Golde goal lifts Glenbrook
North past Streamwood
Spartans upset Sabres 2-1 for Northside College Showcase title
by Mike Garofola
NORTHFIELD -- This was an evening of optimum satisfaction for Glenbrook North.
A frenetic, high speed match in which the Spartans conceded the first
goal then roared back to find the next two, ended with a happy ending
Friday night with Glenbrook North hoisting the second annual Northside
College Showcase championship trophy on the turf at New Trier Stadium.
Leading the charge for the Spartans was Tommy Arner and Ryan
Golde, who in a moment of brilliance scored the game-winner in the 58th minute.
Coach Paul Vignocchi's deep roster turned in a high-energy second half
to secure the crown.
"While Ian (Albert) was sensational all throughout this tournament,
and in my mind, the keeper of the tournament, it was some fantastic
play from our bench, and our young backline that proved to be the
difference - especially the other night against Schaumburg (3-1 win)
and tonight, when we did such a great job of keeping a technically
skilled opponent from being as dangerous as we've seen them in pool
play," said Vignocchi, long after watching Albert, in traditional
international style, lift the championship trophy along with his
mates, before a celebration run past a big contingent of family, friends and
students in the stands.
Junior team captain Jackson Grabill put Glenbrook North's achievement in perspective.
"I am not sure most of us figured to be in the final tonight - we're
so young and inexperienced all throughout our roster," said Grabill who
was a key figure in the middle of the park for the Spartans. "But we proved to
others, and ourselves that we belonged here by winning the title.
"Yes, I feel like all of us in the midfield finally helped turn things
around in our favor by winning most of the 50-50 balls, as well as
first and second balls - it seemed to help turn things in our favor
after the break."
That, and the introduction of Sahil Modi near the quarter hour seemed
to be just exactly what the doctor and Vignocchi ordered for the Spartans.
"Sahil's energy and pace were very strong tonight," said Vignocchi.
"When he entered the game, there seemed to be more urgency in our
game, and even though (Streamwood) would score first, it was his work
rate that eventually got us going, and kept us going."
The Sabres (4-2-0) were on their front foot from the opening whistle,
and there was plenty of endeavor and industry in their game, thanks in
part to Edwin Rueta, who ran the show with ease from the middle. Brian
Benitez had plenty of activity also, as Matt Polovin's bunch
constantly built it's attack with speed, and quick touches.
"We came out exactly the way we wanted, and I thought had most of the
play up to that first goal," said the Sabres manager.
With outside backs Rafa Gil and Erie Ortiz joining the fray, the Streamwood
attack had a nice cutting edge to it. At times, six or seven Sabres touched
the ball as they advanced into the Glenbrook North area, but once there the
resilient Spartan backline soaked up the pressure time after
time. The defenders allowed just one half-chance (from Aldo Lazaro on frame)
prior to the opening strike.
After being brought on in the 20th minute, Alex Herrera was on the pitch literally
30 seconds before his keen eye for a chance was rewarded when he followed the
play into the box and ran onto Donnie Sosa's well-paced ball to the back post.
His sublime touch past a diving Albert was the lead goal sides strive for.
"It's want we wanted, the lead," said Sabres senior captain Aaron Villegas.
"But I don't know what happened to us after that goal, because it was like
somebody turned the switch off, and it was all Glenbrook North for the rest of the half."
Just prior to the Herrera strike, the Spartans began to create a
handful of corners, two from long balls out of the back from Mason
Rose, which showed a weakness to defend by the Sabres.
Glenbrook North's Albert went high into the air to pull down a Rueda free kick in
front of three white-clad Sabres to begin a nice, albeit short sequence for Streamwood when
the tempo and possession from Polovins' lads was far better than
its opponent, which, once again found themselves defending far more
than they wanted to.
"Just before, and after their goal, we had our struggles sorting
things out, but we never panicked," said Golde. "So I knew we would be in good shape
if we could put one in for ourselves."
The junior midfielder proved to be a prophet. After some encouragement
from Modi, the Spartans play from Grabill and his midfield mates began to produce
turnovers, and several solid trips into the Sabres end. That led to three more
corners, the third of which proved disastrous for Streamwood.
Streamwood defended the first corner after Sabres keeper Daniel Dominguez turned
around an attempt from Kamil Barabas after the junior met Grabill's crossfield
serve. The successful stop led to another corner.
On the ensuing inward swinging serve from Grabill, Arner rose up
near the spot, and powerfully headed his shot off the underside of the
woodwork and into the back of the net just two minutes before
intermission.
"We gave up way too many corners tonight, and really didn't defend most of
them very well," admitted Polovin.
"(They) were very good in that area of the game and made us pay for it."
Glenbrook North's air supremacy and ball-winning acumen breached
Streamwood in its own end. On countless occasions in the second half, the
Spartans kept their foe under pressure for long stretches.
"The work rate from our guys in the middle was very high tonight, and,
in fact, I believe it helped wear Streamwood down as that second half
went on," said Vignocchi.
The opening exchanges after the break were a little edgy, with some
chippy play, and some voracious tackling that increased the heat on the
turf at this gorgeous soccer stadium.
Steamwood's Soto almost scored inside the 42nd minute when the senior sprayed
his shot wide after a loose ball s,pilled nicely to the Sabres striker.
Then Golde, Sahil and Barabas caught the Streamwood defense flatfooted and broke them down.
If not for a superb point-blank save from Dominguez on
Barabos, the Spartans would have grabbed a one-goal advantage at 55
minutes.
Three minutes later, they would.
After Rose pried open Streamwood with with a lovely ball out of the back,
Golde got the match-winner when in full stride and with terrific
composure on the ball, he touched past an onrushing Dominguez before driving
his angled shot into the far corner.
"It was a good goal for them, but Daniel is a great young keeper for
us," said Villegas. "I am sure the next time a situation like that happens to him,
he'll come off his line a second quicker to stop a play like that."
With the lead, the fierce tackling and high energy play from Glenbrook North,
especially during the critical minutes after its goal, frusrated the Streamwood
attack. It found its pace only for the few moments during the always-frantic
closing minutes when a team chasing a goal throws numbers, and long balls forward.
"It was a lot like our loss to Wheeling a week ago when we fell
behind, and lost all of our energy, and ability to just play simple,
smart Streamwood soccer," admitted Polovin.
"A lot of credit has to go to Glenbrook North for taking us out of our
game, but we'll learn from this, and hopefully come back as strong as
we did after that Wheeling defeat to get ourselves into the final
here."
"Sometimes you have to take a step backward in order to take two or
three forward, and I know that this will be a good lesson for all of
us," chimed Villegas.
The Spartans backline of Clark Reinfranck, Evan Goldberg, Evan Just
and Rose and keeper Albert kept everything in front of them after
the Spartans went ahead to help seal the deal for Vignocchi and
his lads.
"This was a good win for us, and one that I thought we deserved," Vignocchi said. "It's
been a week where we found out some things about ourselves, and now
we'll look to go forward, and continue to improve."
Starting lineups
Glenbrook North
GK- Ian Albert
D- Clark Reinfranck
D- Evan Goldberg
D- Evan Just
D- Mason Rose
MF- Ryan Golde
MF- Jackson Grabill
MF- Mauricio Lasso
MF- Eli Dryer
F- Kamil Barabas
F- Tommy Arner
Streamwood
GK- Daniel Dominguez
D- Rafa Gil
D- Aaron Villegas
D- Jair Zuniga
D- Erie Ortiz
MF- Alda Lazaro
MF- Bryan Mora
MF- Edwin Rueta
MF- Armondo Sanchez
MF- Brian Benitez
F- Donnie Sosa
Man of the Match: Ryan Golde, MF, Glenbrook North
Official: Rick Naatz (center); Jay Wells; Cesar Affaro.
North past Streamwood
Spartans upset Sabres 2-1 for Northside College Showcase title
by Mike Garofola
NORTHFIELD -- This was an evening of optimum satisfaction for Glenbrook North.
A frenetic, high speed match in which the Spartans conceded the first
goal then roared back to find the next two, ended with a happy ending
Friday night with Glenbrook North hoisting the second annual Northside
College Showcase championship trophy on the turf at New Trier Stadium.
Leading the charge for the Spartans was Tommy Arner and Ryan
Golde, who in a moment of brilliance scored the game-winner in the 58th minute.
Coach Paul Vignocchi's deep roster turned in a high-energy second half
to secure the crown.
"While Ian (Albert) was sensational all throughout this tournament,
and in my mind, the keeper of the tournament, it was some fantastic
play from our bench, and our young backline that proved to be the
difference - especially the other night against Schaumburg (3-1 win)
and tonight, when we did such a great job of keeping a technically
skilled opponent from being as dangerous as we've seen them in pool
play," said Vignocchi, long after watching Albert, in traditional
international style, lift the championship trophy along with his
mates, before a celebration run past a big contingent of family, friends and
students in the stands.
Junior team captain Jackson Grabill put Glenbrook North's achievement in perspective.
"I am not sure most of us figured to be in the final tonight - we're
so young and inexperienced all throughout our roster," said Grabill who
was a key figure in the middle of the park for the Spartans. "But we proved to
others, and ourselves that we belonged here by winning the title.
"Yes, I feel like all of us in the midfield finally helped turn things
around in our favor by winning most of the 50-50 balls, as well as
first and second balls - it seemed to help turn things in our favor
after the break."
That, and the introduction of Sahil Modi near the quarter hour seemed
to be just exactly what the doctor and Vignocchi ordered for the Spartans.
"Sahil's energy and pace were very strong tonight," said Vignocchi.
"When he entered the game, there seemed to be more urgency in our
game, and even though (Streamwood) would score first, it was his work
rate that eventually got us going, and kept us going."
The Sabres (4-2-0) were on their front foot from the opening whistle,
and there was plenty of endeavor and industry in their game, thanks in
part to Edwin Rueta, who ran the show with ease from the middle. Brian
Benitez had plenty of activity also, as Matt Polovin's bunch
constantly built it's attack with speed, and quick touches.
"We came out exactly the way we wanted, and I thought had most of the
play up to that first goal," said the Sabres manager.
With outside backs Rafa Gil and Erie Ortiz joining the fray, the Streamwood
attack had a nice cutting edge to it. At times, six or seven Sabres touched
the ball as they advanced into the Glenbrook North area, but once there the
resilient Spartan backline soaked up the pressure time after
time. The defenders allowed just one half-chance (from Aldo Lazaro on frame)
prior to the opening strike.
After being brought on in the 20th minute, Alex Herrera was on the pitch literally
30 seconds before his keen eye for a chance was rewarded when he followed the
play into the box and ran onto Donnie Sosa's well-paced ball to the back post.
His sublime touch past a diving Albert was the lead goal sides strive for.
"It's want we wanted, the lead," said Sabres senior captain Aaron Villegas.
"But I don't know what happened to us after that goal, because it was like
somebody turned the switch off, and it was all Glenbrook North for the rest of the half."
Just prior to the Herrera strike, the Spartans began to create a
handful of corners, two from long balls out of the back from Mason
Rose, which showed a weakness to defend by the Sabres.
Glenbrook North's Albert went high into the air to pull down a Rueda free kick in
front of three white-clad Sabres to begin a nice, albeit short sequence for Streamwood when
the tempo and possession from Polovins' lads was far better than
its opponent, which, once again found themselves defending far more
than they wanted to.
"Just before, and after their goal, we had our struggles sorting
things out, but we never panicked," said Golde. "So I knew we would be in good shape
if we could put one in for ourselves."
The junior midfielder proved to be a prophet. After some encouragement
from Modi, the Spartans play from Grabill and his midfield mates began to produce
turnovers, and several solid trips into the Sabres end. That led to three more
corners, the third of which proved disastrous for Streamwood.
Streamwood defended the first corner after Sabres keeper Daniel Dominguez turned
around an attempt from Kamil Barabas after the junior met Grabill's crossfield
serve. The successful stop led to another corner.
On the ensuing inward swinging serve from Grabill, Arner rose up
near the spot, and powerfully headed his shot off the underside of the
woodwork and into the back of the net just two minutes before
intermission.
"We gave up way too many corners tonight, and really didn't defend most of
them very well," admitted Polovin.
"(They) were very good in that area of the game and made us pay for it."
Glenbrook North's air supremacy and ball-winning acumen breached
Streamwood in its own end. On countless occasions in the second half, the
Spartans kept their foe under pressure for long stretches.
"The work rate from our guys in the middle was very high tonight, and,
in fact, I believe it helped wear Streamwood down as that second half
went on," said Vignocchi.
The opening exchanges after the break were a little edgy, with some
chippy play, and some voracious tackling that increased the heat on the
turf at this gorgeous soccer stadium.
Steamwood's Soto almost scored inside the 42nd minute when the senior sprayed
his shot wide after a loose ball s,pilled nicely to the Sabres striker.
Then Golde, Sahil and Barabas caught the Streamwood defense flatfooted and broke them down.
If not for a superb point-blank save from Dominguez on
Barabos, the Spartans would have grabbed a one-goal advantage at 55
minutes.
Three minutes later, they would.
After Rose pried open Streamwood with with a lovely ball out of the back,
Golde got the match-winner when in full stride and with terrific
composure on the ball, he touched past an onrushing Dominguez before driving
his angled shot into the far corner.
"It was a good goal for them, but Daniel is a great young keeper for
us," said Villegas. "I am sure the next time a situation like that happens to him,
he'll come off his line a second quicker to stop a play like that."
With the lead, the fierce tackling and high energy play from Glenbrook North,
especially during the critical minutes after its goal, frusrated the Streamwood
attack. It found its pace only for the few moments during the always-frantic
closing minutes when a team chasing a goal throws numbers, and long balls forward.
"It was a lot like our loss to Wheeling a week ago when we fell
behind, and lost all of our energy, and ability to just play simple,
smart Streamwood soccer," admitted Polovin.
"A lot of credit has to go to Glenbrook North for taking us out of our
game, but we'll learn from this, and hopefully come back as strong as
we did after that Wheeling defeat to get ourselves into the final
here."
"Sometimes you have to take a step backward in order to take two or
three forward, and I know that this will be a good lesson for all of
us," chimed Villegas.
The Spartans backline of Clark Reinfranck, Evan Goldberg, Evan Just
and Rose and keeper Albert kept everything in front of them after
the Spartans went ahead to help seal the deal for Vignocchi and
his lads.
"This was a good win for us, and one that I thought we deserved," Vignocchi said. "It's
been a week where we found out some things about ourselves, and now
we'll look to go forward, and continue to improve."
Starting lineups
Glenbrook North
GK- Ian Albert
D- Clark Reinfranck
D- Evan Goldberg
D- Evan Just
D- Mason Rose
MF- Ryan Golde
MF- Jackson Grabill
MF- Mauricio Lasso
MF- Eli Dryer
F- Kamil Barabas
F- Tommy Arner
Streamwood
GK- Daniel Dominguez
D- Rafa Gil
D- Aaron Villegas
D- Jair Zuniga
D- Erie Ortiz
MF- Alda Lazaro
MF- Bryan Mora
MF- Edwin Rueta
MF- Armondo Sanchez
MF- Brian Benitez
F- Donnie Sosa
Man of the Match: Ryan Golde, MF, Glenbrook North
Official: Rick Naatz (center); Jay Wells; Cesar Affaro.