Palatine pays dearly in victory over St. Viator
Palatine recorded a 1-0 victory Saturday morning in what proved to be a bittersweet victory in its annual nonconference match with long-time rival St. Viator.
Jacob Velinski struck the eventual game-winner at 49 minutes when he sliced inside the visitors' backline to thump a header past keeper Scott Faul off a Willie Filian assist to help lift the Pirates (3-0-0).
The outcome of the match, however, didn't mean much in light of its injury consequences. Palatine standout Matt Marturano suffered a broken leg midway through the first half in a collision with the Lions' Bill Krawzak near midfield in a 50-50 challenge.
Both players were carted off the pitch after a long delay, with Marturano scheduled to undergo surgery and Krawzak likely to need several stitches to repair a deep cut suffered just below his knee.
"It was really difficult for all of us to pick up and go out there and play after Matt went down," said Pirates captain Willie Filian, Jr., who fought back his tears as he spoke of his fallen mate who had already scored 4 goals and appeared well on his way to outshine his all-area campaign from a year ago. "That second half was all about playing for Matt, and guys like Stephan (Thabuteau) and Kosta (Risteski) came in and really stepped up in a big way to help us get this win today."
Risteski, who Filian said could be a starter for most teams if not for the presence of Marturano and Josh Clark, who was also out of the lineup with a foot injury. Still, Thabuteau, Jon Clark and Velinski were a thorn in the side of the Lions (0-2-0), who struggled on nearly every 50-50 ball in and around their box, and especially when Filian unloaded his trademark long throw missiles.
After the Marturano-Krawzak injury, Jose Quintero nearly finished on back-to-back Filian throws at the back post just before the break.
It appeared the home side had found the back of the net when Filian sent Thabuteau through near the spot, but the center official quickly erased the strike when he deemed that the Pirates' striker had jostled Faul just enough to force the Lions' keeper to lose control of the ball.
It was one-way traffic for the Pirates who would continue to have the run of play after the Velinski goal as they stayed organized along the back with sweeper Tim Conklin in control and not allowing the visitors any type of play through the middle or scoring opportunity.
Tyler Stanley had a go at Kyle Held at 56 minutes, but the Pirates' keeper, who had a smooth second half on his way to a third straight shutout, pulled the attempt out of the air.
During the first-half, Held needed all of his height and length to direct a Billy Hamilton up and over the goal just 10 minutes into the match. Later the senior keeper duplicated his heroics when Matt Morsches, on the turn, hit a sharply hit drive from in close.
That was be the best build-up in the Lions' attack.
"Not a whole lot to say about this (day) except we're not as good as we think we are, and we've got a lot of work ahead of us in preparation of four games in six days next week at the Glenbrook South tournament," said disappointed Lions coach Mike Taylor, who sat captains, Trevor Wheeler, Alan Aboona, and Brendan King for the last 20 minutes in an effort to shake up the club.
Palatine, meanwhile, did not enjoy a victory that came with such a steep price.
"I would gladly trade this win and a hundred others to have not seen Matt injured," said Palatine coach Willie Filian. "There was one of the top strikers in the area tracking back and fighting for a 50-50 ball in the middle of the park. That was the type of player he was.. and we are going to miss him out there."