Boys soccer: MSL's showcase a big success at Celtic Park

Big crowds and terrific weather proved the perfect combination for the first ever Mid-Suburban League boys soccer college showcase at Celtic Park in Palatine on Friday.

With a handful of college coaches on hand for this inaugural event, the twelve clubs of the MSL put on quite a show for the soccer faithful who were able to soak up plenty of terrific high school soccer as the league opened up the 2016 campaign with a twist.

"This was an amazing night, and one I wish we could have every Friday night," said Fremd coach Steve Keller, who despite watching his squad fall 5-1 to Rolling Meadows in the final match of the night remained upbeat about this night. "To be able to get a half-dozen or so college coaches out for this first-time event, which will help give several of our players in the conference exposure, and to have a great crowd, which if they came out from the very beginning would have seen six 80-minute games, is a wonderful thing for our sport and conference."

"We're excited to have been able to put together a soccer event like this, and at a nice venue like Celtic Park," said Buffalo Grove athletic director Kip North, who was on hand along with his counterpart at Wheeling, Neal Weiner. "And like any other first-time event, we'll take a look at how we can improve it for next year, and what other creative ideas we can come up with to make it even better next fall."

On the pitch, perhaps the most impressive club on the day might have been Hersey, which dominated Prospect with 2 goals on either side of the half en route to a 4-0 victory.

The most exciting match was the Conant-Wheeling contest, in the second doubleheader. After both sides traded goals in the first half, the two clubs exploded for 6 goals after the break, four of which came in the final ten minutes.

After Jose Mariscal unloaded a guided free-kick missile into the back of the net to give the Wildcats a 3-1 advantage, the Cougars roared back with wonderful strikes from Nico Scimeca and Jason Fillingim to equalize - only to see Konrad Malinowski fire into two close-range blasts to close out Jason Franco's club.

"It was an exciting game, especially in the second half," said Franco. "But the toughest thing about this loss (is) it counts in the standings, and we missed out on a chance of getting at least one point if we drew."

In other matches, Barrington and Palatine recorded 3-0 results, the Broncos using a 34 minute PK conversion from Klaus Pallan to inspire their defeat of Buffalo Grove, while the Pirates scored 3 goals after the break to top Hoffman Estates.

Rolling Meadows erupted for 5 goals, two from Sergio Lucero Herrera, in a 5-1 decision against Fremd, and Elk Grove beat reigning MSL champion Schaumburg 3-1 in the final match of this day.