Hawks want to take fate into own hands

This is a defining week for the Hoffman Estates soccer team.

Not only were the Hawks scheduled to play Schaumburg on Tuesday and host Palatine today (Thursday), but the sectional seeding meeting was scheduled in between on Wednesday.

HE coach Matt Sriver, whose team beat Buffalo Grove 2-1 in overtime on Monday, wanted nothing more than a victory against the Saxons to solidify the Hawks as one of the top seeds at the Streamwood Sectional.

"That BG win was big," Sriver said. "It gave us some credibility. Ever since I've been here we've been put in some bad spots with seedings. Last year we opened with Conant. That should have been a regional final or even a sectional semifinal.

"If we could win Tuesday, we can punch our own ticket."

HE's 3-0 loss to Barrington on Saturday was the team's first MSL setback of the season. But Sriver's team rebounded on short rest to take down the Bison.

Brad Powszok scored twice, both on assists from Sishun Zerihun. Powszok's score in the 96th minute was the game-winner and improved the Hawks to 3-2 overall and 3-1 in the league.

"We told our kids that Barrington game was a measuring stick to see where we rank," Sriver said. "It was 3-0, but the score definitely didn't indicate what kind of game it was. I think their experience played into their hands. We didn't play scared, but we played about 15 minutes of panic ball in the second half, where they scored twice."

With a team that plays as many as six underclassmen, the Hawks have surprised some by their run near the top of the conference standings. But Sriver believes his team was capable of competing from the start.

"We're excited, but we are real young," he said. "It's really a nice combination of older and younger players."

Senior defender Brian Neu clearly is the team's leader and has received help from a collection of talented youngsters. The difference-makers Monday were the sophomore Powszok and the freshman Zerihun.

Powszok saw some time on the field as a freshman a year ago, but he's shined in the absence of Edgar Sanchez, who hasn't played this season because of a knee injury.

Midfielder Salin Golotic, a junior transfer from Arizona, also has helped the team since his arrival shortly after the season started.

"Brian's our leader, and he reminds the kids what's at stake," Sriver said of the four-year varsity player.

CORNER KICKS: After Monday's matches, Barrington led the MSL at 4-0. Palatine and Conant followed at 4-1, while HE stood fourth. Schaumburg (3-3), Prospect (2-2), Fremd (1-2), Rolling Meadows (1-2), Wheeling (1-2), Buffalo Grove (0-2), Hersey (0-2) and Elk Grove (0-4) rounded out the standings. ... Six MSL teams make up the Streamwood Sectional, including EG, Conant, HE and Schaumburg. ... EG's 6-0 win over Maine West on Sept. 13 at Lake Park's tournament was the first time the Grenadiers scored more than one goal in a match all season. Jon Manna, Mike Karwowski, Leif Lundgren, Billy Hubly, Anthony Vasquez and Luis Rojas all contributed to the offense. The loss was Maine West's first in 13 matches on its home field. ... EG, which was scheduled to play Rolling Meadows on Tuesday, hosts BG today. Conant, scheduled to play Fremd on Tuesday, travels to Marquette University High School in Milwaukee on Friday and welcomes Minnesota's Totino-Grace on Saturday. Schaumburg visits Streamwood on Saturday.