Huskies post fourth straight shutout, 1-0 over Fremd
By Dan Santaromita

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It’s awfully early to have a big game, but such is life in the 12-team round robin schedule of the Mid Suburban League.

Perennial MSL contenders Fremd and Hersey met in the conference opener for both teams Wednesday in Palatine. The Huskies took a big first step toward retaining the MSL Cup by picking up a 1-0 win against the hosts on a fourth minute goal from Megan Boyle.

Hersey (3-1-1) picked up its third straight win and fourth shutout in a row. Meanwhile the Vikings (1-2) have now lost two in a row and have scored just one goal in the first three games of the season.

Fremd is tasked with replacing five all-MSL picks from last year’s team including all-state forward Elise Kotsakis, who was Butler’s leading scorer in the fall, and junior attacking mid Michelle Mottonen, who is playing club this spring. Despite the heavy losses expectations are always high for coach Steve Keller’s program.

“It doesn’t matter whether you play (Fremd) early in the season or late in the season you know they’re going to bring it so any time you can play competitive against a team like Fremd and come out with a victory it’s a positive result,” Hersey coach Brad Abel said.

The Huskies began on the front foot and scored on the first shot of the match. Casey Weyhrich connected with Megan Boyle just inside the box. Two touches later Boyle fired into the back of the net.

The Vikings settled into the game after a sluggish first 10 minutes and eventually dominated possession in the second half, but were unable to crack the Hersey defense.

“I don’t remember a quality opportunity tonight,” said Keller, who frequently urged his team from the sideline to look up field. “We created some chances tonight, but they weren’t extremely dangerous. It’s a matter of focusing on our technique when we do get an opportunity and then actually taking our opportunity when it’s there.

“I think some girls need to look to put their mark on the game.”

Keller’s team lost over three quarters of the total goals scored from last year’s fourth place finisher so the early offensive struggles may not come as a surprise. Jessa Rizzo worked hard on the left flank and frequently got deep into the Huskies’ half, but was unable to connect with forwards Carrie Wagner and Kira Heggeland.

Of course, much of the credit goes to Hersey’s strong defense. Morgan Harris made eight saves for the shutout, but few of the shots gave her much challenge.

Hersey’s back line has a pair of experienced seniors in Olivia Stasiuk and Emily Moody, but also features a pair of freshmen, Kayla Knauss and Sara Magnuson.

“They’re really stepping up to the challenge,” Boyle said of the freshmen. “We had one of our backs go down the first game and so a freshman came in and stepped up and ever since then it’s been pretty solid in the back.”

Sophomore Megan Brant tore her ACL in the 3-2 loss to Lake Forest in the season opener, but the Huskies haven’t missed a beat yet.

“It’s early and who knows what could happen next week,” Abel said. “What we’ve been doing the last three, four games has been very positive. The freshmen have been doing a phenomenal job. They’re kind of growing up each game.”

With a strong defense and Boyle, Weyhrich, Lauren Gierman and Nicole Pietro, who slammed a shot off the bar late in the first half, creating and finishing opportunities up top the Huskies look primed to contend for another MSL East title.

“That’s what we’re always shooting for,” Boyle said. “People don’t think we can do it every year, but that’s our goal and we’re not afraid to go at every team.”

Bri Frys and Bekah Bostrom controlled the middle of the field in the second half for the hosts and Emily Basten moved up from defense later in the game to help the attack, but the Vikings couldn’t challenge the Hersey goal.

Despite the result, Keller was pleased with the effort and still thinks they are capable of turning it around for another strong year.

“As long as we stay healthy and the girls keep working and believing there’s the ability,” Keller said. “Obviously there’s a lot to work on. It’s there it’s just a matter of putting it together.”

The Vikings will look to take some frustration out on Hoffman Estates on Friday in a road MSL West match. Hersey visits Schaumburg in another crossover the same day.