One-vee-one battles hurting Saxons
By Dan Santaromita

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Standout Buffalo Grove midfielder Irving Eloiza was out of Tuesday’s match against Schaumburg with an injury so the Bison needed someone to step up. Alberto Eloyza did that and then some.

The senior scored a pair of skillful goals in the span of two minutes to turn around an early deficit against the visiting Saxons. BG’s 2-1 win keeps them atop the Mid Suburban League East.

Kristian Pawlikowski was put through the Bison defense and chipped keeper Dillon Eaton (5 saves) in the fifth minute to give Schaumburg (3-5-3, 3-4-1 MSL) a flying start. Pawlikowski and Collin Walther both had multiple chances early, but Buffalo Grove (10-3, 5-2) regrouped later in the half.

Then, the Eloyza show began in the 32nd minute. He used some fancy footwork to create some room to shoot at the edge of the box and beat Marty Faleni (6 saves) for the equalizer.

Two minutes later Irving Balboa hit Eloyza with a crafty short free kick just inside the corner flag. Eloyza used a shot fake inside the box to get by the defender and fire the eventual game-winner. It looked like a designed play, but it was just the two club teammates being opportunistic.

“We just make it up on our way,” Eloyza said. “That’s the thing about soccer, you can just make it up as you do it, it’s free. You don’t have to do a set play or anything.

“We both have a good chemistry. I signaled to him that no one is next to me and he just saw me and gave me a good ball.”

After a sluggish start and missing a key playmaker in Eloiza, the big plays from Eloyza were exactly what BG needed.

“He was a difference maker in that ten minute span when he scored those two goals,” BG coach Rick Carlson said. “He took charge of the game like he should. He’s that kind of player.”

Down a goal at half, Schaumburg pushed forward and had most of the chances in the second 40 minutes. The best of those chances came off a long throw from Carlos Sarasti just after the hour mark. Eaton charged for the ball and didn’t get to it, leaving Kacper Wasilewski with an open net. Wasilewski’s uncontested header hit the football crossbar over the goal and the Bison’s lead remained.

The Saxons have struggled to put together a full 80 minutes this season. Coach Hamid Mehreioskouei pointed out that his team has had more possession than its opponent in most games, but has just three wins in 11 matches.

“I think tactically we’re playing well,” Mehreioskouei said. “We’re getting in the right spots, but we need some individual performances. You put the ball on a guy’s foot in front of the goal, but he’s got to put it in. You can get a guy defensively in the right position, but eventually he’s got to play 1v1 defense. Right now we’re breaking down in our 1v1 battles on offense and defense.”

The Bison earned a penalty kick with 97 seconds remaining off a counter while the Saxons had a lot of bodies forward. Demo Drakoulis got to a loose ball before Faleni 40 yards from goal and his ensuing shot was stopped by a defender’s arm in the box. Faleni made amends and stopped Balboa’s attempt to his right.

BG’s upcoming matches include a trip to Prospect and the all-important match up with East co-leader Hersey on back-to-back days. The Bison hope to have Eloiza back in action for those big matches. Carlson said he hasn’t practiced in several days,

“We’ve played every game together since last year and it just feels a little weird not having my partner in there,” Eloyza said. “He’s a big part of the midfield and he’s a big part of our offense, especially.

“It’s a big week and big rivals for us. Prospect beat us last year. In sectionals they got us out so it’s a big game for us.”

The Saxons won’t be defending their MSL West title, but with five games left they are hoping to get the ship righted to make a run in the postseason.

“Now we transition into preparing for state playoffs,” Mehreioskouei said. “We’ll just see how we can get better and put 80 minutes together to try and get a W.”