BUFFALO GROVE – Second-seeded Fremd scored on either side of the half Tuesday afternoon against host Buffalo Grove to take a 2-0 regional semifinal victory. The win earned a Friday date against Mid-Suburban League West Division rival Conant for a chance at the Vikings third-straight regional crown.
In a less than sparkling effort, Fremd (12-4-4) finally unlocked a determined and packed-in Bison defense when Gwen Zimmerman pounced on a loose ball and poked home the eventual game-winner in the 30th minute.
The forward turned provider in the 64th minute for teammate Sami Serpico who ran on to her pass that was untouched on its way in from the right side to double the Vikings advantage.
Zimmerman and Serpico, who shared the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor, thought Fremd’s effort was not satisfactory.
"I really don't feel like we came into this game with the proper mindset, and it really showed with the way we played today," said Serpico, who is now tied for second on the club in goals with Gemma Gillespie at 10. "That was not some very good soccer we played out there today."
"Technically, we were not sharp at all," began Zimmerman, who leads the team with 12 tallies. "Our start today was very slow.”
The sophomore will make her second consecutive appearance at the girls state track and field championships this weekend at Eastern Illinois University. Zimmerman qualified with the 4x400-meter relay team this spring. With preliminaries on Friday, her availability for the regional final is uncertain.
"I wish both no. 22 (Serpico) and no. 24 (Zimmerman) had qualified for state track, and that it started on Tuesday and not Friday," joked Bison manager Pat Dudle when asked which Fremd players gave his club the most trouble at Grant Blaney Stadium.
"(Fremd) is so athletic and talented, and the speed those two girls bring is something we just were not able to handle today.
"We came out and played the best way that we could have, and that was with five along the back, double sixes and just one forward up-top, (hoping) we could surprise them on the counter and maybe put one in on them."
The defensive scheme helped stymie Fremd, which is ranked 19th in the final Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 of the season.
"They played with a lot of people behind the ball, which made it tough for us to attack," said Zimmerman. “But if we used width, moved the ball quicker and didn’t force the ball into the middle so much, we would have had more success.”
Both clubs played without important centerbacks in the contest.
Fremd senior and two-time all-conference star Bella Scesniak was sidelined. So was Hanna Glanz, who earned league recognition for Buffalo Grove this season.
"(Not) having Hanna was big, because it forced us to move some players around in order to fill the void," said Dudle. “It took away one of the best players on our roster.”
The Bison stationed senior Olivia Larkowski, freshmen Amanda Kowalski and Lauren Fink, and sophomores Ella Halter and usual midfielder Brooke Wells along the backline in a 5-4-1 formation.
"We gave it a lot of thought and figured this was our best chance to keep Fremd somewhat under control, while having a watchful eye on their runners coming through off their long serves out of the back" said Dudle.
Scesniak is one of the best at delivering Fremd’s piercing deep balls. So is Gillespie, who opened as one of the Vikings centerbacks but was pushed up in the attack in the hope the Butler University-bound senior might inspire some offense.
Thirteenth-seeded Buffalo Grove (8-9-1) absorbed plenty of pressure throughout the match, and bent but mostly did not break. However, at times the Bison kept their fingers crossed on several glorious opportunities the Vikings created but were unable to finish.
Dudle played his leading scorer Taylore Camel (12 goals) in front of his backline in an effort to add experience and to compliment the aforementioned Wells. The extra player helped defend the numbers the Vikings pushed forward.
Fremd’s inability to find the back of the net was also caused by the marvelous job Bison keeper Emily Aparicio-Bahena turned in. Her bravery between the sticks saved the day numerous times for the Bison.
"Emily has done an amazing job for us all year long," began Dudle of the senior, who was an all-Mid-Suburban League selection. "Her knowledge of the game, and ability to read trouble, while being just a great leader has been a real inspiration to the team, and especially our younger players."
Fremd got offensive forays from Lily Mayer, Natalia Wala and Zimmerman, who saw her effort in the eighth minute sent over the end line by Camel who headed the dangerous ball out of the area from the spot.
Zimmerman and Serpico made regular visits into the Bison goal area before the opener, only to be constantly frustrated by Aparico-Bahena.
The senior raced far off her line to beat Zimmerman to a 50/50 ball that initially came from Ava Catherall.
A well-struck inward swinging corner from Serpico found the head of Zimmerman, who watched Aparicio-Bahena make another save moments later.
On the opening goal, Buffalo Grove lost track of the ball, which Fremd moved quickly from touchline-to-touchline.
Gia Gellespie, Maddie McMillan, Gemma Gillespie, Molly Rodino and finally Serpico all had a touch in advance of Zimmerman breaking the ice.
"Sami played just a great ball across the box, and I was just the first player to it," stated Zimmerman, who followed the play sharply in order to deliver herself to the right place at the right time. "Sami has been a huge addition to our team. She has so much skill, is great on the ball, has a great left foot and has so much speed."
It was obvious Buffalo Grove was deflated after conceding the goal after 29 minutes of valiant defending. Fremd nearly took advantage just before intermission.
After Gemma Gillespie’s header off a Serpico corner missed the mark, the senior sent Zimmerman through only to see Aparicio-Bahena make a save that prevented the Vikings from enjoying a two-goal advantage at the break.
"(Their) keeper played really well, and helped keep them in the game, but we just were not good enough in the final third either," offered Serpico.
An Aparicio-Bahena double-save just after the break kept it 1-0.
Fremd manager Steve Keller continued to move pieces around in an effort to find success. He tried a 4-4-2 formation on the hour with Zimmerman and Serpico up-top and Rodino installed at the six.
"We tried a lot of different things, but again, we just need to be better," admitted Zimmerman.
Buffalo Grove’s only real chance came after an enterprising 50-yard run up the right side by Camel that left a pair of Vikings chasing the senior until she unleashed a low drive that required keeper Riley Goettsche to make her lone save of the match.
Serpico ended the scoring with a sublime touch after Zimmerman’s pass ran freely in front of Aparicio-Bahena.
Buffalo Grove put up a valiant fight.
"I'm proud of the girls and their effort today against a really talented team," said Dudle. “We gave it our best for 80 minutes.”
The Bison advanced to the semifinal with a 3-0 win over Wheeling on May 10. Larkowski scored a hat-trick in the victory. The young club finished the season with three wins in its final four matches.
Fremd, the runnerup to Barrington in the West Division with a 10-1-0 record, now prepares for Conant. The Vikings beat the 10th-seeded Cougars (9-6-1, 5-5-1), who finished fourth in the division, 4-0 at home April 5.
"We now have two days to clean some things up, and to get ourselves ready for our regional final." said Serpico. “I know we'll play much better than we did today
Starting lineups
Buffalo Grove (5-4-1)
GK- Emily Aparicio-Bahena
D- Olivia Larkowski
D- Amanda Kowalski
D- Brooke Wells
D- Ella Halter
D- Lauren Fink
M- Samantha Kowalski
M- Taylore Camel
M- Yaritza Casares
M- Elizabeth Fine
F- Olivia Jaworski
Fremd (4-3-3)
GK- Riley Goettsche
D- Lia Digirolamo
D- Maddie McMillan
D- Gemma Gillespie
D- Cami Tofilon
M- Lily Mayer
M- Natalia Wala
M- Sophia Kennedy
F- Ava Catherall
F- Gwen Zimmerman
F- Sami Serpico
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Sami Serpico, so., F, Fremd;
Gwen Zimmerman, so., F, Fremd
Scoring summary
First half
Fremd: Zimmerman (Serpico), 30'
Second half
Fremd: Serpico (Zimmerman), 64'
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