Team struggles don't stop star player

There have been a few bright spots in Prospect's up-and-down 2007 season, and senior forward Jose Legueur is certainly one of them.

Legueur has eight assists in 13 games, and with at least six contests remaining could tie or pass the school's single-season record of 12 assists. He's added four goals while setting up fellow senior forward Tom Kujawa, who has rung up a team-high 12 goals.

Just as Knights head coach Kurt Trenkle expected, Kujawa and Legueur have led the offense while senior stopper Joe Colmone has stood out on the defensive end.

But as a team, the Knights fell on hard times last week. Their 2-0 home loss Sept. 20 to Schaumburg was their third straight MSL setback in as many days. Fatigue appeared to be a factor against the Saxons. Prospect lost 3-2 at Hersey Sept. 19 and dropped an overtime heartbreaker by the same score to Wheeling the previous day.

Prospect, 0-4-1 in its last five games, slipped to 5-7-1 overall and 2-4 in MSL East play.

Trenkle lost a lot of firepower from his 2006 squad (11-7-2). All-state forward Pari Pantazopoulos (20 goals) graduated, and senior David Madison (6 goals, 10 assists) opted to play club soccer.

"We can still turn things around. We just need to trust each other more on the field, help each out more and be more positive," said Legueur, who possesses a lethally powerful and accurate right foot and also gained quickness by shedding 15 pounds in the offseason.

Situated perfectly, senior goalkeeper Eric VanDivier repelled Saxon Josh Beard's on-point, blind kick to keep the score 0-0 through the first half.

The Knights strategized against the set-up ability of speedy Saxons midfielder Wes Hollis, but Hollis still broke free to assist on Josh Pirahmadi's score early in the second half. Josh Beard rammed home his seventh goal with 7:18 remaining to finish the scoring.

Prospect senior midfielder Tom Slusher and junior midfielder Spencer Kearney both made clutch plays. Sophomore midfielder Kyle Mataloni continued to exhibit dazzling ball control. Senior defender Adam Briggs (foot) and Scott Leipprandt (shin) persevered despite injuries.

Kujawa, assisted by Legueur and senior midfielder Peter McBride, put the Knights up 2-0 against Wheeling. But the Wildcats stormed back on a hat trick by Abraham Soto, including the decisive tally in the 98th minute. Kujawa also found the net against the Huskies.

Colmone scored on a Kujawa assist, and VanDivier chalked up 11 saves in the Knights' 1-1 tie against West Chicago Sept. 15. McBride scored his second goal, this one unassisted, in a 6-1 loss to Conant Sept. 11.

The previous day, Prospect edged Elk Grove 2-1. Legueur fed Kujawa for a goal and then scored the winner with 10 minutes left. At the time, the Knights were 5-3 overall and 2-1 in league games. They also beat Fremd 2-1 Sept. 6 on goals by Briggs and senior forward Anthony Oplawski.

"I'll talk to the team about setting new goals. We're not in contention in the conference, but we can use our remaining games to build toward the regionals," Trenkle said.

The Knights hosted powerful Barrington Tuesday and stay home to take on Rolling Meadows at 6:30 p.m. today.

Prospect will also get a chance to reverse a 5-3 road loss to Maine West Aug. 31. The Knights are the No. 11 seed to the Warriors' No. 7 in the 18-team Class AA Streamwood Sectional, and the teams will lock horns again in the Elk Grove Regional Oct. 17.