Dynamic duo delivers for Prospect

It is easy to see why Prospect was the 2011 Mid-Suburban League boys soccer champions and undefeated in 22 matches on the eve of its sectional championship against Fremd.

Tremendous depth, plenty of veteran experience, water-tight defense, an arsenal of attacking weapons — and, oh yes, Bill Cooney and Brad Reibel.

The senior duo are game-changers, each capable of turning a match around in favor of the Knights and then helping close things out for good.

But how did these two react when learning they each would share the title of honorary co-captains of the Daily Herald’s All-Area boys soccer team?

“We all know when one of us is honored, or given an award, it’s because of our team,” Reibel says without hesitation

“No (one) player wins anything on this team,” adds Cooney.

A rehearsed company line? No way, says head coach Kurt Trenkle.

“That’s the beauty of this team,” Trenkle said. “It is an incredibly close group, everyone playing for each other, and that’s kind of been the credo of this team.

“It’s not something we’ve ever had to remind anyone about, because that’s just the way they are — and maybe that’s why we’ve had the type of season we’ve had thus far.”

Fremd coach Steve Keller saw first-hand what this Knights’ club is all about, and in particular, Cooney and Reibel, after his team was beaten 4-0 during the regular season by the Knights.

“There’s a lot of quality players in the conference, and with all due respect to all of them, including my own players,” Keller said, “both of those guys are difference makers, and they are the reason their team won it all in the MSL this season — flat out.”

Each of them is the ultimate teammate. Both are quick to praise those around them for what’s been bestowed upon them during the postseason voting process which finally announces the best of the best.

The Knights’ captains each were named all-MSL and all-state.

A home in the nets

Brad Reibel achieved a rarity when he was selected as the MSL East Player of the Year.

He joined former Fremd star and All-American Doug Warren in that category. Warren helped lead the Vikings to a state title and third-place finish and was named Player of the Year by the Illinois High School Coaches Association for 1998.

“Reibel can play at the next level,” said Keller. “Like any young goalkeeper, he has work to do on his game, but he has a real strong physical presence there, and in addition to being a great communicator, and shot-blocker, he take’s every dangerous ball sent into his box out of the air, and is fearless doing so.”

“I know when we score our first goal to go up, it’s all we need to win,” says Cooney. “That’s how much confidence I have in Brad.

“And when there’s a PK opportunity for our opponent, or we’re in shootout, I always know he’s going to stop at least one of (their) attempts.”

Reibel’s best may have come in the postseason, when he was fully extended to his left, then somehow kicked John Franco’s spot kick off the line with a telescopic reach from his trailing foot to save the day, in what was a historic first-ever MSL title for the Knights over Schaumburg.

One week into the state series, Reibel was at it again, turning away a pair of Stevenson kicks to help the Knights’ win their first regional crown since 1994.

“What Brad has been able to accomplish in just a couple of years is actually quite astounding,” said Trenkle. “Basketball has been his sport ever since he was a little guy, and although he’s played soccer for a long time as well, he’s never truly dedicated himself to (goalkeeping) since taking over as our starter last year.

“But his success is all about his terrific natural athletic ability, and his desire to do all the things he needs to do to improve.”

Trenkle says Reibel had always spent endless hours watching tape, and poring over countless journals on basketball. But he’s stepped up the extra homework ever since making his commitment to the game of soccer, even talking to former players on how to sharpen his skills.

“I know that athletic ability can only take you so far, so (for) me, it’s all about catching up in my trade with the technical and tactical side of things,” Reibel said, “which I’ve been working so hard to improve with, either by going to camps (last summer at Duke University) and just putting all the extra time in which I need to do.”

Reibel enters the final weeks with Trenkle and his mates with 18 career shutouts, a program-tying 10 for the season, and a 0.61 goals against average in 2011 and 0.68 in his career.

None of this is a surprise to Knights basketball coach John Camardella.

“Brad is a very competitive athlete who focuses on being successful in all aspects of life,” Camardella said of one of his starting guards and captains for the upcoming season. “He strives to lead with his actions, and encourages his teammates to follow suit. Both Kurt and I have been very fortunate to have Brad in our programs.”

The next step after the Knights’ postseason run will be deciding on his new address next fall.

Michigan, Loyola, DePaul and recently, Wake Forest, have come calling. He’s hoping to take his keeper gloves to one of these locations, where he will study political science, and play the sport he has so strongly embraced.

“This is a pretty amazing time for all us, and none of us want it to end right now,” Reibel said. “I can’t tell you how happy I was to hear that both Bill and I were named co-captains of the all-area team, it really means a lot to me to share the honor with one of my teammates, and with all of my teammates as well.”

A breakout finish

Both Bill Cooney and Brad Reibel shared another highlight — center stage under the spotlight of sectional soccer Tuesday night at Palatine.

The two were at it again after the Knights fell behind to rival Buffalo Grove 2-0 in their semifinal. With things looking a little bleak for them, Cooney brought the big crowd to life with a sensational strike from 30 yards, which nearly exploded out of the back of the net — then later recorded the helper on Richard Lenke’s equalizer.

Late in the night, Reibel turned around two spot kicks in a shootout to help send the Knights through.

“Bill is such a funny guy,” began Reibel. “All of us know he could have scored a lot more for us last year, but he is so unselfish, often giving up great chances to give others the opportunity to score.

“Everyone was telling him during summer camp, and in the preseason that he has to be more selfish this season, and although I know it’s not really his personality, he did just that — and look at the result.”

Cooney forced his way into the Prospect record books this fall. He had a pair of 4-goal performances, 5 multiple goal games, 6 game-winners, and after his strike Tuesday, now has 22 for the season to go along with 10 assists, giving him 28 goals and 20 assists in his career.

“None of us are surprised with his breakout season,” said Trenkle. “But the thing about him, is that technically he’s got to be one of the best there is, but he’s always been a pass-first, shoot-second kind of player. Once he realized that in order to be that true finisher we all knew he could be by taking the ball in, and getting his shots, he was an entirely different player, and one that became so dangerous, each and every time he was on the ball.”

On the day both he and Reibel were told before their mates of their all-state honors, in a small-sided drill, the ball slipped off Cooney’s foot for a moment — and almost to a man, his teammates rained down a chorus of, “Come on all-stater, better touch!”

“I am so lucky to be on a team like this,” says the leading scorer from the MSL. “I’ve got a great running mate up top with Richard (Lenke), a fantastic outside (midfielder) in Alex Schnepf, who gives Richard and I so many great balls from the outside, and (Patryk) Ruta, who is such a hard worker for all of us in the middle, who is always doing the little things for us.

“Yeah, being named all-state, and all-area captain is all about the team.”

Although Cooney turned into a cold-hearted finisher this fall, the thing you come to enjoy when watching another 80 minutes of quality soccer from him is his value as a creator and defender.

On the ball, and of late, double and triple-teamed, Cooney’s superb touch allows him to shake off defenders, eke out space, and initiate the attack going forward. Sometimes with telepathic skill he will find his mates to turn the Knights’ attack in rampant counter and chance on frame.

“I enjoy doing all that extra work away from the ball,” Cooney said. “I feel that I offer more value to our team and our chances that way.”

Cooney is placing his academic locale next fall ahead of his desire to play soccer. Big Ten schools such as Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin are all in his options to become an urban planner in the future and discussions most notably with Michigan and its soccer program are on the back burner while his focus is solely on the final few days of prep soccer.

“I’ve talked some with those schools, and others, but on the academic side, I know exactly what I want to do, and I know the rest will follow in place when the time is right,” said Cooney, who carries a 4.62 GPA and class rank of 120 out of 500-plus students.

“Bill can do it all, he’s one of those special types of player who has a great awareness of the game, who wants the ball everytime, but is such a great all-around teammate, who truly enjoys playing and being a part of a team,” says Trenkle.