GBN tips Deerfield 1-0 in CSL tug-of-war
Hardy nets game-winner in 77th minute
By Ken Keenan
DEERFIELD -- A hard-fought battle between Central Suburban League North Division rivals Glenbrook North and host Deerfield had the makings of a 0-0 draw Tuesday night before the Spartans tallied late to post a 1-0 win.
The close-to-the-vest struggle featured countless battles for 50/50 balls in the midfield, attacks that were stifled by steals and tenacious defense, solid goalkeeping -- and an unlucky bounce for each side in the early going.
Glenbrook North junior midfielder Shannon Hardy netted the lone goal, scoring from close range with merely 3:10 remaining in the second half. After settling a long ball on the right side, Spartans freshman midfielder Lily Denk -- Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match -- dished a perfect pass to Hardy, who finished with a low strike from 15 yards in front that escaped Warriors sophomore goalkeeper Gabi Sipe to the left.
"I saw Lily (Denk) get the ball, and I went right to the PK spot and called her," Hardy said. "It was a great pass, and I put it in."
Denk, a dangerous workhorse who banged a shot off the crossbar in the second minute of the match, said: "It was really frustrating being unable to break through. The (Deerfield) defense was really tough ... center mids, outside backs were tough. It felt great to finally score."
Spartans head coach Tony Valsamis, whose team improved to 7-5-0 overall and 3-0-0 in league play with the win, tipped his cap to the stingy Warriors (7-8-1, 0-2-1) as well.
"I thought we dominated the field, but a lot of opportunities we didn't put away," Valsamis said. "Deerfield did a nice job persevering and working hard. We finally created that opportunity (in the 77th minute). It was a nice lay-off by Denk -- a nice, easy give by the PK spot -- and then Shannon (Hardy) finished."
Though the result was disappointing for the home team, Warriors head coach Rich Grady said he had no problem with his squad's effort, especially after indicating that was not the case during a 3-1 loss to conference foe Maine West on April 15.
"The thing we said, before the (Glenbrook North) game, we were not happy with the Maine West game last week," Grady said. "We didn't compete the way we needed to against Maine West. So the message was, you'll play dictated by the way you practice. I thought the effort level was great (Tuesday night). We had a lot of good performances."
Grady specifically pointed to senior defender Cora Sagan, freshman midfielder Riley Schimanski and sophomore defender Lexi Strauss among those who stood out against the Spartans.
"It was Cora's first varsity start, and I thought she did really well in the back," he said. "Riley stepped up, and she's not typically a forward. And Lexi, she's feisty ... wins balls."
Grady continued: "It's not the result we want, but if we get that same level of intensity and effort, we'll be alright the rest of the season. The effort has to be the foundation."
Deerfield's bad bounce came in the 9th minute. Finding herself alone in front after corralling a deep throw-in, Warriors sophomore forward Demi Friedman poked a quick shot that ricocheted off the shin of surprised Glenbrook North junior keeper Ellie Scott and out of harm's way.
Friedman also had an opportunity on a semi-breakaway in the 14th minute, but the ball trickled away and rolled wide with Spartans keeper Scott well out of her cage to cut down the angle.
Four minutes later, Deerfield's Schimanski missed wide-right from a wide angle on the right side. Soon after, Schimanski uncorked a sneaky, turnaround shot that Scott stopped.
Scott also had the answer for a 30-yard free kick by Warriors freshman forward Holly Deutsch with 9:25 left in the opening session.
The Warriors managed a few chances in the second half, including a scissors-style kick in the box by Schimanski that missed wide-right with 25:10 remaining, as well as a 35-yard free kick by Deutsch that Scott smothered with 9:17 showing.
"We fought as a team trying to get the win," Deutsch said. "At times, we outplayed (Glenbrook North)."
Added Schimanski: "We put in so much effort ... so much urgency. It hurts extra to lose when you give 110 percent."
Prior to scoring, Glenbrook North had a handful of tries in the second half, notably a 25-yard strike from the right side by Denk that Sipe handled in the 61st minute; a 30-yard boomer by sophomore defender Abby Kenbelkamp that sailed over the crossbar in the 62nd minute; and a solid, left-footed shot by Denk that Sipe smothered with 10:50 to go.
"Before we scored, it looked like it would end 1-0 -- either way," Valsamis said. "That's how it felt. It was one of those games."
Grady said, "It was a good, physical, back-and-forth game. I thought a tie would have been a fairer result, but (the Spartans) finished their chance at the end "
Starting lineups
Glenbrook North
G: Ellie Scott
D: Kat Sellas
D: Olivia Kosla
D: Sophia Sparacio
M: Morrisa Lambert
M: Janet Garside
M: Margy Porta
M: Lily Denk
M: Tara Mellul
M: Logan Leiter
F: Bella Bejm
Deerfield
G: Gabi Sipe
D: Ally Linn
D: Cora Sagan
D: Greer Deutsch
D: Katie Morgan
M: Emma Gassman
M: Naomi Fischoff
M: Mallory Sawyer
M: Megan David
F: Marissa Hyland
F: Demi Freeman
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Lily Denk, fr., M, Glenbrook North
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Glenbrook North: Shannon Hardy (assisted by Lily Denk) in 77th minute
Hardy nets game-winner in 77th minute
By Ken Keenan
DEERFIELD -- A hard-fought battle between Central Suburban League North Division rivals Glenbrook North and host Deerfield had the makings of a 0-0 draw Tuesday night before the Spartans tallied late to post a 1-0 win.
The close-to-the-vest struggle featured countless battles for 50/50 balls in the midfield, attacks that were stifled by steals and tenacious defense, solid goalkeeping -- and an unlucky bounce for each side in the early going.
Glenbrook North junior midfielder Shannon Hardy netted the lone goal, scoring from close range with merely 3:10 remaining in the second half. After settling a long ball on the right side, Spartans freshman midfielder Lily Denk -- Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match -- dished a perfect pass to Hardy, who finished with a low strike from 15 yards in front that escaped Warriors sophomore goalkeeper Gabi Sipe to the left.
"I saw Lily (Denk) get the ball, and I went right to the PK spot and called her," Hardy said. "It was a great pass, and I put it in."
Denk, a dangerous workhorse who banged a shot off the crossbar in the second minute of the match, said: "It was really frustrating being unable to break through. The (Deerfield) defense was really tough ... center mids, outside backs were tough. It felt great to finally score."
Spartans head coach Tony Valsamis, whose team improved to 7-5-0 overall and 3-0-0 in league play with the win, tipped his cap to the stingy Warriors (7-8-1, 0-2-1) as well.
"I thought we dominated the field, but a lot of opportunities we didn't put away," Valsamis said. "Deerfield did a nice job persevering and working hard. We finally created that opportunity (in the 77th minute). It was a nice lay-off by Denk -- a nice, easy give by the PK spot -- and then Shannon (Hardy) finished."
Though the result was disappointing for the home team, Warriors head coach Rich Grady said he had no problem with his squad's effort, especially after indicating that was not the case during a 3-1 loss to conference foe Maine West on April 15.
"The thing we said, before the (Glenbrook North) game, we were not happy with the Maine West game last week," Grady said. "We didn't compete the way we needed to against Maine West. So the message was, you'll play dictated by the way you practice. I thought the effort level was great (Tuesday night). We had a lot of good performances."
Grady specifically pointed to senior defender Cora Sagan, freshman midfielder Riley Schimanski and sophomore defender Lexi Strauss among those who stood out against the Spartans.
"It was Cora's first varsity start, and I thought she did really well in the back," he said. "Riley stepped up, and she's not typically a forward. And Lexi, she's feisty ... wins balls."
Grady continued: "It's not the result we want, but if we get that same level of intensity and effort, we'll be alright the rest of the season. The effort has to be the foundation."
Deerfield's bad bounce came in the 9th minute. Finding herself alone in front after corralling a deep throw-in, Warriors sophomore forward Demi Friedman poked a quick shot that ricocheted off the shin of surprised Glenbrook North junior keeper Ellie Scott and out of harm's way.
Friedman also had an opportunity on a semi-breakaway in the 14th minute, but the ball trickled away and rolled wide with Spartans keeper Scott well out of her cage to cut down the angle.
Four minutes later, Deerfield's Schimanski missed wide-right from a wide angle on the right side. Soon after, Schimanski uncorked a sneaky, turnaround shot that Scott stopped.
Scott also had the answer for a 30-yard free kick by Warriors freshman forward Holly Deutsch with 9:25 left in the opening session.
The Warriors managed a few chances in the second half, including a scissors-style kick in the box by Schimanski that missed wide-right with 25:10 remaining, as well as a 35-yard free kick by Deutsch that Scott smothered with 9:17 showing.
"We fought as a team trying to get the win," Deutsch said. "At times, we outplayed (Glenbrook North)."
Added Schimanski: "We put in so much effort ... so much urgency. It hurts extra to lose when you give 110 percent."
Prior to scoring, Glenbrook North had a handful of tries in the second half, notably a 25-yard strike from the right side by Denk that Sipe handled in the 61st minute; a 30-yard boomer by sophomore defender Abby Kenbelkamp that sailed over the crossbar in the 62nd minute; and a solid, left-footed shot by Denk that Sipe smothered with 10:50 to go.
"Before we scored, it looked like it would end 1-0 -- either way," Valsamis said. "That's how it felt. It was one of those games."
Grady said, "It was a good, physical, back-and-forth game. I thought a tie would have been a fairer result, but (the Spartans) finished their chance at the end "
Starting lineups
Glenbrook North
G: Ellie Scott
D: Kat Sellas
D: Olivia Kosla
D: Sophia Sparacio
M: Morrisa Lambert
M: Janet Garside
M: Margy Porta
M: Lily Denk
M: Tara Mellul
M: Logan Leiter
F: Bella Bejm
Deerfield
G: Gabi Sipe
D: Ally Linn
D: Cora Sagan
D: Greer Deutsch
D: Katie Morgan
M: Emma Gassman
M: Naomi Fischoff
M: Mallory Sawyer
M: Megan David
F: Marissa Hyland
F: Demi Freeman
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Lily Denk, fr., M, Glenbrook North
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Glenbrook North: Shannon Hardy (assisted by Lily Denk) in 77th minute