Hersey nips Elk Grove
in double-overtime thriller
Rosado goal on rebound lifts Huskies
By Ken Keenan
ELK GROVE -- In a Mid-Suburban League East Division showdown between host Elk Grove and Hersey that sizzled with playoff-like intensity from start to finish, it was only fitting that the outcome wasn't decided until the final seconds of double overtime.
With 20.4 seconds remaining in the second extra session and the score tied at 0-0, Hersey senior midfielder Luis Rosado pounced on a rebound in front of sprawled Grenadiers senior goalkeeper Alberto Centeno to tap in the game winner for a 1-0 triumph. Sophomore midfielder Jack Rasmussen took the initial shot to gain the assist.
As the final horn sounded to trigger a joyous Huskies' celebration, Centeno remained face down on the turf in front of his net. His stellar effort throughout the nail-biting affair earned the keeper Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors.
"He was an amazing player tonight," said hardworking Hersey senior forward George Boyle, who was stopped on more than one occasion by Centeno. "He kept his team in it."
Hersey coach Darren Llewellyn echoed that sentiment.
"We created chances that he made saves on -- I'd say he came up with five big saves early -- and I was resigning myself that it would be a tie," said Llewellyn, whose club improved to 9-2-4 overall and 3-1-3 in Mid-Suburban League play.
But Centeno couldn't stop Rosado, who crashed the net to put himself in position for a rebound.
"It was one of those plays where (the ball) was right there," Rosado said. "But I have to give (Centeno) props. He made us work all night. It was an intense match. The atmosphere was great ... something you always want to be a part of. We all played hard. Elk Grove was aggressive -- very intense -- and in the end it came down to the wire."
Centeno, whose team fell to 4-7-2 overall (1-7-0 MSL), said, "It was a tough way to lose -- worse than getting your heart broken by the girl you love. It stings real bad, but we have to keep going harder and harder. It was our most intense game of the year, and it will motivate us for the rest of the season."
Grens head coach Rob Shepard was understandably disappointed with the defeat, but he was pleased that his troops -- especially Centeno -- responded to his challenge of playing with passion from start to finish.
"There's no doubt the intensity was there -- it was 100 minutes of top-level soccer," he said. "It's absolutely heartbreaking (to lose), but as I've said before, (Centeno) is the best goalie in the area. He cares, and you can see it. He's a kid I would take on my team any time."
Elk Grove controlled play in the early going, as speedy senior forwards Edgar Soto and Carlos Miranda, along with junior forward Chris Guadarrama, worked in tandem to create opportunities. But the Grens couldn't solve Hersey sophomore keeper Adam Szymaszek, who left the game with a shoulder injury in the 47th minute. Junior Brett Harris stepped in to take over between the pipes.
The Huskies came out with more zip in the second half, but whenever Boyle and fellow dangerous senior forward Brent Killian attacked, Elk Grove senior defenders Dan Hadler and Connor Emmerich and senior midfielder Ivan Corona aided Centeno in keeping the Huskies off the scoreboard. Likewise, senior defender Campbell White and Co. mirrored that effort in the back end for the Huskies.
"Elk Grove played so intense -- they were physical and went at us," Llewellyn said. "But we want to win the East, and this keeps us in the title hunt."
Though Shepard's squad isn't in the mix for a first-place finish this year, he reiterated that Elk Grove's effort shouldn't be taken lightly.
"I tell my guys there are no moral victories, but there was something different tonight," Llewellyn said. "Hersey's a top-notch team, and this (match) is a step in the right direction. (Opponents) can't see Elk Grove as an easy game now."
Starting lineups
Hersey
GK: Adam Szymaszek
D: Campbell White
D: Matt Dickey
D: Jordan Rustemeyer
D: Jackson Hargett
MF: Christian Castro
MF: Jack Rasmussen
MF: Jack Orlandi
MF: Tim Griffin
MF: Brent Killian
F: George Boyle
Elk Grove
GK: Alberto Centeno
D: Dan Hadler
D: Connor Emmerich
D: Noe Centeno
D: Markos Christoforou
MF: Ivan Perez
MF: Ivan Corona
MF: Ivan Rodriguez
MF: Edgar Soto
F: Chris Guadarrama
F: Carlos Miranda
Man of the Match: Alberto Centeno, Elk Grove
Officials: Mike Conklin, Lukasz Zielinski, Tom Kaczowka
in double-overtime thriller
Rosado goal on rebound lifts Huskies
By Ken Keenan
ELK GROVE -- In a Mid-Suburban League East Division showdown between host Elk Grove and Hersey that sizzled with playoff-like intensity from start to finish, it was only fitting that the outcome wasn't decided until the final seconds of double overtime.
With 20.4 seconds remaining in the second extra session and the score tied at 0-0, Hersey senior midfielder Luis Rosado pounced on a rebound in front of sprawled Grenadiers senior goalkeeper Alberto Centeno to tap in the game winner for a 1-0 triumph. Sophomore midfielder Jack Rasmussen took the initial shot to gain the assist.
As the final horn sounded to trigger a joyous Huskies' celebration, Centeno remained face down on the turf in front of his net. His stellar effort throughout the nail-biting affair earned the keeper Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors.
"He was an amazing player tonight," said hardworking Hersey senior forward George Boyle, who was stopped on more than one occasion by Centeno. "He kept his team in it."
Hersey coach Darren Llewellyn echoed that sentiment.
"We created chances that he made saves on -- I'd say he came up with five big saves early -- and I was resigning myself that it would be a tie," said Llewellyn, whose club improved to 9-2-4 overall and 3-1-3 in Mid-Suburban League play.
But Centeno couldn't stop Rosado, who crashed the net to put himself in position for a rebound.
"It was one of those plays where (the ball) was right there," Rosado said. "But I have to give (Centeno) props. He made us work all night. It was an intense match. The atmosphere was great ... something you always want to be a part of. We all played hard. Elk Grove was aggressive -- very intense -- and in the end it came down to the wire."
Centeno, whose team fell to 4-7-2 overall (1-7-0 MSL), said, "It was a tough way to lose -- worse than getting your heart broken by the girl you love. It stings real bad, but we have to keep going harder and harder. It was our most intense game of the year, and it will motivate us for the rest of the season."
Grens head coach Rob Shepard was understandably disappointed with the defeat, but he was pleased that his troops -- especially Centeno -- responded to his challenge of playing with passion from start to finish.
"There's no doubt the intensity was there -- it was 100 minutes of top-level soccer," he said. "It's absolutely heartbreaking (to lose), but as I've said before, (Centeno) is the best goalie in the area. He cares, and you can see it. He's a kid I would take on my team any time."
Elk Grove controlled play in the early going, as speedy senior forwards Edgar Soto and Carlos Miranda, along with junior forward Chris Guadarrama, worked in tandem to create opportunities. But the Grens couldn't solve Hersey sophomore keeper Adam Szymaszek, who left the game with a shoulder injury in the 47th minute. Junior Brett Harris stepped in to take over between the pipes.
The Huskies came out with more zip in the second half, but whenever Boyle and fellow dangerous senior forward Brent Killian attacked, Elk Grove senior defenders Dan Hadler and Connor Emmerich and senior midfielder Ivan Corona aided Centeno in keeping the Huskies off the scoreboard. Likewise, senior defender Campbell White and Co. mirrored that effort in the back end for the Huskies.
"Elk Grove played so intense -- they were physical and went at us," Llewellyn said. "But we want to win the East, and this keeps us in the title hunt."
Though Shepard's squad isn't in the mix for a first-place finish this year, he reiterated that Elk Grove's effort shouldn't be taken lightly.
"I tell my guys there are no moral victories, but there was something different tonight," Llewellyn said. "Hersey's a top-notch team, and this (match) is a step in the right direction. (Opponents) can't see Elk Grove as an easy game now."
Starting lineups
Hersey
GK: Adam Szymaszek
D: Campbell White
D: Matt Dickey
D: Jordan Rustemeyer
D: Jackson Hargett
MF: Christian Castro
MF: Jack Rasmussen
MF: Jack Orlandi
MF: Tim Griffin
MF: Brent Killian
F: George Boyle
Elk Grove
GK: Alberto Centeno
D: Dan Hadler
D: Connor Emmerich
D: Noe Centeno
D: Markos Christoforou
MF: Ivan Perez
MF: Ivan Corona
MF: Ivan Rodriguez
MF: Edgar Soto
F: Chris Guadarrama
F: Carlos Miranda
Man of the Match: Alberto Centeno, Elk Grove
Officials: Mike Conklin, Lukasz Zielinski, Tom Kaczowka
