Shootouts suit Prospect
It was more penalty kick joy for Prospect late Tuesday night.
The Knights fell behind by 2 goals to Mid-Suburban East rival Buffalo Grove, which was inspired by a disappointing early season loss to the conference champs and the opportunity to send the No. 2 Knights (20-0-2) home much earlier than it would have liked in the postseason.
It seemed impossible at the time, after Markus Fiordaliso stunned the Knights with his goal at nine minutes to put the the No. 6 Bison (13-5-6) ahead and they were playing vibrant, superb soccer.
But there was a moment later when Prospect came to life as the dynamic duo of Bill Cooney and Richard Lenke brought their side back even — setting up more heroics from keeper Brad Reibel.
The MSL East Player-of-the-Year saved two spots, the second coming in sudden death of a shoot-out, to give the Knights a 4-3 advantage, and 3-2 victory in a marathon match which was unable to settled after 120 minutes of regulation, on a stormy night at the Palatine Class 3A sectional semifinals.
Next up for the Knights will be No. 4 Fremd, which shocked No. 1 Libertyville 2-1 in the first match of the night, in Friday’s 6 p.m. final.
“There’s a real never-say-die attitude with this team, and you really saw (it) tonight,” said Reibel, after the senior guessed right to save Alberto Eloisa’s seventh-round effort to begin a wild celebration by a big contingent of fans which braved a one-hour lightning delay, and nearly four-hour match.
“Obviously we knew that (Buffalo Grove) was going to come at us tonight, especially after we beat them 3-0 the first time. For the most part, they outplayed us for most of regulation, until Bill and Richard, got us back even, much the way they’ve been doing (it) all year long for us.”
BG took a 2-0 lead on Alex Masciopinto’s brilliant finish on a Eric Quintana corner at four minutes. Fiordaliso followed with a nifty header the other way from the left side to put the Knights on their heels before 10 minutes had been played.
BG coach Rick Carlson knew it would be difficult to manage the lead, despite the fact that his team was playing magnificent soccer on both sides of the ball.
“We couldn’t have had a better start, and to come out, and establish the lead on a pair of dead-ball opportunities, showed (Prospect) our intent to go at them 100 percent tonight,” said Carlson.
The Bison appeared to be doing its best work along the back at slowing the high-octane attack of the Knights. Matt Bloom, Eric Kotlyar and Kiril Likhovid were a steady influence on matters in front of keeper Nick Landsberger, who himself, was near-flawless in what would be his final match in a Bison shirt.
At 35 minutes, the Thor Guard system signaled that lightning was in the area, and for the next hour or so, players and fans alike waited out the delay, until the all-clear was finally recorded, sending both sides back on the pitch to complete the first half.
Just after intermission, Cooney unloaded a guided missile just inside the near post for his 22nd goal of the season, and suddenly, the Knights faithful knew their heroes were determined to mount a comeback.
It wouldn’t come until just after the hour mark, when Cooney roared up the left side, and after a clever stop-and-go, the all-state striker cut back inside — before finding Lenke on the right side — who steered in the equalizer with a perfect one-timer.
“There’s a reason Prospect is undefeated, and still alive in the playoffs, and those two guys up top, and their keeper are the reasons,” said Carlson.
Once in the first 10-minute extra session, Likhovid’s tackle on an unmarked Stephano Dolomas stopped a close-range shot at BG’s open net. But except for the Bison’ sensational midifelder, Irving Eloiza’s near 1-on-1 with Reibel in the 101st minute - each side was beginning to wear down, making the overall play less than sharp, and a bit chippy all throughout the extra 40 minutes of time.
In the first five rounds of shoot-out, both sides converted 3 into the back of the net, with Reibel stopping one of the two missed chances by the Bison.
Tied at 3-3, after the sixth round, Matt Wruskyj thumped his spot-kick in with ease — setting the stage for Reibel.
“I guessed to my right, and reached back with my glove, and got almost all of his shot,” Reibel said. “ In PK’s, sometimes you have to be a little lucky.”
New Trier 1, Leyden 0: Lightning did strike but unfortunately for Leyden it caused the Evanston 3A sectional semifinal to be called with 28:48 to play at Murney Lazier Field.
New Trier advanced to Saturday’s 6 p.m. sectional final against Maine East, a 5-4 winner over Glenbrook South on a hat trick by Rami Dajani and 2 goals by Michal Walaszek.