The boys soccer team capped off a tremendous year with a 4-0 win on Nov. 8 against Streamwood to claim third-place in the IHSA State Series with a 20-6-1 record. The Viking put together an impressive postseason run, winning six games while allowing only three goals and only falling to Hinsdale Central in the state semifinals.

Head coach Steve Keller credits the team’s consistency to the group of ten seniors that provided its identity.

“They had a goal in mind. They were all on the same page— they wanted to achieve something special and they did,” Keller said. “I thought that especially through the state series some of them really stepped up and got the team in the right frame of mind. They took charge and got the job done.”

In the state semifinals on Nov. 7 against Hinsdale Central, the team dominated possession yet was unable to get on the scoreboard until the 26th minute, when senior Zach Schoffstall converted on a penalty kick to put the Vikings ahead 1-0. The Red Devils responded in the 32nd minute on the counter attack, following an aggressive attack by the Vikes. The Vikings continued to control the tempo of the game, but were unable to stave of the Red Devil’s attack losing 2-1. While finishing with 20 shots to Central’s 12, the Vikings were unable to find the back of the net and came up short, losing 2-1.

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Senior Ben Borst explains the team’s mindset heading into the third-place game after losing a match where the Vikings hit the post twice down the stretch.

“When it came to the Saturday game, we were all confident in our abilities,” Borst said. “We came out really loose and ready to go and we all knew that we could really show everyone in that stadium what we were capable of.”

Fremd looked to respond and finish as one of two teams in the 3A division to end their season with a win on Nov. 8, as they took on Streamwood in a battle for third place. The Vikings came out with equal intensity as the night before, controlling the ball and outshooting the Sabres 29-12 but finishing opportunities this time. Schoffstall opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the 17th minute and went on to score a hat trick with goals in the 19th and 50th minutes. Senior Danny Burton added another in the 79th minute to give the Vikes a 4-0 lead, which they would keep.

Senior Will LeFevre, who came up with a number of key saves over the weekend, details the change in attitude which led to the Vikings’ success in the third place game.

“Saturday had a different mood throughout the game. On Saturday, we played everybody and the mood was a lot lighter,” LeFevre said. “We just said, ‘Let’s go out there because this is the last time you are going to put on a Fremd jersey and have some fun.’”

Keller identifies what he will have to do in order to build upon this year’s finish.

“As a coach, I am going to push them. It is a totally different team next year,” Keller said. “There is a new group of guys that will have to come together and we won’t let them become complacent.”

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