Palatine powers past Fremd for Kinsella Cup win

Morgan Radtke and Carolyn Soukup combined with a stout Palatine defense to help the Pirates sink host Fremd to win the annual crosstown soccer match between rival girls soccer programs 2-0 on Monday.

The Pirates' win means Palatine has won the coveted Kinsella Cup for the second time in the last three seasons.

Radtke stunned the Vikings with a brilliant bending corner kick just two minutes before the break.

Then, moments after intermission, Pirates freshman striker Soukup finished what teammate Michelle Raymond started to double the Pirates' advantage.

"This is a game we all look forward to playing, because we all know each other. So to come away with a win is easily one of the highlights of the year," said Raymond, a senior captain who two years ago was part of a 1-0 triumph that ended a Fremd run that last from 1999 to 2011.

"I am happy for the girls, and our program tonight," said Palatine coach Willie Filian. "It's always great to get a win in the MSL and against one of our long-time rivals, but it was nice to see us come out with a lot of energy and to continue that way until the last 12 or so minutes when Fremd threw numbers forward and put us under pressue a little bit right to the end."

A big crowd greeted these two storied programs. Of the 38 players competing, 26 have come through the Celtic Soccer Club, which was founded by Jimmy Kinsella in 1968.

Over 1,500 boys and girls are in the program currently, and six of its youth teams participated in short-sided games at intermission - much to the delight of the friends, families and fans who were out in force despite the threat of rain.

A sense of urgency was evident from the outset as Palatine (5-3-1, 2-2-1) came out swinging, with Soukup and her running mate up top Kellie Reynolds helping put the Vikings (3-4-1, 2-3-0) under pressure early on while the Pirates' midfielders tackled aggressively.

"We had no energy at all in that first half, and all we did was react, and not anticipate, until the last 15 minutes of the game," said Fremd coach Steve Keller.

A well paced free kick out of the back from Radtke nearly put Reynolds in on keeper Surina Lewandowski in the eighth minute. Another from the dead-ball artist flew to the back post, but the Pirates weren't in position to finish.

"Morgan hits a great dead-ball, but we've got to be more aggressive and show a little fearlessness to finish some of those, because that could be the difference in winning and losing," Filian said.

Erin Mayer initiated a perfect counter from midfield, Soukup and Gina Falato turned into a corner. Radtke's inward swinging corner found the far inside netting to send the visitors into the break with the lead.

Soukup struck quickly, with Raymond providing the helper. Then the match was turned over to the Pirates' backline of Radtke, Allison Rzepka, Carly Iacullo and Tori Jackson in front of keeper Rachel Rhodes.

With a quarter-hour left, the Vikings came alive.

Keller push his freshman center-back Julia Leonard in front of his backline, and together with Morgan Beschta, Katie Zara, and Jessica Kopec in the middle along with the frontline duo of Mary-Kate Schiffer and Karolina Cholewa, the Vikings' attack suddenly was electric.

Both Beschta and Schiffer had a go at Rhodes, who on Schiffer's snap shot at 75 minutes needed full extension to her left to turn around the well-aimed strike.

Kopec got in close, only to have Radtke block the shot of the junior, who had an open net available to her in the 76th minute.

"When our midfield had a little bit of a letdown toward the end, Fremd had the run of play," said Filian. "But our backline did a very good job to help keep us clean, and for that matter, they did all night long."

"If we play like we did in the last 15 minutes, we could have had a chance to win tonight, and for that matter, most of our games of the season," said Keller. "But we obviously have to come out and play 80 minutes of soccer at a high level in order to compete. It's just that simple."

Hersey 2, Hoffman Estates 0: The host Huskies remained perfect in Mid-Suburban League play and improved to 12-4 overall as Lauren Gierman scored and assisted on a goal by Annie Korff, both in the first half.

Morgan Harris made 4 saves to earn a shutout.

Buffalo Grove 8, Wheeling 0: Hannah Cole scored four times to help the Bison (15-0) remain unbeaten with an MSL victory.

Prospect 2, Elk Grove 0: Second-half goals from Kim Welk, assisted by Rose Pettenuzzo and Emily Novak, helped the Knights to an MSL victory as Knights keeper Meghan Rickett and defenders Elena Cukurs, Pettenuzzo, Jenny Novak and Danielle Hamzeloo shared in a shutout.

Conant 2, Schaumburg 1: The Cougars made first-half goals from Sidney O'Keefe and Bianca Madonia hold up for an MSL West victory. Drew Wentzel and Emily Mazurek provided assists for Conant (5-1-1), and Haley Anderson made 5 saves.