Vikings score late to force tie with New Trier

By Matt LeCren

There was a time not too long ago when Michael Heika and his Fremd teammates would have been thrilled by tying the defending state champions.

But that wasn't the case Monday night after the host Vikings tied New Trier 2-2 in an exciting nonconference match in Palatine and perhaps that's a good thing.

"We should have won this game," Heika said. "We had two mental mistakes."

But those mistakes were outnumbered by the good plays as the Vikings (4-8-2) continued to show that they appear to be turning the corner following a frustrating 2-8-1 start. They've scored 11 goals over their last three matches.

"The guys are playing with a lot of confidence now," Fremd coach Steve Keller said. "The last five games we've really played well, had a chance to win all of them. If we keep playing like that, we'll be dangerous."

Despite returning just two starters from its 2008 state championship squad, New Trier (10-5-3) still has plenty of talent, including two dangerous forwards in speedy Gavin Craig and leading scorer Ben Beaver.

But they were held scoreless by a back line led by Brian Borst, Alex Bochat and Garrett Peters.

Beaver did help the Trevians take a 2-1 lead with 4:30 left in the second half. His corner kick found Nicholas Glattard, whose hard header skipped off the top of a defender’s head and into the net.

Rather than mope, the Vikings quickly attacked and got the equalizer with 3:44 remaining as Heika scored his third goal of the season on a penalty kick after Nick Makowiecki was dumped in the penalty area.

The Vikings actually had a chance to win when Brian Hindle took a corner kick from the left side in the final seconds.

Lorenzo Savino got a head on it about 15 yards from the net but nodded it over the crossbar with 10 ticks left.

Savino had given Fremd a 1-0 lead at the 21:09 mark of the first half. Heika chipped the ball up the left wing to the junior forward, who settled the ball in the left side of the box and fired a 12-yard shot that New Trier goalie John Secaras got a hand on but couldn't stop.

Secaras had to make three saves in the first half and saw two other Fremd shots hit the side of the net as the hosts outshot the Trevians 8-2 before intermission.

But the two sides hit the break tied 1-1 after Glattard scored at the 10:10 mark following a bad pass in the back by Fremd.

The Vikings continued to get the better of the play in the second half and finished with 17 shots to seven for the Trevians.

That included two wicked shots from long range by Heika that hit the right post and the crossbar. Three other attempts were stopped by Secaras.

Though his side didn't get the victory, Heika did say the tie continued a trend that has been a turning point in the season.

"I think we're going to take this into [Thursday's home game against Hersey] and we're going to bring it to them, especially [with it being] at home because in our last home games we've been bringing it really well," Heika said.

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Man of the match: Michael Heika

Michael Heika estimates that the effective range of his shot is about 30 yards, but he might be being modest in that assessment.

The senior midfielder, who is primarily a playmaker in Fremd’s 3-5-2 formation, assisted on the Vikings' first goal and scored the second on a penalty kick in Monday's 2-2 tie with defending state champion New Trier.

But he also showcased his strong leg and came within inches of notching his first hat trick.

Heika kept New Trier keeper John Secaras on his toes all night, forcing him to leap high to tip a 25-yard shot over the crossbar with 14:45 left in the first half.

In the second half, Heika ripped a 32-yard free kick from the left wing that curved just over Secaras' outstretched fingers and bounced off the right post with 31:30 remaining.

Four minutes later, he launched a 35-yard rocket that clanged off the crossbar and caromed over 20 yards back into play.

"He likes to shoot," Fremd coach Steve Keller said. "When he gets a little opening he [can be dangerous]. And his ball has a lot of movement on it. That [35-yard free kick] was knuckling."

The left-footed Heika had another chance to score with 8:15 remaining. Savino broke free in the box and poked the ball to his right to Heika, whose right-footed attempt from 10 yards out was knocked away by a diving Secaras. Seconds later a rebound shot by Brian Hindle sailed high.

"He's a little bigger than most goalies," Heika said of Secaras. "He covers a lot of area."

While the Vikings are still using their usual 3-5-2 formation, Keller has made some personnel adjustments and believes that is the reason for the recent offensive outburst that has seen Fremd score 11 goals in its last three outings.

"I think it was part putting the players in the right positions and part a couple of other guys have stepped their play up," Keller said. "In the midfield Heika has done an exceptional job of playmaking for us. We have Brian Borst and Hindle sitting behind him and then Spencer Filosa, when he's not up top, we put him back there."

"It really gives us more penetration [and we're] getting more through balls," said Heika, who likes the changes. "I'm more of a giver so that's what I usually do."

Vikings starters vs. New Trier