Boys soccer: Hersey blanks Conant to win first MSL Cup in 16 years
Two stunning first half goals off long throws from Nate Mabry helped Hersey claim its first league championship since 2008 with a 2-0 victory in Arlington Heights Thursday night over visiting Conant at Roland Goins Stadium.
Mabry's trademark throw, which can sail over 50 yards with plenty of pace, opened the scoring in the eighth minute when the ball was redirected just into the far inside netting.
Then moments before the intermission, an unmarked Kacper Lechowicz was the first to yet another throw from Mabry at the back post to double the Huskies’ advantage.
From there, the energetic, hard-working Huskies (12-3-5) managed their lead to perfection — holding two-time all-state forward Krystian Niziolek to just a few looks on frame before lifting the big trophy, much to the delight of a home side faithful.
"Conant is such a great team with a great player in (Niziolek) who we had a great deal of respect for, and someone we focused on keeping his chances to a minimum while not allowing him to create much for his teammates as well," said Huskies coach Mike Rusniak.
This league title is the fifth in program history, and first for Rusniak, now in his seventh year in charge.
"I am really proud of these guys, and especially thrilled for our seniors who are great leaders, who have been doing everything they can to help keep our focus squarely on reaching one of their goals for the season, and that's being MSL champion."
This 49th annual MSL Soccer Cup saw Conant (10-8-2) reach its first final since 2002 thanks in part to a magnificent late season run in which Jason Franco's club went undefeated in division play to earn the top spot in the MSL West.
"It was great to finally get to the (Cup). But we ran into an opponent that has such a high work rate, defends really well as a team, and disrupts nearly everything that it can to slow your attack," said Franco.
"We did some good things tonight, but we just did not have enough quality in the final third. Credit Hersey for doing a great job on Krystian tonight."
The MSL West Player of the Year came into this contest with 21 goals. But it was Mabry who would be the more dangerous player in the park on this wonderful fall weather night.
"Nate is a weapon all by himself," said Lechowicz.
"We did a good job of creating several deep throws tonight, and we made a couple of them count for us," added Mabry.
The Hersey senior was the 2023 state gymnastics all-around champion last May at Hoffman Estates High School.
The Cougars would put plenty of pressure on their hosts when the ball was on the foot of senior Ibuki Takahashi, who ran the show for the visitors, as well as Eric Plaza, who provided a handful of terrific freekicks to force keeper Adrian Smakowski into action.
The Huskies would lean on Johnny Antoniou, Ray Reyes, Nick Van De Mark and Lechowicz for their attack on the night. But it was senior Urik Contla who received plenty of praise for his work all throughout against the aforementioned Niziolek.
"Urik just came back from an injury to play a great game against one of the best players around," said Mabry.
Next up for the Huskies will be their regional opener at Barrington next Tuesday night against division rival Buffalo Grove.
Conant will face Addison Trail on that same night at its own regional.