Chicagoland Soccer

Vikings set up supersectional game with rival Barrington

By Mike Garofola

Fremd coach Steve Keller admitted that he and his staff were a little concerned after watching sectional final opponent Lake Forest defeat Glenbrook North.

The Scouts were a highly technical side that played with composure and quickness, which could result in almost any type of result that could end the Vikings’ season in a sectional title match.

However, two players the young Scouts (17-5-4) had to answer for themselves -- Elise Kotsakis and Alexis Tice -- proved to be too much for the NSC champs. The Scouts fell behind early and were never able to get themselves back even as the Vikings went on to a 3-1 victory and a spot in Tuesday night's Barrington supersectional, against MSL rival Barrington at 7 p.m.

Kotsakis struck for two more goals to give her an astounding 35 on the season, as the Vikings’ backline refused to concede anything; Tice, in front of Emily Basten, Kristin Abruscato and Jen Freeman, would be a nightmare for the Lake Forest faithful, which watched their club create just a few chances during the 80-minute final.

"It's really nice to hear that someone sees the value of a player like Alexis," began Keller, of his 4-year veteran.

"She certainly isn't flashy, but she totally disrupts everything in the middle, wins every single ball in the air or on the ground, and just runs forever, touchline-to-touchline, end-to-end, and makes life absolutely miserable for our opponents, who try to get something going for themselves in the midfield."

"Fremd just throws so much pressure at you and we just couldn't stop (Kotsakis) up top,” said Scouts head coach Ty Stuckslager. “We didn't have anyone who could match the physical presence and energy that their No. 18 (Tice) brought throughout the game."

Stuckslager deserves plenty of credit after turning a 7-game winner last year into a conference champion and sectional finalist, with 5 freshmen and 3 sophomores on his 2011 roster, many of whom he placed in his first-11, including the wonderfully talented rookie defender, Ginny McGowan.

"When we stayed after our game the other night to watch (Lake Forest) the first thing you notice is No. 9 (McGowan) and how smooth a player she is, on and off the ball, and how confident she plays out of the back as a freshman," said Keller.

"If I’m starting a team, she is the player who I want to build things around. And along with a few other (Scouts), we all came away thinking we had better come to play tonight if we want to advance."

The Vikings (17-3-3) did just that, flooding forward off the opening whistle. Kotsakis struck the all-important first goal of the game at 6 minutes, when she won a ball away from a Scouts defender, turned her mark inside-out, and then fired in a left-footer past keeper Liz Clark, who was unable to react quick enough to turn away the Kotsakis' cracker, which stung the gloves of the sophomore.

Basten served up a wonderful ball over the top moments later, which Clark saved point-blank on Kotsakis. One of Fremd’s few mistakes of the postseason resulted in the Scouts drawing even at 18 minutes, when the Vikings allowed Sheila Murphy enough time to turn a strike on frame and at Shannon Norris. Norris made the initial save, but the rebound went to an opportunistic Catherine Taut, who slotted easily.

"We didn't do well in our end to allow so much time and space on the first shot, but I really liked the way that we responded to (that) goal, and it really says a lot about the way the girls are going about their business in the playoffs," offered Keller.

Two minutes after the Taut goal, Michelle Mottonen's corner from the far flag found its way into the back of the net, perhaps with the strong run of Kotsakis near the 6-yard box clouding the vision of the Scouts’ young keeper. But Clark would have no chance at 36 minutes when Kotsakis put an exclamation point to the Vikings’ scoring line.

It all began with a enterprising run up the left side by Jessa Rizzo, who had far too much pace for a pair of tiring Scouts on the outside. When the Fremd sophomore reached the endline, her wonderfully aimed serve found Kotsakis for the easy goal.

"One of the good things we saw tonight was the extra effort from players such as Jessa, and (Kira) Heggeland, and the strong work off the bench from Caroline Wagner, and junior Rebecca Freeman," said Keller. "We received so much production from Rizzo up and down the outside tonight, and her play was a key factor in breaking down Lake Forest.”

The sectional champs defended well for long periods, and by all accounts allowed just two actual shots at Norris, who enjoyed a relatively easy night.

"That's what we're asked to do, is to defend," said Basten, who on the outside has been superb of late as a ball-winner and tackler, while joining the attack and sending her share of quality serves over the top, along with Abruscato.

"We all know if we do our job in the back, that eventually Elise is going to get in and score for us, so our job is pretty clear. The three of us work hard to do it well."

Another deadly freekick from Mottonen gave Tice a rare chance to finish in the 70th minute at the back post, but the Fremd captain isn't paid to finish. She went wide, which brought a wry smile from the superb midfielder.

"Elise and Alexis are great friends, and a pretty funny pair together, but I can tell you when its time to play that's when you see the best come out of those two,” Keller said. “In fact, along with Abruscato, that trio has provided the will and conviction to win during this run of ours, and it begins when we start to warm up, and continues until the final whistle.”

All three, along with Basten, Norris and Jen Freeman were on the roster that finished second to Hinsdale Central at the 2009 state finals.