Fremd intent on turning things around

By Curt Herron

When a program that is unaccustomed to losing only collects two wins in a season, the first task at hand is getting things back on the right track.

That's what Fremd hopes to do following last year's two-win campaign, which was one of the few losing seasons the program has suffered.

So while winning the first two matches of a season usually isn't that big of a deal, getting off to that sort of a start following a two-win season helps.

And although the Vikings have dropped their next two by 1-0 scores, it seems clear that they're making good progress toward returning to respectability.

Fremd opened play in the Best of the West on Tuesday against Naperville Central at Waubonsie Valley and showed some positive signs in its one-goal defeat.

After allowing the Redhawks to score a goal in the final minute of the first half, the Vikings dictated the play after the halftime break.

They had plenty of opportunities to get the equalizer but a variety of corner kicks, free kicks and throw-ins netted few good scoring chances.

While Viking coach Steve Keller was encouraged by his team's strong finish, he realizes that they have a key hurdle to cross before they get better.

"I'm encouraged," Keller said. "The talent is there and the makeup is there. It's all between the ears for them now. If these guys can develop that winning attitude and learn to not fear anything, they'll be alright.

"The biggest thing is playing a little bit scared and afraid and not willing to take any risks. The guys don't want to fail, but you're going to fail. The only way that you're going to get better is by taking risks."

In the opening half, the Vikings didn't generate many chances, settling for a long free kick from Mike Heika with about 15 minutes remaining.

Meanwhile, the Redhawks weren't doing a whole lot more on offense but they capitalized on a break with less than a minute left in the first half.

That's when Central's talented Chris Prince got free up top and got off an attempt that eluded keeper Eric Ciura with 37 seconds left before the break.

"We had more opportunities than they had but we just couldn't finish on any of them," senior Heika said. "I think we should be off to a 4-0 start now instead of 2-2.

"It just seems like we're working the ball more and we talk a lot more to each other. We've gained more of a friendship with each other so we know to play along with one another better.

"We know that we can play up to our potential, now we just have to do that. When we get up there, I think that we can beat some of the top teams that are out there."

It was a different story after halftime as the Vikings grabbed the momentum from the Redhawks, especially during the latter half of the final 40 minutes.

The shift seemed to begin after Ryan Kreis served up a corner that got loose in front which Lorenzo Savino got a touch on before a Redhawk defender cleared it.

A short time later, Alex Prelipceanu got off a short attempt that was deflected away by Redhawks keeper Cam Thulin.

Following that, Spencer Filosa and Heika were involved in a series of free and corner kicks, but few produced good scoring chances.

The best came with about 10 minutes to go when Filosa sent a line drive on a corner that was hauled in by the Redhawks keeper.

Despite getting off to an 0-1 start in the tournament in a match that they felt that they could have won, the Vikings are upbeat by their progress so far.

"We have to finish better, be more willing to take our chances on the net and not give up simple shots like they had on the counter-attack," Vikings senior Travis Laschiava said.

"We're more together as a team than what we were last year. Now we work together better since we've been together for awhile so it's easier for us to communicate and move the ball around.

"It's also a fun group to be around. They're always there when you need them since they back you up out there on the field. We don't put the blame each on one person, we take it as a team."

2009 Schedule