Boys soccer: Marino's goal puts Schaumburg over Prospect
Nick Marino's 53rd minute goal was enough to help Schaumburg's boys soccer team spoil Senior Night, 1-0, for host Prospect in Mt. Prospect on Thursday evening.
Marino helped the Saxons (3-6-2, 3-4-0) earn all three points at George Gattas Memorial Stadium where the Knights (4-4-2, 2-4-2) lost for the first time this fall.
"This was a very good win by the team," admitted Saxons' head coach Eric Sorby.
"When we play games close, we're always right there at the end, so I knew when we went into the half at 0-0, there was a very good chance we would come away with the result we came here to get."
Both Sorby and his coaching counterpart, Mike Andrews, agreed the home side enjoyed most of the play during the first half-hour, until things slowly evened out as the first period drew closer to an end.
"We did a lot of things really well during that first half, but in the end, when you squander dead-ball and set pieces chances, and great opportunities to score, you don't deserve to win," admitted Andrews, who started all 11 seniors who were honored on this warm fall night.
Patrick Limanowka had his effort cleared out of the area by Sam Bogner in the 6th minute.
Michael Kaczowska's angled close-range shot was saved by keeper Nick Labud, and Joe Boduch went close in the 27th minute after Jacob Keil and Declan Flanagan created one of a handful of meaningful chances for the Knights, who just were not sharp enough in the final third.
"It took us a while to get off of our back foot in that first half, but our back line, led by (Sam) Bogner, and our ability to win 50-50 balls, and defending well as a team helped turn things around for us after the break." said Sorby.
"We worked hard as a team, and our energy after our halftime talk with coach was so much better in the second half," added co-captain and three-year starter Jared Schoo, who was a key figure in the middle of the park along with Edwin Zuniga, Phil Hassman, and others.
A terrific early ball from Luis Vazquez-Flores from just on the other side of the midline put Marino and Szymon Mocarski in a head-on collision course for the 50-50 ball but the Saxons' leading scorer beat the Knights' keeper to the ball by a half-second.
Marino's slight touch was just enough pace to send the game-winner into the back of the net from 18 yards.
The Saxons' captain would injure his knee on the play and would not return, but his teammates picked up the slack in his absence, particularly in their own end when they continually frustrated advances from the home side.
Just before the Marino goal, Kaczowka was put through, and in on Labud, but his attempt went well over the bar.
In the 80th minute, with the Knights throwing numbers forward in an effort to equalize, Chris Rubio rattled the near post with his 12-yard blast to dash the hopes of the home side for good.
"When we play the way we did tonight in that second half, I truly believe we can play with anyone, so that's what we'll look to do from here on out," said Sorby.
The Saxons have Geneva at home this Saturday, while Prospect is on the road at Niles West.