Knights ride strong second half to 2-0 win over Taft

CLICK HERE FOR GAME PHOTOS courtesy of Andy Schnepf

By Dan Santaromita

It was sloppy at times, but Prospect improved their record to 2-0 with a shutout win over Taft Tuesday night in Mt. Prospect.

Patryk Ruta and Richard Lenke each netted a goal, the second goal in as many games for both players, in the Knights’ 2-0 win that was part of the Maine West Invite.

Taft had more early chances, but the Prospect defense didn’t allow many clean looks at goal.

The Knights picked up their play towards the end of the first half and almost took the lead in the 24th minute. Alex Schnepf crossed towards Lenke who made an impressive attempt with a diving header that hit off the outside of the post.

Lenke would get his goal though. In the 33rd minute a long ball was hit too far for him, but he stayed with the play and poked the ball away from the Eagles’ defender to create an open look at goal. He hit a low shot directed to the far corner and gave the Knights the lead.

Prospect took the lead into the half, but didn’t control the play. That changed in the second half.

“Much better in the second half than in the first,” Prospect coach Kurt Trenkle said. “Really sloppy with touches in the first. They were in the right position, but I think the fatigue from last night’s game and maybe a little lack of concentration combined to just sloppy play.

“We were fortunate to keep them off the score sheet in that first half. They had a couple balls, a couple corners that were a little dangerous. They have guys that can shoot from 23, 24 and we gave them a couple looks.”

In the second half, the Knights did well to keep the Eagles out of their third and finally got the put away goal in the 74th minute.

Bill Cooney made a cross from near the corner flag and a streaking Patryk Ruta got a shin on the ball to volley it into the goal.

“I think in the second half they came out with more intensity,” Trenkle said. “We won some 50-50 balls and I think strung some passes together and cleaned up the touch and I think that was the difference.”

Both Ruta and defender David Spudic described the Knights’ play in the first half as sloppy.

“Our touches were off,” Ruta said. “I thought second half we came out a little bit stronger. We started to connect more passes. We went a little bit more forward and created more chances and I think much better the second half.”

“When we play with our own pace like how we practice, we played pretty good,” Spudic said.

Pace is one thing Trenkle mentioned as something he wanted the team to improve.

“I would like to see the speed of play ramp up a little bit,” he said. “I think we need to win more 50-50 balls in the middle third and the finishing needs to get better.”

For the complaints about touches and pace, the defenders looked solid for the second game in a row.

“I think Spudic was, he’s not going to see the scoresheet a lot, but I think he was really solid in the center,” Trenkle said. “(Mike) Eggert had another great game. I think they’re really good at communicating and passing off and making sure there’s always a second defender behind the ball.

“A team like this and a team like last night where they have one strong forward I think we’ll be able to give them a puzzle they can’t solve. Let’s just hope that continues.”

Goalkeeper Brad Reibel (5 saves) was vocal to his defenders who communicated well with each other as well. Eggert, Spudic, Ethan Graven and Michael Hamman were organized at the back, leading to the shutout.

“I thought we organized in the back a lot better,” Ruta said. “Obviously, we played a better team yesterday, but I thought organizing in the back was really good from our defenders to our center mids.”

Spudic said communication is the key to the defense’s success.

“I think we’re doing pretty good when we talk and get organized in the back,” he said. “We seem to do better than when we do our own thing. When they (one of the defenders) go up, we’ll talk and one of us will fill in for the spots.”

The Knights continue the Maine West Invite with a visit to Maine West Thursday at 6 p.m.