Fate favors Palatine in latest Kinsella Cup matchup

Perhaps Palatine seniors Matthew Mayer and Liam Obernesser said it best, with their shared observation: "It's all about the Cup."

The Kinsella Cup, that is, the annual soccer matchup between Palatine and Fremd.

Johan Ballasco put Palatine (8-3-2, 5-3-1) ahead in the fourth minute with a first-time effort from a long throw by Obernesser, and the Pirates made that goal hold up in a 1-0 victory in the 20th annual Kinsella Cup in front a big afternoon crowd at Fremd's Hale Hildebrandt Field.

"We've played with a lot of guys from Fremd at our Celtic Club here in Palatine, so this makes this game a really big one each year," said Obernesser. "So to win and bring the Cup back home is a big deal for all of us."

Mayer and Obernesser seemed to be all around the ball on this wind-blown night before the final whistle gave the visitors their fifth shutout of the season.

A roaring north wind became the Pirates' biggest ally when they won the coin toss, giving Palatine a distinct advantage in the first period.

It quickly paid a dividend.

"We knew it would be a game of two halves, so it was important to use the wind to create plenty of deep throws and dead-ball opportunities, which we did less than five minutes into the game," said Mayer.

On his fourth long throw from inside the 18, Obernesser found the 6-yard box. When Fremd failed to clear the area, an opportunistic Ballasco found the back of the net at the near post.

"We knew exactly what was coming on a night like this," said Luke Schoffstall, who last year was a key figure in the Vikings' 3-2 OT victory against the Pirates, its 12th win in the series. "Once (Palatine) won the toss, we expected them to do everything they could to generate as many long throws as they could, and it was one letdown on our part that led to the game-winner."

Obernesser launched at least one dozen throws into the box toward keeper Michael Kramer during the opening 40 minutes, with the Vikings' defensive group absorbing the pressure from the constant barrage.

The Pirates' captain found Ballasco along the near touchline with one of his shorter throws. Ballasco, on the turn, unloaded a well-paced one-timer to force a save by Kramer, which was no easy task considering the windy conditions.

"We actually felt very good about things after going into the break down just 1-0, but there wasn't enough fight in us to generate a lot of quality chances in the second half, " said Fremd coach Steve Keller.

Schoffstall had the best opportunity to equalize when he curled a nasty strike toward the upper left corner in the 60th minute - only to have his rising shot just miss grazing the far post.

Keller played three up top, putting Rohan Menon, James Lefevre and Schoffstall together for the final 10 minutes. But except for an on-target cracker from Lefevre three minutes before time, Fremd (5-10-1, 3-4-1) didn't threaten.

"It's a nice win for us, and one that is very important for our players, who understand the history and importance of this long-time rivalry, and wanted to bring the Kinsella Cup back home to our place for the next year," said Pirates coach Willie Filian.

Palatine, which has won 8 times in the series, hosts Leyden (8-4-1) in a nonconference match at noon Saturday.