Prospect works OT to slip past Conant
Prospect tuned up for its Mid-Suburban League Cup appearance next week by treating a big homecoming crowd to a 2-1 victory in OT over Conant on a cold, rainy night in Mount Prospect.
Sophomore Patryk Ruta struck the game-winner at 87 minutes to give the hosts their narrow win against a Cougars (12-2-4, 9-2-0) team which galliantly played a man down for nearly 62 minutes after keeper Stefan Hyde was sent off for a hand ball.
"We expected to be in for a tough match tonight with (Conant) and the sloppy conditions, along with how hard (they) played after going a man down made it very difficult for us to get going tonight," said Ruta, who leads the MSL East champs with 12 goals heading into their championship match against Palatine next Thursday.
The attacking trio of Ruta, Mike Stankiewicz and Sam Slusher did indeed struggle to find its pace on a Knights pitch which took on far too much rain over the last 24 hours. That helped contain the bulk of the action to the middle of the pitch.
"We were kind of forcing things, especially after Conant lost a man, but during the break we told the guys to play simple and to try and get some shots on frame to open things up," said Knights coach Kurt Trenkle.
Hyde ventured far off his line to clear an oncoming ball, which was deemed a clear hand ball on the part of Hyde by the referee.
"We thought at worst Stefan could have been given a yellow card, but the referee said he was the last man and he (had) knocked the ball down with his hand," said Conant coach Jason Franco.
Cougars keeper Bobby Potratz had no chance when Stankiewicz bent his free kick around the wall on the right side and just inside the back post.
The visitors appeared to be even more resilient after going down by a goal, and with one less player on, the Cougars stepped it up after intermission to create a few chances of their own both before and after Shivam Patel drew the Cougars even at 68 minutes.
Patel attempted to chip Jim Brault with an angled shot at 55 minutes, but the Knights' keeper turned it away with a glove save. Patel was able to score, though, on a carom of a shot taken by Stefan Zaharinov.
The Knights (12-3-3, 8-2-1) traveled several times into the Cougars' end during the first 10-minute OT period, nearly finding the back of the net when Slusher ended up with the ball after Brayhan Nunez and Ruta initiated a well-timed counter.
"I was happy with the way we picked things up right from the start (of OT), which helped us get a win on a big night for all of the players and the team," said Trenkle.
Ruta found the far inside right corner to end the match when Francisco Nunez sent the Knights' striker through with a nifty ball off the outside of his right foot.
"I am really proud of the way we played through some adversity tonight," said Franco, "and despite dropping our second match in a row, I know we'll regroup and be ready for when the state tournament begins."