Forward-thinking Fremd gaining momentum

Fremd's girls soccer team can now turn its attention to a strong finish in advance of the state tournament after Barrington clinched its fourth straight Mid-Suburban West crown Wednesday night.

And if the Vikings' effort in a 4-0 win over Prospect is predictive, it looks like Fremd coach Steve Keller's club will be ready to play come tournament time.

The Vikings (7-5-1, 6-2-0) dominated the first quarter-hour and were rewarded for its impressive start with 2 goals. They added another before intermission and one more in the second half to send the Knights (3-11-0) away with their eighth loss in nine conference matches.

"Our schedule this past two weeks will give us a chance to play some real quality teams and the opportunity to see how far we've come, and how much better we are since the beginning of the season," said Fremd senior Jessica Kopec, who leads her team with 21 points. " I really like how far we've come and where we're at heading into the most important time of the season.

"It's taken us awhile to get things sorted out, but right now we're looking more and more like a team that will be strong from here on out, and it showed tonight."

Keller has remained patient with this group, as health has been a hindrance to development at times.

"We have yet to have what I consider to be our true first-eleven together because of a variety of injuries, school functions and the usual things that occur, especially in the spring," he said. "But that has also given others a chance to step in and contribute, and of late we've been playing much better soccer, from front to back."

Keller's club looked on course from the opening whistle, as the Vikings' attack kept on flowing forward, mostly through Kopec and her running mate Kellie Halloran, with teammates Katie Zara and Missy Adrian the main benefactors.

"Kellie does a great job of holding the ball and creating for others," said Kopec, who is off to St. Louis University next fall to continue playing soccer.

The quick start was a tough sequence for Prospect.

"It was not a good start for us tonight," said Knights coach Tom Froats. "We gave Fremd way too much space and time, and against a team like that, and in this league, you're going to pay for that kind of play in the first 15 or so minutes."

Danielle Money scored just four minutes into the match, with Zara providing the helper. Nine minutes later, Adrian drove her header over keeper Paige Thiel after rising up to meet Halloran's inward swinging corner.

"When you fall behind like that and have to chase 2 goals right away, your confidence is immediately tested," said Froats, "and we struggled right up until the half, then gave up that late goal because of it to make it 3-0 at the break."

Just before junior Katie Murauskis drove her 20-yard attempt in at 36 minutes, the visitors began to get themselves back into the match, with the quartet of Amy Novak, Kathryn Szukalla, Martina Kowalczuk and Marika Maggos providing some energy.

Prospect began the second period just as brightly as it finished the first, but Zara ended the run with a superb strike at 45 minutes, when her left-footed angled blast rattled the back post before nestling into the back of the net.

"We talked at the half about coming out with more urgency and purpose, and I felt like we did, but we let up a little bit after that fourth goal, and that's where we really miss our leader in the middle, Andi Marfilius, whose out for the year, to help keep us going when we're down," said Froats.

Novak tested Kelsey Stone with a half-chance in the 49th minute, and later Ally Kobler nearly found Szukalla at the back post with her crossfield serve.

Prospect opens play at the Glenwood Titans tournament near Springfield on Friday against Maine South.

Fremd hosts Rockford Boylan on Thursday in its Naperville Invite finale before preparing for a date with division rival Conant on Wednesday.

Barrington 7, Rolling Meadows 0: The Fillies stayed unbeaten in the MSL with a shutout victory over the visiting Mustangs.

Schaumburg 4, Wheeling 0: Dana Kiszkowski scored twice, Brittany Reinhart had a pair of assists and Kennedy Irmen and Emma Aguilar had single goals to help lift the Saxons in MSL play.

Christina Kim and Sam Tyler combined to make 4 saves and earn the shutout, and Kim and Sam Minecci also provided assists.

Conant 4, Hoffman Estates 0: The Cougars scored twice in each half as Leah Celarek (twice), Sidney O'Keeffe and Emily Mazurek found the net with Mazurek, Miranda Glennon, Kaylin Feeley and Brittany Laskero generating assists.

Buffalo Grove 3, Palatine 2: The host Bison prevailed in Mid-Suburban League play as Sarah O'Connor scored twice, with assists from Sara Busse on one goal and from Georgette Topalis and Jessica Kovach on another.

Topalis later scored the game-winner for BG.

Palatine's goals both came in the second half, as Kellie Reynolds scored with an assist from Kacie Filian and Sarah Clancy scored on a penalty kick.

Hersey 3, Elk Grove 1: The Huskies maintained their lead in the MSL East by scoring 3 second-half goals after trailing 1-0 at the half.