Boys soccer: Stellar effort sends Fremd to Elite Eight
Fremd's boys soccer team stayed on course in the postseason, lifting the sectional championship trophy Friday night at John Davis Stadium in Glenview after defeating Warren 4-1 to advance into next Tuesday's Class 3A supersectional at Barrington against St. Patrick.
The Vikings (15-1-4) earned their first sectional title since 2014 when they escaped the first 25 minutes of constant pressure by a valiant Blue Devils club that did everything it could but find its way past keeper Joey Gillespie during that time, only to concede 2 goals from Eli Schoffstall before the break.
"I thought the boys came out and played some great soccer, dominating the first 30-35 minutes, but that second goal was the one that was a tough one to give up because it changed the course of the game from there on out," said Warren coach Jason Ahonen.
"(Yes), Warren totally outplayed us in the first half, "admitted Vikings coach Steve Keller. "They came out with a lot of energy and were able to move the ball around on us as if we were standing still. We were fortunate to get that first one, and Eli's second goal helped give us the momentum we needed coming out of the break."
Max Floriani, Luke Schoenbrunn, Josh Seguraand Ishaan Shah, among others, were responsible for the Blue Devils' magnificent start on a wintry night at Glenbrook South as the quartet played terrific combination soccer in compact and close spaces or when going wide, which the Mid-Suburban League champions had little answer for.
Despite keeping the Vikings from holding the ball for just a few precious moments, the Blue Devils found themselves chasing one goal when the aforementioned Schoffstall was set free out of the back.
The sophomore shed his mark long enough to chip Nicholas Diana, who came far off his line in hopes of ending the charge of the Vikings' forward.
Schoffstall would double the advantage two minutes from the intermission when his glancing header found its way into the back of the net, much to the ire of the Blue Devils, who were looking for a foul inside the box.
"Eli's first goal helped slow Warren, which totally was outplaying us at the time, but his second seemed to turn the game in our favor after the half," said Fremd's Josh Bennett, who was dangerous nearly each and every time the ball was on his foot in the second half.
The Fremd senior thumped his close-range blast past Diana, who had no chance after Bennett's teammates, Russell Beaupre and John Kating, did the preliminary work to help set up the Vikings' third goal at 45 minutes.
Play would slow to a halt just before the hour when the referee would book four players, three from the Vikings, but after this long stoppage of play, the Vikings' pressure on the ball and ability to win 50-50 and second balls more than the Blue Devils began to take its toll.
Bennett made it 4-0 in the 71st minute, before Warren senior Clayton Mobile ended the shutout hopes of Gillespie, who was between the sticks for starter Artur Cholewa, who was injured during the Vikings' win in kicks on Tuesday over Libertyville.
"We were thrilled to be playing this late into the season, and that's why the guys are upset and frustrated with this result," said Ahonen. "Credit Fremd and best of luck to them with St. Pat's next Tuesday."
"Warren is a very good team, and one that made us do things we didn't want to do but we persevered and got through a rough first half. But we have a lot of things to clean up and work on before St. Patrick (23-2-3) on Tuesday," Keller said.