Boys soccer: Prospect surprises Barrington
Victories have been difficult to come by for Prospect thus far. But on Saturday afternoon, the Knights stunned host Barrington to claim three points after its hard fought 1-0 victory.
Dimitriy Hutnyk would convert his spot-kick in the 72nd minute to send the Knights (3-7-0, 2-3-0) to their second win in three games in league play.
"(This) season, the MSL, with the exception of Palatine, the league is about as even as its been in quite awhile - meaning anyone can win on any night - so to come (in) here and get a win is great for our guys," said Knights coach Mike Andrews.
The Knights would start their week with a win over division rival Wheeling, before dropping a 2-0 contest at Fremd on Thursday.
"A win like this is a real boost to our confidence," said junior Hayden Hoelting, who along with Mikolaj Myszka provided the Knights with high energy and plenty of 50-50 ball wins in the middle of the park. Teammate Nathaniel Cremascoli kept the back line organized all afternoon at Barrington Community Stadium.
The Broncos came into this match on a mini-two game win streak, with a pair of shutout victories over Conant and Elk Grove to put them within striking distance of division leading Palatine - only to fall further behind the Pirates with this loss.
"We came out flat, and kind of stayed that way all throughout the game, and it cost us this one today," said Broncos senior Andy Sfondilis, who played a strong game at the outside-back spot for the home side.
Neither side would create a serious chance on goal during the opening period except for an attempt in the 21st minute when Magdiel Magdaleno, on the turn, fired wide of the Knights frame after Jack Ball sent his teammate into the box.
After the intermission, it was the visitors who would enjoy more of the play after an early chance from the Broncos' Philip Jackowski and Patrick Tabb.
With the aforementioned duo of Hoelting and Myszka disrupting traffic in the middle of the park, and their teammates Christian Bautista, Matthew Fouch, Carter Cremascoli and Hutnyk becoming more involved, the homeside was having its troubles getting out of its own end.
When Fouch was fouled just inside the box in his effort to bring down a looping ball from Myszka, the Knights were awarded a PK - in which Hutnyk buried to the left of Broncos keeper Charlie Field.
"It wasn't always pretty out there, but we played hard and with a lot of heart to earn this win today," said Nathaniel Cremascoli.
Next up for the Knights will be Hoffman Estates on Tuesday at home, while the Broncos (5-5-1, 3-3-0) are away at Buffalo Grove on the same night.