play leading up to a pair of quick strikes from Savino and Joey Faleni in a span of three minutes to put the visiting Mustangs (4-9-1, 2-7-1) on their heels up until intermission.
Meadows, though, fought back to score twice and forced the Saxons to play hard up to the final whistle.
“Rolling Meadows was a very dangerous club when they were going forward tonight, and like every other side in the MSL, they cannot be lightly taken — or you’re going to be in trouble,” said Mehreioskoei, whose team improved to 11-3-1 overall and 9-1-0 in the MSL. That’s quite a turnaround after a 6-14-0 result last season.
“We’ve had some pretty good runs in the state playoffs during the past couple of years, but we’ve really struggled in (league) play during that same time,” said Faleni, a captain. “Bbut everyone has worked hard to improve their own individual game, and it has really paid off for us this season.”
“It feels great to know that we’ll be playing for the conference championship next week against Prospect, and we’re all looking forward to playing that game,” said Savino, who has the team lead with 9 goals. “But there’s a lot of soccer still ahead of us, and right now our only focus is on Prospect.”
Mehreioskouei and his assistant and long-time friend Brad Stevens said Savino’s first goal easily made their goal-of-the-year lists after he chested a ball sent in from Drew Simon and fired his one-timer past keeper Kevin Murphy.
The Saxons set a template for the entire contest by dominating possession at midfield, which made things difficult for a young, and inexperienced Mustangs club which at times had a trio of freshmen on the pitch against a senior-dominated opponent.
“There were times when we played very well tonight, but (Schaumburg), with the way they win balls and play so hard, make it very difficult for you to get anything going, especially when they dominate in the middle,” said Meadows coach Peter Mikulak.
Savino and Simon combined once again to double the Saxons’ lead at 25 minutes. Faleni made it 3-0 when the visitors lost track of the senior midfielder, who finished with a nice helper from Alan Santana.
The Mustangs cut into the Saxons’ lead and ended the hopes of a shutout for Ben Beard when Josh Galvin, pushed up top from his customary spot at sweeper, slotted past Beard after a Miguel San Roman free kick started it all.
John Franco pulled back the Galvin goal when he found the far inside netting from a near impossible angle in the 65th minute. But Mikulak’s club didn’t give in, scoring a late goal from Noe Zarate on a bit of nifty work from Galvin and freshman Arthur Giedrojc, who helped initiate the visitors’ second goal at 70 minutes.
“It not only was great to clinch our title on senior night, but is was terrific to get everyone into the match, including several seniors who have worked so hard and have committed to the program and their teammates all throughout their careers here,” said Mehreiouskouei.