Girls soccer: Fremd takes regional title over Prospect

No. 3 seed Fremd left a strong impression of its all-around ability Friday night at Hildebrandt Field in Palatine after a 2-0 victory over Prospect gave the Vikings the championship trophy of their own girls soccer regional.

Christy Murauskis and Ashley Sceniak were on target in the first half, while the Vikings (13-4-3) collectively defended the Knights for 80 minutes to secure a spot in Tuesday's Class 3A Buffalo Grove sectional semifinal against Warren (13-8-3), which defeated Libertyville on Friday 1-0.

"We came out with a lot more energy and desire than the first time we played Prospect and we had to because it was obvious they are a much better team now," said Murauskis, whose goal in the 29th minute would be the eventual game-winner.

It was clear Fremd had more purpose in its desire to pressure its guests with corners, deep throws, and a midfield loaded with extra players in its 3-5-2 formation.

"We knew that No. 15 (Ashley Welk) was the person they would look to find as often as they could and with them playing just one up top, we felt comfortable enough to go with five in the middle and it worked very well but not well enough because (Welk) was a force in their attack all night long," said Fremd coach Steve Keller.

Welk would not matter in the first 20 minutes, not because she was not able to but more of what the Vikings did.

Fremd would record the first of its eight first half corners in the 4th minute when Rose Kentish and Caeleigh Stone teamed up, then it was Kentish who had the early chance from a Scesniak helper in which Prospect keeper Annie Ninness stopped point blank.

Welk nearly put Ella Marzolf in with a near perfect early ball, before the senior tested Jennifer Norris from 20 yards.

Murauskis hit the opener when the Vikings would not allow the Knights (12-10-5) out of their own end but it was the nonstop running and pressure from Spotak that led to Scesniak's goal two minutes before the break.

The senior kept the visitors from clearing easily out from the near flag and when an attempt to play the ball back was intercepted by Spotak, she immediately whipped a superb ball to the back post where Scesniak one-timed past a helpless Ninness.

Prospect, despite now chasing two goals, never gave up after the intermission and if it wasn't for Welk and her wizardry on the ball, or terrific work by Kristin Schneider, and backs Ashley Erickson and Madalyn Ladd, it was the supreme effort of Tina Suto in the middle of the park that kept the hopes alive for coach Tom Froats' club.

"The effort and work rate from the girls tonight was 110 percent but what you saw from Fremd was a stout defense and a team that took advantage of a couple of errors to find the back of the net, Froats said. "This loss is especially tough because I have just a tremendous group of seniors who have led the way, both on the field, and in the classroom and that will be something difficult to replace."

"Our goal has always been to get to state, but right now, we're playing it one at a time," Spotak said.