Chicagoland Soccer

Knights' dead-ball chances bury BG early

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO GALLERY COURTESY OF ANDY SCHNEPF

By Mike Garofola

To say that Kurt Trenkle, and seniors Brad Reibel and Alex Schnepf were surprised by the Knights’ set-piece success Thursday night against Buffalo Grove would be a gross understatement.

The trio was still shocked minutes after the Knights put three into the back of the net against their MSL East rival, to help blow open what would be the biggest match of the season for the division leaders.

The Bison and first-year head coach Rick Carlson also couldn't believe what was happening to a club looking to earn itself 3 points in the MSL table, and wrestle the top spot away from their guests.

“While it's true we were missing two of our starters along the backline for this match, that's certainly no excuse for the way we defended those dead-balls,” Carlson said. “In fact, that is clearly one of the most disappointing things I've seen in a season which has been a real upbeat year so far for Buffalo Grove soccer.”

The Knights (8-0-2, 3-0-1-10 points) gave themselves a little extra breathing room in the division after their decisive 3-0 victory, using three strikes in the first quarter hour to stun the home-side.

"Soccer can be kind of a crazy game," began Knights head coach Trenkle.

"The other night against Hersey, we dominated the entire match but came away with a 1-1 draw. Tonight Buffalo Grove totally has the run of play, especially in the first half, and yet we beat them 3-0.

"They are a very talented team, with some great individual players, and we've struggled all season long in our set-piece and dead-ball opportunities.”

Buffalo Grove came into the match still reeling from its late loss to Schaumburg, knowing a victory over Prospect could lift them back into the conference race, and quickly erase its bitter defeat (2-1) to the Saxons, who lead all 12 clubs in the MSL table with 15 points overall.

"It certainly hasn't been for a lack of effort because the guys have really been working and playing hard, but tonight, to give up three goals like we did…" said Carlson, whose voice trailed off before finishing his statement.

"Absolutely amazing," was how the Knights’ Reibel would respond when asked what it looked like to him standing between the sticks while his mates began pouring in one goal after another.

It began with Matthew Burikas, who was allowed in alone at the back post to smash in a header, after Schnepf's bending corner serve went just beyond the grasp of Bison keeper Nick Landsberger, who would have no chance to stop the Burikas goal or the two that would follow.

"The thing about Burikas is that he wins every ball, whether in training or during matches, so I’m not surprised that he scored when Andy put that great ball to him at the back post," said Reibel, who now has 8 clean-sheets this season, and a program record 16 after Thursday night.

The disaster continued for the Bison (5-2-3, 2-2-0-6 points) who would watch Bill Cooney come through unmarked to finish another superb Schnepf corner, doubling the Knights’ lead at 15 minutes.

Less than 60 seconds later there was more trouble for the Bison defense when a first-class free-kick serve by Ihor Lehkiv found the head of Stefano Dolomas, whose deft touch redirected his shot past Landsberger. The Bison keeper was already going one way in anticipation of Lehkiv's initial serve and was unable to put the brakes on quick enough to go the other way to turn around the Dolomas goal.

"We came out so flat tonight, but to get one goal off a set piece, let alone three in one half can really turn things around for both teams," offered the senior Schnepf, who turned in a solid 80 minutes of soccer along the outside.

Schnepf defended the flank with strong play while providing quality service to Cooney and his running mate up top, Richard Lenke, who together were a constant danger when the Knights countered.

The Knights really never had an answer for the Bison’s midfield trio of Irving and Alberto Eloyza, and Markus Fiordaliso, or Joey Madio and Eric Quintana, whom Carlson would bring on from time-to-time to add energy with fresh legs.

Trenkle, Reibel and Schnepf all appreciated the effort their backline gave, especially in the second half.

"Those guys you mentioned have so much talent, especially no. 8 (Irving Eloyza) and we really couldn't slow them down much,” Trenkle said. “But in the second half, I thought the guys in the back finally settled down, and weren't so panicked as they were in the first half, and kept most of (Buffalo Grove’s) chances from 25 yards out."

"We all had to play more defensively to help guard our lead, but the defense did really well packing it in during the second half,” Schnepf said. “As a group, they were much more organized.”

The Bison were able to generate countless chances in the area and around the box whenever captain Alex Masciopinto stepped up to unleash what had to be at least a dozen long-range flip throws at Reibel and his backline mates. But only a few of those long throws made life miserable for the all-star keeper, much to the angst of BG's Carlson.

"The thing that really bothered both me and Dan Edminster (assistant coach) was we never put a body on their keeper, we never let him know he would be challenged on all of those long throws or balls sent in,” Carlson said. “We made it much too easy for him back there tonight."

The Bison did, however, create a few chances along the way, as they kept the pressure on after the break, watching a goal disallowed by an offside flag at 41 minutes and then a missed opportunity on a PK by Masciopinto, whose fierce drive struck the woodwork.

As the home-side continued to unlock the Knights' stoic backline, and make a game of it, both Cooney and Lenke came close to adding to Prospect’s lead, but were stopped by some heroics from Landsberger and by a few bad touches when in a one-vee-one situations with the 3-year starter Bison starter.

Cooney put Lenke through at 58 minutes, but with the help of a strong challenge off the line by Landsberger, the senior steered his attempt at the open goal around the post to keep it a three-goal match.

Later on, Lenke again was set free by Cooney, only this time Bison defender Eric Kotlyar tackled the super-quick Lenke and made it easier for Landsberger to save.

"Buffalo Grove was very good in the central midfield but our defense got better as the game went on, especially against Burikas and Conor O'Leary," began Reibel.

"This was a big game for us to win, but there's a lot of soccer still ahead of us."