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Boys Soccer: Fremd blows by New Trier, into semis
Updated: November 1, 2011 10:03PM
With the deficit at 2-0, New Trier still had visions of pulling off the upset. But a monster shot by Fremd’s Yusuka Kanada changed everything.
The Vikings (16-5-2) went on to win 5-1 in Tuesday’s IHSA Class 3A Maine South Supersectional to earn a berth in the state’s final four. Fremd will compete in a state semifinal on Nov. 4 at 5 p.m. at Lincoln-Way North.
The big goal on Tuesday saw Kanada take a pass from Eric Leonard and rip a 25-yard shot just under the crossbar with 22:48 left in the first half.
“It was the kind of goal you don’t see all the time,” said Fremd coach Steve Keller of Kanada’s rocket shot.
“That was a great shot,” agreed Trevians coach Craig Fairbairn, whose club finished 10-11-1. “We thought if we could them to two it might be OK. But that goal was the dagger.”
Fremd scored three goals in less than five minutes to take charge. First, Lucas Cholewa grabbed a loose ball in the box and pushed a 6-yard shot into the net with 28:26 left in the first half.
Just three minutes later, Brian Hindle hit a back pass to Leonard. He quickly nailed the 20-yarder to bump the lead to 2-0.
“Brian made a very unselfish play,” Leonard said. “All I had to do was put the ball in the back of the net.”
Leonard collected his second assist in the final minute of the half. His long cross was slammed home by Jon Magusson for a 4-0 lead.
Leonard and Co. did not take the Trevians lightly.
“New Trier is a fantastic team,” Leonard said. “I feel we were mentally prepared. We communicated well, and we came out ready to play.”
The Trevians refused to go home quietly. With 12:44 remaining, Sam Markin headed home a cross from Phillipe Boury to cut the deficit to 4-1. Fremd’s Tim Lehigh closed the scoring by nailing a 25-yard shot with 11:11 to play.
Fairbairn knows his team will be heard from again.
“A lot of young guys played quite a bit,” he noted. “Our entire defense and our goalie will be back. It bodes well for the future.”
The anchor of the defense is freshman goalkeeper Niko Katsinis. During the action on Tuesday, the Trevians received extensive playing time from eight players who will return in 2012.
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