Schaumburg nets big 2-0 win over Fremd
At the outset of the 2010 girls soccer season, the talk among many of the coaches in the Mid-Suburban League was to watch out for Schaumburg this spring.
Defending champion Fremd saw up close Monday night what the coaches meant.
The host Saxons (6-1-2, 2-1-0) put themselves into the thick of the MSL West Division race with a dominating performance en route to a 2-0 victory - the Vikings' first loss on the season.
"The best thing about this victory tonight is that every player who was there tonight made a contribution, whether they were out there for five-six ... or 30 minutes - and that made it truly a team win," said Saxons coach Greg Chavrat.
Senior Jackie Larocco stun the Vikings in the fith minute, and later Rachael Kahan iced the match with a sensational strike to help the Saxons gain 2 points and get closer to divison leaders Barrington and Conant (8 points each), and Fremd (5-1-0, 3-1-0) with 6 points.
On Wednesday, the Vikings host Barrington, the only undefeated club in the West.
"We had to win tonight, it was that simple," Chavrat said.
From the very beginning, the Saxons won almost every 50-50 ball, tackle and second ball that was up for grabs, especially in the middle where sophomore Teagan Eberle helped make a statement.
"We all knew how important was tonight, and on our home turf it's all about speed of play and what we could do out there, and with confidence," Eberle said.
The Vikings paid for their slow start early when Saxons strikers Sarah Christy and Larocco had far too much pace and energy.
Larocco finished at the back post a cross sent low through the box by Stephanie Pouse.
"We never showed any energy, passion or sense of urgency out there tonight and just didn't look like a team that I know that we have, and for that, you've got to give (Schaumburg) all the credit because they beat us in every phase of the game," said Fremd coach Steve Keller.
Pouse, a 2009 Daily Herald All-Area defender, was superb throughout the match, marking Vikings top scorer Elise Kotsakis brilliantly.
"After losing to Conant (2-0) last week, we couldn't afford another loss in the division if we hope to have a chance, and (that) loss was a great motivator for all of us," said Pouse, who went forward on several occasions knowing freshman Amanda Kelly and sophomore Alison Schmalz were steady all night along the backline.
The Vikings had a goal erased at 23 minutes when Saxons keeper Brooke Schocker was squashed in her attempt to pull a Michelle Mottonen corner out of the air. Later the sophomore keeper responded well to save a shot in close from Jessa Rizzo at 48 minutes.
Vikings keeper Allison Norenberg went airborne to punch away a well-struck ball from Schmalz, But the senior goalie had no chance on the long-range blast from Kahan that nestled into the back of the net just under the bar.