Bartlett, Glenbard E. can't find a goal
0-0 draw is defending Upstate 8 Valley co-champs 2nd-straight tie
By Dave Owen
LOMBARD -- Bartlett and Glenbard East are learning to share the glory.
With no overtimes nor shootouts in Upstate Eight Conference regular season play, teams have just 80 minutes of regulation to determine a winner.
And after the Hawks (3-2-1, 1-0-1 in the Valley Division) and Rams (6-1-1, 0-0-1) played to a 0-0 tie in Thursday’s key early season battle, the two squads faced a potential case of deja vu.
Last year, they played to a 2-2 tie on April 4, and finished the season tied atop the standings with matching 3-0-2 records.
Whether or not multiple knots will again bunch up the title chase won’t be sure until late May. But whatever Tuesday’s hard-fought test lacked on the scoreboard was eclipsed by its importance as an early litmus test and confidence booster.
“Even though the score was 0-0, that was the best game they have played this year at both ends of the field,” Bartlett coach Victor Marquez said of his girls. “Keeping the zero in our goal was phenomenal, and a lot had to do with (goalkeeper) Teagan (Noesen). But I think overall it was the best game we’ve played so far.”
Glenbard East coach Kent Overbey had a similar upbeat view on the nil-nil draw.
“It’s our first conference game, and I think for some of our younger players it was kind of eye-opening to see the pace and the physical play that we’re going to see throughout the conference,” Overbey said. “But I’m super proud.”
The Rams had cause for pride, as it took tremendous late plays by Bartlett goalkeeper Noesen and the Hawks’ defense to preserve the 0-0 outcome.
Noesen’s diving save at the left post of a low Mimi Camacho 20-yard drive with 23:15 left to play was a prelude to her biggest play of the night.
With 3:50 to go, Amy Chiero nicely won a ball at midfield and hit Camacho (five goals this spring) racing in on right wing. Camacho’s ensuing 12-yard drive appeared destined for a spot just under the crossbar, but Noesen leaped to tip the shot inches over the goal to deny what appeared to be certain late-game heroics.
“I thought it was going in, but she made a great save honestly,” Camacho said. “It’s my bad luck that she saved it.”
That and other clutch saves earned Noesen honors as the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – although the junior took little credit for her role in quieting the potent offense of the Rams (24 goals this season, 14 in the last three games prior to Tuesday).
“Our defense, all of us have pretty much worked together for multiple years,” Noesen said. “They did a great job tonight -- they’re a big part of the shutout. They did great holding them and helping me out.”
Great defense has been the hallmark of Glenbard East’s season as well.
The Rams’ effort Tuesday marked their sixth shutout in a row, which matches their unbeaten streak, and seventh in eight games in 2018. And the latest goose egg required a herculean effort to limit explosive Bartlett midfielder Jenna Dombrowski.
“I thought we did a great job of shutting down Jenna Dombrowski in the middle,” Overbey said. “She’s a great talent. And between Amy Chiero, Elizabeth Toledo and Ali Liljestrand, and then Maddie Weltin our freshman shifted through there -- we didn’t man-mark her, but we knew where she was at all times. And we gave her very little space and very little time to be dangerous on the ball. I’m really proud of that. Our midfield really held the game for us.”
Dombrowski left the game with an injury with just over 15 minutes left, removing a key factor in what had been a tug-of-war of dueling chances between the two teams.
“Everything goes through her (Dombrowski),” Overbey said, “and unfortunately she got a little banged up, and I hope she’s OK. But after that (injury), we held them in their half the whole time. It was a different team, and we really put pressure on at the end. But we just couldn’t get on the end of them (and score).”
Bartlett had the first big chance of the game at 31:05 before halftime when Paige Bednarke’s powerful 55-yard free kick took a high skip on the slick turf and required a leaping deflection over the crossbar by Glenbard East goalkeeper Faith Davies.
But what quickly became a night-long back-and-forth battle was summed up during a sequence in the 10th minute of the match.
A corner kick by Bartlett’s Jess Mirsky was nicely blocked and cleared by Glenbard East’s Alyse Donato. That ultimately sprung Camacho on a counterattack up the left side, with Weltin taking a Camacho cross and sending a 6-yard try just wide of the left post.
Noesen was tested often later in the first half. She made a catch in traffic at the near post of a Liljestrand corner kick in the 23rd minute.
Then four minutes later, she deflected a Camacho shot just wide of the right post, and followed on the ensuing Mattie Pusateri corner kick by diving to cover up Katie Hansen’s redirect at the left post.
“She made some crazy saves out there,” Glenbard East forward Lindsey Novak (seven goals this season) said of Noesen. “And then they would put the pressure right back on us. It was awesome.”
Bartlett turned up the heat 10:20 before halftime. After Makeena Hughes was fouled, Alyssa Modugno’s well-struck 23-yard free kick cleared the wall of Rams defenders but was denied on a nice short-hop save by Davies.
The Rams answered two minutes later with the half’s closest call of all, when Liljestrand’s 30-yard one-timer skimmed just over the crossbar and landed atop the net.
Finally with 1:50 until halftime, Bartlett’s Serena Salvato was fouled to set up a Bednarke 41-yard free kick -- which Pusateri nicely foot blocked in the box and cleared.
In the high stakes game, Glenbard East was denied a first half goal but was on much better footing than in its 2017 match with the Hawks.
“Last year we were down 2-0 at half and had to battle our way back (to eventually tie 2-2),” Novak said. “We battled so hard (Tuesday). We knew this would be one of the hardest games of the season, basically the conference championship game.”
Bartlett also knew the stakes.
“We really wanted to come out strong this game,” Noesen said, “because we knew this was an important game for conference since we shared the title with them last year. We really wanted to come out strong and make a statement this year, that we can hang with them.”
Bartlett’s statement continued 2:10 into the second half. Kelsey Sniatynsky’s cross attempt deflected to Modugno, whose straight-on low 22-yard shot went just wide left of the net.
Then after Glenbard East threats with 37 minutes left (a Camacho shot angled just wide) and 35 minutes to go (Noesen’s nice catch in traffic of a Hansen 28-yard free kick), the two teams again settled into an exchange of threats before the Rams’ late push.
“We were really working well together,” Modugno said. “We kept the ball out of our half most of the game until like the last 16 minutes. We defended their long balls really well, and we didn’t let them have many really strong opportunities on net.”
Camacho was part of Glenbard East's few close-in chances.
“We knew we had to push through the entire game,” she said. “I think we played great against them. They battled hard, and we matched up with them. We just didn’t get the results that we wanted.”
A 50-yard, one-hop shot by Hansen with 1:30 left was the final shot on goal of the night. A last second push by Bartlett's Bednarke was denied by a Sam Johnson clear as time expired.
The tie marked Bartlett’s second shutout in a row and third this season.
“We worked really well in the mid, we kept the ball most of the game, and we defended what they gave to us really well,” Modugno said. “But we just really need to work on finishing.”
In their first game in a week due to spring break, the Hawks’ teamwork paid off.
“Our backline played really well tonight defending their long balls,” Noesen said, “and that pressure started from our top line to the mid and then to our defense.
“We played really well together, and I think this is the best game we’ve played so far. Hopefully we can carry this on to our next games in the future and to St. Louis (the St. Louis Classic tournament) this weekend.”
Marquez was impressed by his team’s resolve in cold, slick conditions on the road.
“It was intense from the very beginning,” he said. “We had our opportunities, they had theirs. And I guess it’s one of those ties that is alright. It was back and forth. We had some good combinations, and we just couldn’t finish with the ball in the net. But the team played very, very well.
“This was very difficult -- the field was too fast. It was wet and cold, but they (Bartlett’s players) didn’t seem to mind at all. I’m very proud of each one of them. It was a very good match.”
Coming off its own spring break, Glenbard East also sees benefits from the Tuesday tie.
“This was an early test, and I’m really happy,” Overbey said. “Honestly we have a performance like that in late April, and I’ll probably be happy. Especially coming out of spring break and just getting our sea legs back.
“Another big one at West Aurora on Thursday, and I obviously would have liked to get a result here instead of a tie. But I’m really happy with the way we played. We did everything we needed to do to win the game, and it just didn’t bounce our way.
“We haven’t been as efficient in the final third as I want to be,” Overbey added. “We had some good chances, and hopefully on another night with better conditions we put a couple of those away. But their goalie (Noesen) played great -- she controlled their back half well, and their defense did a great job.”
While a sixth-straight win proved elusive, the Rams’ players see no drop in confidence.
“It sucks to tie, but the whole entire team kept pressure on everyone for the entire game,” Novak said. “So we’re really happy.
“We’re off to a really good start. We have a lot of new players this year, but we’re all coming together super good. It’s awesome -- positive energy in everything. Everybody puts their best foot down every game.
“It was definitely perfect timing to have this game now,” Novak added, “because we play West Aurora (Thursday) and then Saturday we have the opening game of the PepsiCo. So we’re glad we got it in now.”
Starting lineups
Bartlett
GK Teagan Noesen
D Miranda Hedeen
D Makeena Hughes
D Paige Bednarke
D Alyssa Modugno
M Jenna Dombrowski
M Jess Mirsky
M Jocelyn Carlos
M Kelsey Sniatynsky
F Morgan Myers
F Mikayla Brown
Glenbard East
GK Faith Davies
D Sam Johnson
D Katie Hansen
D Mattie Pusateri
M Ali Liljestrand
M Alyse Donato
M Amy Chiero
M Elizabeth Toledo
M Maddie Weltin
F Mimi Camacho
F Lindsey Novak
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Teagan Noesen, jr. GK, Bartlett
0-0 draw is defending Upstate 8 Valley co-champs 2nd-straight tie
By Dave Owen
LOMBARD -- Bartlett and Glenbard East are learning to share the glory.
With no overtimes nor shootouts in Upstate Eight Conference regular season play, teams have just 80 minutes of regulation to determine a winner.
And after the Hawks (3-2-1, 1-0-1 in the Valley Division) and Rams (6-1-1, 0-0-1) played to a 0-0 tie in Thursday’s key early season battle, the two squads faced a potential case of deja vu.
Last year, they played to a 2-2 tie on April 4, and finished the season tied atop the standings with matching 3-0-2 records.
Whether or not multiple knots will again bunch up the title chase won’t be sure until late May. But whatever Tuesday’s hard-fought test lacked on the scoreboard was eclipsed by its importance as an early litmus test and confidence booster.
“Even though the score was 0-0, that was the best game they have played this year at both ends of the field,” Bartlett coach Victor Marquez said of his girls. “Keeping the zero in our goal was phenomenal, and a lot had to do with (goalkeeper) Teagan (Noesen). But I think overall it was the best game we’ve played so far.”
Glenbard East coach Kent Overbey had a similar upbeat view on the nil-nil draw.
“It’s our first conference game, and I think for some of our younger players it was kind of eye-opening to see the pace and the physical play that we’re going to see throughout the conference,” Overbey said. “But I’m super proud.”
The Rams had cause for pride, as it took tremendous late plays by Bartlett goalkeeper Noesen and the Hawks’ defense to preserve the 0-0 outcome.
Noesen’s diving save at the left post of a low Mimi Camacho 20-yard drive with 23:15 left to play was a prelude to her biggest play of the night.
With 3:50 to go, Amy Chiero nicely won a ball at midfield and hit Camacho (five goals this spring) racing in on right wing. Camacho’s ensuing 12-yard drive appeared destined for a spot just under the crossbar, but Noesen leaped to tip the shot inches over the goal to deny what appeared to be certain late-game heroics.
“I thought it was going in, but she made a great save honestly,” Camacho said. “It’s my bad luck that she saved it.”
That and other clutch saves earned Noesen honors as the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – although the junior took little credit for her role in quieting the potent offense of the Rams (24 goals this season, 14 in the last three games prior to Tuesday).
“Our defense, all of us have pretty much worked together for multiple years,” Noesen said. “They did a great job tonight -- they’re a big part of the shutout. They did great holding them and helping me out.”
Great defense has been the hallmark of Glenbard East’s season as well.
The Rams’ effort Tuesday marked their sixth shutout in a row, which matches their unbeaten streak, and seventh in eight games in 2018. And the latest goose egg required a herculean effort to limit explosive Bartlett midfielder Jenna Dombrowski.
“I thought we did a great job of shutting down Jenna Dombrowski in the middle,” Overbey said. “She’s a great talent. And between Amy Chiero, Elizabeth Toledo and Ali Liljestrand, and then Maddie Weltin our freshman shifted through there -- we didn’t man-mark her, but we knew where she was at all times. And we gave her very little space and very little time to be dangerous on the ball. I’m really proud of that. Our midfield really held the game for us.”
Dombrowski left the game with an injury with just over 15 minutes left, removing a key factor in what had been a tug-of-war of dueling chances between the two teams.
“Everything goes through her (Dombrowski),” Overbey said, “and unfortunately she got a little banged up, and I hope she’s OK. But after that (injury), we held them in their half the whole time. It was a different team, and we really put pressure on at the end. But we just couldn’t get on the end of them (and score).”
Bartlett had the first big chance of the game at 31:05 before halftime when Paige Bednarke’s powerful 55-yard free kick took a high skip on the slick turf and required a leaping deflection over the crossbar by Glenbard East goalkeeper Faith Davies.
But what quickly became a night-long back-and-forth battle was summed up during a sequence in the 10th minute of the match.
A corner kick by Bartlett’s Jess Mirsky was nicely blocked and cleared by Glenbard East’s Alyse Donato. That ultimately sprung Camacho on a counterattack up the left side, with Weltin taking a Camacho cross and sending a 6-yard try just wide of the left post.
Noesen was tested often later in the first half. She made a catch in traffic at the near post of a Liljestrand corner kick in the 23rd minute.
Then four minutes later, she deflected a Camacho shot just wide of the right post, and followed on the ensuing Mattie Pusateri corner kick by diving to cover up Katie Hansen’s redirect at the left post.
“She made some crazy saves out there,” Glenbard East forward Lindsey Novak (seven goals this season) said of Noesen. “And then they would put the pressure right back on us. It was awesome.”
Bartlett turned up the heat 10:20 before halftime. After Makeena Hughes was fouled, Alyssa Modugno’s well-struck 23-yard free kick cleared the wall of Rams defenders but was denied on a nice short-hop save by Davies.
The Rams answered two minutes later with the half’s closest call of all, when Liljestrand’s 30-yard one-timer skimmed just over the crossbar and landed atop the net.
Finally with 1:50 until halftime, Bartlett’s Serena Salvato was fouled to set up a Bednarke 41-yard free kick -- which Pusateri nicely foot blocked in the box and cleared.
In the high stakes game, Glenbard East was denied a first half goal but was on much better footing than in its 2017 match with the Hawks.
“Last year we were down 2-0 at half and had to battle our way back (to eventually tie 2-2),” Novak said. “We battled so hard (Tuesday). We knew this would be one of the hardest games of the season, basically the conference championship game.”
Bartlett also knew the stakes.
“We really wanted to come out strong this game,” Noesen said, “because we knew this was an important game for conference since we shared the title with them last year. We really wanted to come out strong and make a statement this year, that we can hang with them.”
Bartlett’s statement continued 2:10 into the second half. Kelsey Sniatynsky’s cross attempt deflected to Modugno, whose straight-on low 22-yard shot went just wide left of the net.
Then after Glenbard East threats with 37 minutes left (a Camacho shot angled just wide) and 35 minutes to go (Noesen’s nice catch in traffic of a Hansen 28-yard free kick), the two teams again settled into an exchange of threats before the Rams’ late push.
“We were really working well together,” Modugno said. “We kept the ball out of our half most of the game until like the last 16 minutes. We defended their long balls really well, and we didn’t let them have many really strong opportunities on net.”
Camacho was part of Glenbard East's few close-in chances.
“We knew we had to push through the entire game,” she said. “I think we played great against them. They battled hard, and we matched up with them. We just didn’t get the results that we wanted.”
A 50-yard, one-hop shot by Hansen with 1:30 left was the final shot on goal of the night. A last second push by Bartlett's Bednarke was denied by a Sam Johnson clear as time expired.
The tie marked Bartlett’s second shutout in a row and third this season.
“We worked really well in the mid, we kept the ball most of the game, and we defended what they gave to us really well,” Modugno said. “But we just really need to work on finishing.”
In their first game in a week due to spring break, the Hawks’ teamwork paid off.
“Our backline played really well tonight defending their long balls,” Noesen said, “and that pressure started from our top line to the mid and then to our defense.
“We played really well together, and I think this is the best game we’ve played so far. Hopefully we can carry this on to our next games in the future and to St. Louis (the St. Louis Classic tournament) this weekend.”
Marquez was impressed by his team’s resolve in cold, slick conditions on the road.
“It was intense from the very beginning,” he said. “We had our opportunities, they had theirs. And I guess it’s one of those ties that is alright. It was back and forth. We had some good combinations, and we just couldn’t finish with the ball in the net. But the team played very, very well.
“This was very difficult -- the field was too fast. It was wet and cold, but they (Bartlett’s players) didn’t seem to mind at all. I’m very proud of each one of them. It was a very good match.”
Coming off its own spring break, Glenbard East also sees benefits from the Tuesday tie.
“This was an early test, and I’m really happy,” Overbey said. “Honestly we have a performance like that in late April, and I’ll probably be happy. Especially coming out of spring break and just getting our sea legs back.
“Another big one at West Aurora on Thursday, and I obviously would have liked to get a result here instead of a tie. But I’m really happy with the way we played. We did everything we needed to do to win the game, and it just didn’t bounce our way.
“We haven’t been as efficient in the final third as I want to be,” Overbey added. “We had some good chances, and hopefully on another night with better conditions we put a couple of those away. But their goalie (Noesen) played great -- she controlled their back half well, and their defense did a great job.”
While a sixth-straight win proved elusive, the Rams’ players see no drop in confidence.
“It sucks to tie, but the whole entire team kept pressure on everyone for the entire game,” Novak said. “So we’re really happy.
“We’re off to a really good start. We have a lot of new players this year, but we’re all coming together super good. It’s awesome -- positive energy in everything. Everybody puts their best foot down every game.
“It was definitely perfect timing to have this game now,” Novak added, “because we play West Aurora (Thursday) and then Saturday we have the opening game of the PepsiCo. So we’re glad we got it in now.”
Starting lineups
Bartlett
GK Teagan Noesen
D Miranda Hedeen
D Makeena Hughes
D Paige Bednarke
D Alyssa Modugno
M Jenna Dombrowski
M Jess Mirsky
M Jocelyn Carlos
M Kelsey Sniatynsky
F Morgan Myers
F Mikayla Brown
Glenbard East
GK Faith Davies
D Sam Johnson
D Katie Hansen
D Mattie Pusateri
M Ali Liljestrand
M Alyse Donato
M Amy Chiero
M Elizabeth Toledo
M Maddie Weltin
F Mimi Camacho
F Lindsey Novak
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Teagan Noesen, jr. GK, Bartlett