Boys soccer: Barrington nabs MSL West win over Fremd
On the brink of closing out the rest of its rivals in the Mid-Suburban West, Fremd's boys soccer team found itself on the short end of a 1-0 result Tuesday night at Barrington Community Stadium.
The host Broncos were the deserved winners over the top club in the league according to Vikings head coach Steve Keller, who watched his team lose for the first time in five games, after conceding their first goal in league play.
Credit Barrington. They outplayed us, and we did not show up to play, and that combination led to this loss," said Keller.
After their strong effort last Saturday during a 5-0 victory over crosstown rival Palatine to move 7 points clear of both Barrington and Hoffman Estates, the Vikings (8-4-1, 6-1-1) could have put one foot into the MSL Soccer Cup in two weeks by earning 3 points Tuesday.
However, coach Scott Steib's club had other ideas, and when Junior Hernandez buried his 19th minute attempt in sensational style, it gave the home side enough confidence to move them closer to the top.
"Fremd was, and is the team to beat in the West but nonetheless, this was a very good win for us over a very good team," said a proud Steib, Barrington's head coach.
"We didn't create a lot of chances, but then again, most teams don't, but Junior scored just a great goal for us, and after that, it was our effort and work rate that carried us through."
Hernandez, one of five sophomores in the Broncos' (10-5-2, 5-0-3) lineup, brought down a ball from out of the back by CJ Steib, managed to keep it under control, before unloading an unstoppable angled blast from the right side to give the home side a goal it would defend with all its might for the next 61 minutes.
Cal Uhryniak was strong between the sticks for the Broncos, taking command of his box by turning around deep throws, corners and free kicks with confidence while Michael Horak, who was deployed just in front of the Broncos' back line, proved to be the consummate ball winner all night long.
"Michael was terrific out there for us. He won a lot of first and second balls, and was really good in the air as well," said Steib.
The Vikings' faithful thought for sure they equalized three minutes from time when Jake Schoffstall redirected a well-aimed Kaelan Conway free kick.
However, the assistant referee noticed long before the cheering began that Schoffstall was in an offside position when Conway initiated his attempt, thus erasing the 77th minute goal.
"It was a disappointing effort from our side tonight, we didn't use this big, wide field to good use instead we dribbled too much, and didn't attack, play quick and possess as we have of late," said Keller.
"We'll have to regroup in a hurry if we expect to compete with Wheeling on Thursday."
While Fremd hosts the Wildcats, Barrington will go on the road to Elk Grove on that same night.