Boys soccer: Fremd continues its surge, shuts out Conant
After a less than dazzling start to the season, Fremd is drawing closer to a MSL East Division title.
The Vikings used another double from Adam Kowalski and some terrific work from keeper Logan Rolloff to secure a hard-fought 3-0 victory Thursday night over host Conant at Charles Feutz Stadium in Hoffman Estates.
The three points gives the Vikings 19 and a 6-1-1 record in league play, four points clear of idle Hersey, and now seven more than Conant who falls to 7-5-2 overall, and 4-3-2 in the division.
"We played very well for the first 30-35 minutes, had most of the play, possession, while creating some quality chances. (But) that goal just before the half was a tough one to concede," admitted Conant coach Jason Franco.
"(When) we went into the half, I still felt like we could get back level, but we kind of lost our way when they scored two more on us."
The home side opened play in the division 0-2-1, but got themselves back in the race with four consecutive shutout victories before this loss.
"We've been coming out really strong during our last four or five games. We even scored in the first minute the other night when we beat Palatine," said Vikings center-back Stefan Smolak.
"But Adam's goal gave us some life heading into the break, and Logan helped keep us in the game with a couple of really good saves."
The Cougars did well in its possession, passing, and ability to cycle the ball from touchline-to-touchline, thanks in part to Shamus Devine and Alex Szynalik in the middle of the park.
When it appeared this contest would go into the intermission 0-0, Kowalski would finish a long pass out of the back from Smolak in the 37th minute.
"I'm just glad I was able to get that ball to Adam. He did the rest afterwards," said Smolak.
Rolloff made a brave point-blank save against Ben Schaefers in the 48th minute, and moments later senior Rei Kanda steered in his free kick attempt just inside the near post to double Fremd’s (8-5-2) advantage.
Smolak and his backline mates would do well in their challenges in the final quarter-hour, as did the Vikings midfield to insure the first shutout of the season for the club.
"We were not as sharp as we've been recently, but it was a good win nonetheless with Logan doing a great job (not) only in the saves he made, but with the way he would command his box," said Fremd coach Steve Keller.
"Adam (Kowalski) has been on a tear of late, 10 goals in our last four games, and we're doing the little things much better than we did earlier in the season."
The Vikings have both Elk Grove and Hersey up next, while the Cougars face MSL East leading Schaumburg on Saturday, then Palatine and Elk Grove next week.