Fremd offense turns it on vs. Lake Forest
Vikings post season-high 5 goals in regional win over Lake Forest
By Rusty Silber
PALATINE -- One thing about Fremd, when it comes to the postseason, they seem to be at their best. The Vikings’ record during the regular season doesn't really show how they step up their game to another level year after year in the playoffs.
The hosts found their form and produced their highest scoring output of the season in a 5-1 win over Lake Forest on Saturday afternoon.
"That's our goal and that's what we strive to do," Fremd coach Steve Keller said. "We used the season to figure out things the things that worked best with this group. As long as they go out there and perform -- playing to their potential -- anything can happen."
Fourteeth-seeded Fremd hosted the quarterfinal game of the Lake Forest Regional because it had a better seed than the Scouts (18th seed).
Shintaro Hidaka and Anthony Tambellini each had a goal and two assists to lead the victorious Vikings. Max Clark, Ryan Cox and Michael LaBarge each added goals.
Fremd's issue of scoring goals has been a problem throughout the season. The Vikings previous scoring output was three goals established in a shutout win over Benet in the Best of the West tournament in August, and a 3-1 win over Elk Grove in an MSL cross-over Oc. 11. Previously, the team had been held shut out or held to one goal 14 times.
"In terms of putting balls in the back of the net, we haven't been able to do that this season," Keller said. "I think the guys were ready to play, and I think we're playing a little bit better. We're coming into form a little bit, settling down and playing with a little more purpose in the final third creating some good chances."
The Vikings improved their record to 8-9-3 and set up a meeting with third-seeded Wheeling (15-2-3) in the regional semifinal at 5:30 p.m. next Wednesday in Lake Forest. The Wildcats, ranked 12th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, are rested after a 3-2 double overtime upset win over no. 3 Barrington, in the Mid-Suburban League Soccer Bowl on Oct. 13.
Fremd might have some ideas how they could spur a better performance a second time around against their league foe. The Vikings lost 2-0 to Wheeling in the MSL and regular season finale for both teams Oct. 8. That win clinched the Mid-Suburban League East Division title for the Wildcats.
"Obviously, we're the underdog, and that's a good thing," Keller said. "We've got nothing to lose. We’re definitely gonna have to contain their attack. Put one in on them and hopefully hang on from there. It's our strategy going in."
On Saturday, Hidaka’s work to get the Vikings started earned him Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors.
"I just find ways to contribute to the team and score," said Hidaka, who plays in the midfield and works up-top on the attack.
Fremd tallied three goals in a six-minute span in its four-score first half. The Vikings goal explosion came with a gusty wind at their backs.
Hidaka started off the scoring in the 18th minute by taking a service from Tambellini and finishing with a volley.
"I was making a run to the inside," Hidaka said. "The ball was able to find me, and I was able to tap it in."
In a matter of four minutes, Hidaka was around the ball again and set up the second goal on a corner-kick. An unmarked Clark finished in the middle of the box for a 2-0 lead.
LeBarge tallied another Fremd goal in the 24th minute off Tambellini's pass, and Cox made it 4-0 in the 39th minute with a rebound goal.
Tambellini added his own goal in the second half. He converted after a pass from Hidaka in the 58th minute and put the Vikings up 5-0.
Fremd moved Clark from the forward or midfielder position to defense recently. The move’s added more strength on the backline. And springing the junior’s speed and ability from the back to the offense has made a difference.
"I do like playing the outside-back, because it's like being the outside-mid," said Clark, who collected his first goal of the season. "I'm able to get forward and help out with the attack."
Clark sees a change with the team and believes that the Vikings have more to offer in the postseason.
"Everyone is taking the games more seriously than we used too," Clark said. "We used to mess around in huddles and mess around in the first couple minutes of the game. Now we're taking things seriously. I think we're now more of the surprise team."
Lake Forest (3-14-2) scored its only goal in the 73rd minute. It came after a trip in the penalty area, Carlos Von Borcke stepped up and easily converted the penalty-kick.
The Scouts tried to put together a winning game plan against Fremd, but things didn’t work out.
"We knew that (Fremd) was going to play direct," Lake Forest coach Rob Parry said. "We thought we could defend the long ball better than we did, but we were ball watching the first couple of goals. Once (Fremd) got the first two our energy just went down.
“We just didn't do the little things. … It was just some individual errors."
Starting lineups
Lake Forest
GK-John Walsh
D-Joey Williams
D-Quinn McGowan
D-Christian McCauley
D-Toby Frost
D-Daniel Hanson
MF-Jake Danneker
MF-Austin Pinderski
MF-Jake Page
F-Taddeo Galli
F-Landon Edwards
Fremd
GK-Joe Plizga
D-Max Clark
D-Yuma Yamamoto
D-Ben Cuthbert
D-Bobby Burke
MF-Shintaro Hidaka
MF-Max Meyer
MF-Dalton Rogers
F-Michael LaBarge
F-Vania Martin
F-James Lefevre
Man of the Match: Shintaro Hidaka, MF, Fremd
Vikings post season-high 5 goals in regional win over Lake Forest
By Rusty Silber
PALATINE -- One thing about Fremd, when it comes to the postseason, they seem to be at their best. The Vikings’ record during the regular season doesn't really show how they step up their game to another level year after year in the playoffs.
The hosts found their form and produced their highest scoring output of the season in a 5-1 win over Lake Forest on Saturday afternoon.
"That's our goal and that's what we strive to do," Fremd coach Steve Keller said. "We used the season to figure out things the things that worked best with this group. As long as they go out there and perform -- playing to their potential -- anything can happen."
Fourteeth-seeded Fremd hosted the quarterfinal game of the Lake Forest Regional because it had a better seed than the Scouts (18th seed).
Shintaro Hidaka and Anthony Tambellini each had a goal and two assists to lead the victorious Vikings. Max Clark, Ryan Cox and Michael LaBarge each added goals.
Fremd's issue of scoring goals has been a problem throughout the season. The Vikings previous scoring output was three goals established in a shutout win over Benet in the Best of the West tournament in August, and a 3-1 win over Elk Grove in an MSL cross-over Oc. 11. Previously, the team had been held shut out or held to one goal 14 times.
"In terms of putting balls in the back of the net, we haven't been able to do that this season," Keller said. "I think the guys were ready to play, and I think we're playing a little bit better. We're coming into form a little bit, settling down and playing with a little more purpose in the final third creating some good chances."
The Vikings improved their record to 8-9-3 and set up a meeting with third-seeded Wheeling (15-2-3) in the regional semifinal at 5:30 p.m. next Wednesday in Lake Forest. The Wildcats, ranked 12th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, are rested after a 3-2 double overtime upset win over no. 3 Barrington, in the Mid-Suburban League Soccer Bowl on Oct. 13.
Fremd might have some ideas how they could spur a better performance a second time around against their league foe. The Vikings lost 2-0 to Wheeling in the MSL and regular season finale for both teams Oct. 8. That win clinched the Mid-Suburban League East Division title for the Wildcats.
"Obviously, we're the underdog, and that's a good thing," Keller said. "We've got nothing to lose. We’re definitely gonna have to contain their attack. Put one in on them and hopefully hang on from there. It's our strategy going in."
On Saturday, Hidaka’s work to get the Vikings started earned him Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors.
"I just find ways to contribute to the team and score," said Hidaka, who plays in the midfield and works up-top on the attack.
Fremd tallied three goals in a six-minute span in its four-score first half. The Vikings goal explosion came with a gusty wind at their backs.
Hidaka started off the scoring in the 18th minute by taking a service from Tambellini and finishing with a volley.
"I was making a run to the inside," Hidaka said. "The ball was able to find me, and I was able to tap it in."
In a matter of four minutes, Hidaka was around the ball again and set up the second goal on a corner-kick. An unmarked Clark finished in the middle of the box for a 2-0 lead.
LeBarge tallied another Fremd goal in the 24th minute off Tambellini's pass, and Cox made it 4-0 in the 39th minute with a rebound goal.
Tambellini added his own goal in the second half. He converted after a pass from Hidaka in the 58th minute and put the Vikings up 5-0.
Fremd moved Clark from the forward or midfielder position to defense recently. The move’s added more strength on the backline. And springing the junior’s speed and ability from the back to the offense has made a difference.
"I do like playing the outside-back, because it's like being the outside-mid," said Clark, who collected his first goal of the season. "I'm able to get forward and help out with the attack."
Clark sees a change with the team and believes that the Vikings have more to offer in the postseason.
"Everyone is taking the games more seriously than we used too," Clark said. "We used to mess around in huddles and mess around in the first couple minutes of the game. Now we're taking things seriously. I think we're now more of the surprise team."
Lake Forest (3-14-2) scored its only goal in the 73rd minute. It came after a trip in the penalty area, Carlos Von Borcke stepped up and easily converted the penalty-kick.
The Scouts tried to put together a winning game plan against Fremd, but things didn’t work out.
"We knew that (Fremd) was going to play direct," Lake Forest coach Rob Parry said. "We thought we could defend the long ball better than we did, but we were ball watching the first couple of goals. Once (Fremd) got the first two our energy just went down.
“We just didn't do the little things. … It was just some individual errors."
Starting lineups
Lake Forest
GK-John Walsh
D-Joey Williams
D-Quinn McGowan
D-Christian McCauley
D-Toby Frost
D-Daniel Hanson
MF-Jake Danneker
MF-Austin Pinderski
MF-Jake Page
F-Taddeo Galli
F-Landon Edwards
Fremd
GK-Joe Plizga
D-Max Clark
D-Yuma Yamamoto
D-Ben Cuthbert
D-Bobby Burke
MF-Shintaro Hidaka
MF-Max Meyer
MF-Dalton Rogers
F-Michael LaBarge
F-Vania Martin
F-James Lefevre
Man of the Match: Shintaro Hidaka, MF, Fremd