High expectations the norm at Glenbard E.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
LOMBARD -- Glenbard East celebrated its seniors, who are going to compete in college athletics, with its signing-day ceremonies on Monday (April 29). The girls soccer program was beautifully represented with Lindsey Novak, Amy Chiero and Sam Johnson.
Novak, the team’s leading scorer with 17 goals and 10 assists, will play at North Central College. The leader of the defense, Johnson is set to play at Elmhurst College. Chiero will play at Dennison, not insignificantly the alma mater of her coach, Kent Overbey.
“It is great to send them off with a bang,” Overbey said.
Novak is bringing her career full circle. She was a centerpiece of the Rams’ breakthrough team of 2016 that captured the first state trophy in program history by finishing third in the Class 3A state tournament.
That team, featuring star Brittany Paganucci (Illinois State), stunned heavily-favored Naperville North in a supersectional. In the third place game, Chiero scored the winning penalty kick in a shootout over Huntley.
Novak and her teammates hope, of course, to play at least two more games at North Central College in Naperville, the host of the Class 3A state finals.
Novak went out and scored three goals as Glenbard East defeated Streamwood 7-1 on Senior Night in Upstate Eight play. On Wednesday, Novak scored a goal and assist as the Rams erupted for five second half goals in the 5-0 victory over Glenbard South.
The sense of pride, identity and camaraderie was evident on the cold and wet turf Monday night. The joy rang out in all directions.
“I owe a lot of thanks to Amy Chiero and Sam Johnson, who I have been playing with since I was three years old,” Novak said. “There’s no way I would have come into Glenbard East with the confident that I started to obtain without them on my side.
“I think having them besides me all of these years has made it that much better, as well as allowed me to meet new people along the way.”
With seven graduated starters, Overbey thought he was looking at a rebuilding campaign. Instead, the Rams are in the hunt for their fourth-consecutive conference title. They are the second-seed of their own sectional, behind only Lyons, which is ranked eighth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25. Glenbard East, in the honorable mention list, is also hosting a regional.
That third place team, which finished with a school-record 24 wins, is the standard bearer, and it elevated the program and set in motion a school with a reputation only going upward.
“The experience of playing in the state finals was amazing,” Johnson said. “Honestly it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Glenbard East soccer has meant so much, I am going to cry. It is awesome, and I love every single one of the girls on this team. They make soccer fun.”
Novak and Chiero have the been offensive sparks. The defense has been sublime with the 10 shutouts, now some 64 during Johnson’s superb career. That has been the team’s foundation.
“It is every single one of the defenders, and the offensive players who do so much to help us out and the level of communication has been great and everybody working together to get those shutouts," Johnson said. "The keepers [Zoe Romano and Lisa Stranski] have done a great job of saving those goals.
“The chemistry has been great.”
Glenbard East (14-4-2, 5-1-1) finishes the regular season with conference play against Elgin and Larkin. The Rams remain one-point behind South Elgin (10-3-3, 5-0-2). The Storm finishes up with Glenbard South and West Aurora.
The Blackhawks (11-4-1, 6-1-1) are the current-leaders with 19 points, with the one conference game left with South Elgin on Wednesday. Glenbard East beat West Aurora but lost to South Elgin.
Glenbard East is stacked with youth and talent, and the scary part going forward is that Novak, Chiero and Johnson are the only seniors who receive significant playing time and have featured roles on the team.
The next generation is also something to get excited about, with bright and athletic talents like freshmen midfielders Sarah Liljestrand and Maia Zatarski, sophomore defender Kendall Crackel and juniors Elaine Westing, Maddie Weltin and Summer Garcia.
They represent the future.
Novak, Chiero and Johnson signify the major shift from then to now. By looking forward, Glenbard East reckons with a vibrant past, which informs and shapes the next stage -- for the players and the legacies they leave behind.
“It is really wild how many things have happened, and they have really gone by so fast,” Chiero said.
“I just think about my freshman year when we all went to state, and there were a completely different set of girls with me. Sam and Lindsey were by my side. It means a lot to know we have all of these memories together. We have won conference the last three years and hopefully the fourth. We have been regional champions the last three years and hopefully a fourth.
“We will continue to win trophies if we continue to work hard together, which we will because we have that chemistry.”
By Patrick Z. McGavin
LOMBARD -- Glenbard East celebrated its seniors, who are going to compete in college athletics, with its signing-day ceremonies on Monday (April 29). The girls soccer program was beautifully represented with Lindsey Novak, Amy Chiero and Sam Johnson.
Novak, the team’s leading scorer with 17 goals and 10 assists, will play at North Central College. The leader of the defense, Johnson is set to play at Elmhurst College. Chiero will play at Dennison, not insignificantly the alma mater of her coach, Kent Overbey.
“It is great to send them off with a bang,” Overbey said.
Novak is bringing her career full circle. She was a centerpiece of the Rams’ breakthrough team of 2016 that captured the first state trophy in program history by finishing third in the Class 3A state tournament.
That team, featuring star Brittany Paganucci (Illinois State), stunned heavily-favored Naperville North in a supersectional. In the third place game, Chiero scored the winning penalty kick in a shootout over Huntley.
Novak and her teammates hope, of course, to play at least two more games at North Central College in Naperville, the host of the Class 3A state finals.
Novak went out and scored three goals as Glenbard East defeated Streamwood 7-1 on Senior Night in Upstate Eight play. On Wednesday, Novak scored a goal and assist as the Rams erupted for five second half goals in the 5-0 victory over Glenbard South.
The sense of pride, identity and camaraderie was evident on the cold and wet turf Monday night. The joy rang out in all directions.
“I owe a lot of thanks to Amy Chiero and Sam Johnson, who I have been playing with since I was three years old,” Novak said. “There’s no way I would have come into Glenbard East with the confident that I started to obtain without them on my side.
“I think having them besides me all of these years has made it that much better, as well as allowed me to meet new people along the way.”
With seven graduated starters, Overbey thought he was looking at a rebuilding campaign. Instead, the Rams are in the hunt for their fourth-consecutive conference title. They are the second-seed of their own sectional, behind only Lyons, which is ranked eighth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25. Glenbard East, in the honorable mention list, is also hosting a regional.
That third place team, which finished with a school-record 24 wins, is the standard bearer, and it elevated the program and set in motion a school with a reputation only going upward.
“The experience of playing in the state finals was amazing,” Johnson said. “Honestly it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Glenbard East soccer has meant so much, I am going to cry. It is awesome, and I love every single one of the girls on this team. They make soccer fun.”
Novak and Chiero have the been offensive sparks. The defense has been sublime with the 10 shutouts, now some 64 during Johnson’s superb career. That has been the team’s foundation.
“It is every single one of the defenders, and the offensive players who do so much to help us out and the level of communication has been great and everybody working together to get those shutouts," Johnson said. "The keepers [Zoe Romano and Lisa Stranski] have done a great job of saving those goals.
“The chemistry has been great.”
Glenbard East (14-4-2, 5-1-1) finishes the regular season with conference play against Elgin and Larkin. The Rams remain one-point behind South Elgin (10-3-3, 5-0-2). The Storm finishes up with Glenbard South and West Aurora.
The Blackhawks (11-4-1, 6-1-1) are the current-leaders with 19 points, with the one conference game left with South Elgin on Wednesday. Glenbard East beat West Aurora but lost to South Elgin.
Glenbard East is stacked with youth and talent, and the scary part going forward is that Novak, Chiero and Johnson are the only seniors who receive significant playing time and have featured roles on the team.
The next generation is also something to get excited about, with bright and athletic talents like freshmen midfielders Sarah Liljestrand and Maia Zatarski, sophomore defender Kendall Crackel and juniors Elaine Westing, Maddie Weltin and Summer Garcia.
They represent the future.
Novak, Chiero and Johnson signify the major shift from then to now. By looking forward, Glenbard East reckons with a vibrant past, which informs and shapes the next stage -- for the players and the legacies they leave behind.
“It is really wild how many things have happened, and they have really gone by so fast,” Chiero said.
“I just think about my freshman year when we all went to state, and there were a completely different set of girls with me. Sam and Lindsey were by my side. It means a lot to know we have all of these memories together. We have won conference the last three years and hopefully the fourth. We have been regional champions the last three years and hopefully a fourth.
“We will continue to win trophies if we continue to work hard together, which we will because we have that chemistry.”