New Trier marches on
Defending state champs shut out Glenbrook S. in sectional semis
By Ken Keenan
NORTHBROOK -- Flashing its state championship pedigree with lock-down defense and dogged determination across the board, New Trier marched past Glenbrook South 2-0 in IHSA Class 3A sectional semifinal play Tuesday night at Glenbrook North.
The Trevians, whose goal is a fourth-straight Class 3A title, will face neighborhood rival Loyola for the sectional crown at 6 p.m. Friday. Ranked no. 4 in the latest Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 poll, New Trier improved to 21-2-1 with the win.
Glenbrook South, ranked 21st, ended its season at 19-5-0. The Titans simply had no answer for the Trevians' tenacious backline, cemented by seniors Megan Murdoch and Sam Urban, and juniors Caroline Iserloth and Sydney Parker.
"Our defense has been working all season," said New Trier head coach Jim Burnside. "And it's not one, two or three people, it's everyone working together. They all want to do it for each other. If one makes a mistake, their 'friend' will cover."
Urban said, "Our main focus (Tuesday) was, always be aware and keep talking. Keep the hunger, knowing we had to have the hunger and grit to power us through. In the playoffs, one second can cost you a goal. You want to set the tone early and not fall behind ... start strong and carry that energy through the first half, and the second half as well."
New Trier junior forward Nicole Kaspi provided the spark on offense, scoring in the 21st minute to give the Trevians the lead. Kaspi, Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match, tipped the ball inside the left post past Titans' sophomore goalkeeper Libbie Vanderveen after tracking a perfect pass from junior forward Whitney Hoban.
"To get that first goal is essential -- super, super important," said Kaspi, who had her share of other dangerous chances as well. "It gives you fire and momentum to get a second one."
Kaspi, who began the season as a midfielder, switched to center forward as the campaign progressed, and has scored 15 goals in the process.
"What she has done is gain confidence, and she's willing to take responsibility," Burnside said. "She knows what she can do, and she shows it out on the field. She's got superb touch, superb vision and a real sense for the game."
New Trier upped the advantage to 2-0 on a successful penalty kick by Parker with 5:28 remaining in the first half. The spot kick sequence started when an aggressive charge off the line by Glenbrook South's Vanderveen resulted in a collision. Parker converted on the direct look when she calmly blasted the ball top-shelf to the keeper's left.
Titans' senior Maude Tarbox replaced Vanderveen after the break, and Glenbrook South was able to keep New Trier off the scoreboard in the second half as it fought to equalize.
"We've been rotating goalkeepers at the half," said Titans skipper Seong Ha. "You would think that would create awkwardness. But within the Glenbrook South soccer program, the competition is healthy. That's the mentality we have. We really cheer for each other."
The Titans nearly had good reason to cheer when shifty sophomore forward Makayla Stadler rattled a rocket off the crossbar with 32:45 left in regulation.
"It's hard enough to get a goal against New Trier, especially in the playoffs," Stadler said. "I felt we were struggling to connect passes, so it was nice to be open for that one. Obviously, I was upset it hit the crossbar. If that had gone in, it would have been a huge momentum changer."
But other than a 45-yard shot by senior midfielder Sarah Klein that sailed wide-right in the 59th minute, followed by a 30-yard try from freshman defender Heidi Bianucci a minute later, Trevians senior keeper Kathy Symanietz wasn't really tested.
"New Trier was definitely strong defensively," Stadler said. "It seemed like they were winning 50/50 balls all game. They made it hard for us to move forward -- not many chances all night."
Added Ha: "We had a lot of difficulty getting behind their backline. In the first five minutes, we had a few chances to score, but the door was shut the next 75 minutes. They ate up every single ball we sent in."
After drawing a corner kick in the second minute, Glenbrook South had the first good opportunity in the match, but senior defender Kelley Krug fired wide-left from 40 yards.
New Trier answered with a trio of chances in a 1-minute span. With 37:35 showing, sophomore middie Lily Conley shot high from a wide angle on the left side. Twenty seconds later, Kaspi popped a short shot high. Soon after, she fed senior mid Avery Schuldt for a 25-yard strike that Vanderveen nabbed.
Vanderveen also stopped a solid 25-yard shot by Kaspi at the left post in the 14th minute. Two minutes into the second session, Tarbox spoiled a wide-angle try by Kaspi, and then slapped away a sizzling 30-yard shot by Schuldt with 32:45 left.
Looking to pad the 2-0 lead, Kaspi sent a header barely wide-left in the 70th minute, and narrowly missed again on a sharp 15-yard try 50 seconds later.
"We were laser-focused all game," Kaspi said.
Added Urban: "In the playoffs, it comes down to mental mistakes, so we want keep being focused. We like to focus on staying mentally sharp."
"It's a matter of us doing what we needed to do," Burnside said. "In the playoffs, it's a battle. But I think we did what we needed to do: play a full 80 minutes of relentless soccer."
Well aware of New Trier's title-winning ways, Ha simply tipped his cap to the powerhouse Trevians.
"When you play New Trier, you have to learn how to win," he said. "We lost 2-1 to them earlier this season, so we're not far off the bar they've set. But you need that taste of victory against these high-level teams. To play championship soccer, you have to execute and take care of your opportunities. It didn't go our way."
Starting lineups
New Trier
G: Katy Symanietz
D: Megan Murdoch
D: Caroline Iserloth
D: Sam Urban
D: Sydney Parker
M: Avery Schuldt
M: Lilly Conley
M: Emma Weaver
M: Hope Baisley
F: Nicole Kaspi
F: Hannah Arment
Glenbrook South
G: Libbie Vanderveen
D: Katie Sullivan
D: Cassidy Price
D: Kelley Krug
M: Julia DiSano
M: Callie Pekosh
M: Gabby Amesquita
M: Sam Langenbach
F: Lily Sands
F: Makayla Stadler
F: Katie Weiss
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Nicole Kaspi, jr., F, New Trier
Defending state champs shut out Glenbrook S. in sectional semis
By Ken Keenan
NORTHBROOK -- Flashing its state championship pedigree with lock-down defense and dogged determination across the board, New Trier marched past Glenbrook South 2-0 in IHSA Class 3A sectional semifinal play Tuesday night at Glenbrook North.
The Trevians, whose goal is a fourth-straight Class 3A title, will face neighborhood rival Loyola for the sectional crown at 6 p.m. Friday. Ranked no. 4 in the latest Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 poll, New Trier improved to 21-2-1 with the win.
Glenbrook South, ranked 21st, ended its season at 19-5-0. The Titans simply had no answer for the Trevians' tenacious backline, cemented by seniors Megan Murdoch and Sam Urban, and juniors Caroline Iserloth and Sydney Parker.
"Our defense has been working all season," said New Trier head coach Jim Burnside. "And it's not one, two or three people, it's everyone working together. They all want to do it for each other. If one makes a mistake, their 'friend' will cover."
Urban said, "Our main focus (Tuesday) was, always be aware and keep talking. Keep the hunger, knowing we had to have the hunger and grit to power us through. In the playoffs, one second can cost you a goal. You want to set the tone early and not fall behind ... start strong and carry that energy through the first half, and the second half as well."
New Trier junior forward Nicole Kaspi provided the spark on offense, scoring in the 21st minute to give the Trevians the lead. Kaspi, Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match, tipped the ball inside the left post past Titans' sophomore goalkeeper Libbie Vanderveen after tracking a perfect pass from junior forward Whitney Hoban.
"To get that first goal is essential -- super, super important," said Kaspi, who had her share of other dangerous chances as well. "It gives you fire and momentum to get a second one."
Kaspi, who began the season as a midfielder, switched to center forward as the campaign progressed, and has scored 15 goals in the process.
"What she has done is gain confidence, and she's willing to take responsibility," Burnside said. "She knows what she can do, and she shows it out on the field. She's got superb touch, superb vision and a real sense for the game."
New Trier upped the advantage to 2-0 on a successful penalty kick by Parker with 5:28 remaining in the first half. The spot kick sequence started when an aggressive charge off the line by Glenbrook South's Vanderveen resulted in a collision. Parker converted on the direct look when she calmly blasted the ball top-shelf to the keeper's left.
Titans' senior Maude Tarbox replaced Vanderveen after the break, and Glenbrook South was able to keep New Trier off the scoreboard in the second half as it fought to equalize.
"We've been rotating goalkeepers at the half," said Titans skipper Seong Ha. "You would think that would create awkwardness. But within the Glenbrook South soccer program, the competition is healthy. That's the mentality we have. We really cheer for each other."
The Titans nearly had good reason to cheer when shifty sophomore forward Makayla Stadler rattled a rocket off the crossbar with 32:45 left in regulation.
"It's hard enough to get a goal against New Trier, especially in the playoffs," Stadler said. "I felt we were struggling to connect passes, so it was nice to be open for that one. Obviously, I was upset it hit the crossbar. If that had gone in, it would have been a huge momentum changer."
But other than a 45-yard shot by senior midfielder Sarah Klein that sailed wide-right in the 59th minute, followed by a 30-yard try from freshman defender Heidi Bianucci a minute later, Trevians senior keeper Kathy Symanietz wasn't really tested.
"New Trier was definitely strong defensively," Stadler said. "It seemed like they were winning 50/50 balls all game. They made it hard for us to move forward -- not many chances all night."
Added Ha: "We had a lot of difficulty getting behind their backline. In the first five minutes, we had a few chances to score, but the door was shut the next 75 minutes. They ate up every single ball we sent in."
After drawing a corner kick in the second minute, Glenbrook South had the first good opportunity in the match, but senior defender Kelley Krug fired wide-left from 40 yards.
New Trier answered with a trio of chances in a 1-minute span. With 37:35 showing, sophomore middie Lily Conley shot high from a wide angle on the left side. Twenty seconds later, Kaspi popped a short shot high. Soon after, she fed senior mid Avery Schuldt for a 25-yard strike that Vanderveen nabbed.
Vanderveen also stopped a solid 25-yard shot by Kaspi at the left post in the 14th minute. Two minutes into the second session, Tarbox spoiled a wide-angle try by Kaspi, and then slapped away a sizzling 30-yard shot by Schuldt with 32:45 left.
Looking to pad the 2-0 lead, Kaspi sent a header barely wide-left in the 70th minute, and narrowly missed again on a sharp 15-yard try 50 seconds later.
"We were laser-focused all game," Kaspi said.
Added Urban: "In the playoffs, it comes down to mental mistakes, so we want keep being focused. We like to focus on staying mentally sharp."
"It's a matter of us doing what we needed to do," Burnside said. "In the playoffs, it's a battle. But I think we did what we needed to do: play a full 80 minutes of relentless soccer."
Well aware of New Trier's title-winning ways, Ha simply tipped his cap to the powerhouse Trevians.
"When you play New Trier, you have to learn how to win," he said. "We lost 2-1 to them earlier this season, so we're not far off the bar they've set. But you need that taste of victory against these high-level teams. To play championship soccer, you have to execute and take care of your opportunities. It didn't go our way."
Starting lineups
New Trier
G: Katy Symanietz
D: Megan Murdoch
D: Caroline Iserloth
D: Sam Urban
D: Sydney Parker
M: Avery Schuldt
M: Lilly Conley
M: Emma Weaver
M: Hope Baisley
F: Nicole Kaspi
F: Hannah Arment
Glenbrook South
G: Libbie Vanderveen
D: Katie Sullivan
D: Cassidy Price
D: Kelley Krug
M: Julia DiSano
M: Callie Pekosh
M: Gabby Amesquita
M: Sam Langenbach
F: Lily Sands
F: Makayla Stadler
F: Katie Weiss
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Nicole Kaspi, jr., F, New Trier