GBS fights off 2nd half Maine South attack
Titans secure 3-2 CSL road win, but not without anxious moments
By Mike Garofola
PARK RIDGE -- Danny Sergiev, Blake Shechtman and Justin Leszynski each bagged first half goals as Glenbrook South defied a strong second half fight back from host Maine South to register a 3-2 victory on Thursday.
The visting Titans (6-1-3, 1-0-1) looked every bit the part of their no. 14 ranking in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 and perhaps even better during a masterful first half of soccer. But Maine South turned things around in the second half to make things more than interesting at Wilson Field.
After the game Sergieve and Jose Santos-DeSoto felt Glenbrook South didn't put in a full 80 minutes of work in the big Central Suburban League South Division contest.
"We controlled the game by playing our best half of soccer, but came out flat after the break and suddenly found ourself in a game," said Santos-DeSoto, who was named co-Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match along with Maine South senior Sam McGinnis.
Glenbrook South manager Reggie Lara was on the same page.
"These are the games you learn something about yourselves, and the first thing the guys learned was about playing a full 80 minutes," Lara said.
"It's the same thing we experienced the other night when playing New Trier (in a 1-1) draw, and, once again we repeat history tonight.
"The funny thing (is) we've proven to be a second half team, but tonight, we come out and played our best first half of the season. You would figure the guys will turn in 80 strong minutes.
"My assistant cautioned the guys about how the next goal (after the break) would be the most important one of the match, and he proved to be a prophet. When (Maine South) scored, it became an entirely different game."
The Titans got off to a blistering start on this night, having most if not all of the play with precise passing and approximately 80 percent of the possession. The effort was fueled by terrific work from the midfield, which connected with the forwards, and a backline, led by Santos-DeSoto, that joined the attack with confidence and composure.
"It was a first half where we all contributed. Outside backs were getting forward to add numbers and all of us in the back were part of the attack," Santos-DeSoto said. "It was our best half of soccer of the season."
Maine South (4-4-1, 0-2-0), whose tactical plan was to pressure the ball (high) and throughout the middle of the park, instead found itself chasing the ball and the game, thanks in part to the free-flowing attack of its guests.
"We were not playing well at all at the start," said McGinnis. "We had zero energy, and even though they didn't score until midway in the half, I never felt like we were able to do much of anything but defend for 40 minutes."
Despite its high rate of possession, demostrated by several long sequences of ball-passing expertise, the Titans lacked the bite in the final third to force Hawks keeper Luke Lorenc into action.
That would soon change.
Senior Zach Ochab, brought on in the 12th minute, would soon make his mark when he provided the helper on the Sergiev opener.
That's when the big striker was allowed to get the ball on his left foot in space, before firing the other way past Lorenc, who moved far to his right in anticipation of Sergiev trying his luck in that direction.
Sergiev put the ball in the back of the net at 22 minutes, and after that moment, it was all one-way traffic for the Titans.
"That first goal got them so fired up, and we just could not stop them at all," McGinnis said.
The Titans went close minutes later when a corner ball from Shechtman was cleared off the line. However, the ball wasn't parried far enough out of the area and Glenbrook South made the Hawks pay for it immediately thereafter.
After Drew Maytum nearly redirected past Lorenc, Shechtman thumped in his close-range effort to double the Titans advantage in the 31st minute.
With the Hawks doing their best to weather the Titans siege, it appeared to be only a matter of time before Glenbrook South would strike again.
Justin Leszynski stunned the homeside after he was allowed to tee-up his attempt from outside the box and fire a brilliant cracker that Lorenc could do nothing about.
A Leszynski-Sam Rogers counter two minutes later nearly put a dagger in the Maine South hopes.
"We were at 0-0 with Evanston the other night in the 65th minute (then) they hit us for two goals, and I have to say it really damaged the psyche of our guys," said Hawks manager Dan States.
"We likely paid for that final 15 minutes the other night in tonight's first half.
"By no means, that's not an excuse for our first half effort, or is the fact we were without our starting center back, Konrad Kutrzuba (knee) but it all factored in.
"That, of course, and the play of GBS was very, very good."
McGinnis was concerned heading into the intermisson of what he and his mates might do to recover from a dreadful first 40 minutes. But he knew that his manager, in no uncertain terms and volume of voice, would remind them of several things."
"(States) let us have it; (we) deserved it," McGinnis said. "But we responded by coming out with a lot of energy, more urgency in our game, and knowing if we could score the first (second half goal), maybe the game would turn around in our favor."
McGinnis went wide just moments into the second period, while on the other end, Leszynski and Sergiev put Ochab through for an attempt just wide of Hawks second half keeper Drew Burgis.
When the Titans were careless with the ball in their own end, Hawks top scorer Giuliano Corazzina sent his strike narrowly wide of the mark.
"We became a little too comfortable with that three-goal advantage," said Santos-DeSoto. "It showed almost right away when we came out for the second half. (Maine South) was all over us at the start."
States went from a 4-5-1 first half formation to adding a second forward (Weston Bukar) alongside Corazzina. While the duo gave the Titans a different look and a little more trouble, it was the trio of Luciano Cale, John Cronnolly and McGinnis who provided purposeful and creative work in the middle of the park to inspire the Hawks attack.
It was McGinnis' mazy run filled with trickery on the hour that finally pried open the Titans. The sequence ended with David Markovic steering in an easy one-timer after Cronnolly played the ball to the senior.
From nothing, came something two minutes later after Bukar and Cronnolly joined up to allow Corazzina to finish with a sublime touch just inside the post.
"If there's one thing I can say about this group, (it's) that they have proven to be a resilient bunch, and tonight they showed just that," said a proud States.
Glenbrook South knew it was in trouble.
"All of a sudden we were in a game in which we had full control of, but let them back in by not finishing a couple of quality chances in the first half," said Lara.
"It was a test for us. But in the end, I believe we learned a valuable lesson."
Maine South was now pouring forward with the belief they could find the equalizer, The visitors' Santos-DeSoto and his backline mates Michael Zenzola, Ryan Batka and Maytum were now under the spotlight, along with keeper Colin Morse, who took over for Christian Noorover, who had a much easier time of it between the sticks in the first half.
"Those two goals in five minutes we conceded really gave them a lot of energy, so we had to tighten things up (so) we could get out of here with the win," said Santos-DeSoto.
The classy center back cleared a lovely cross into the box from Corazzina in the 68th minute, then watched Maytum and Julian Issar do the same on a well-aimed free kick by Corazzina at 70 minutes.
Before that, Shechtman came painstakingly close to evening the game off a deep throw by Sam Rogers.
A frantic last five minutes that saw each club create a pair of corners and deep throws, but none found its way on frame before this match was whistled over.
"That first half we played tonight showed we are capable of playing some great soccer, but we're going to have to do that for 70-80 minutes if we want to compete for the division and in the playoffs later on," said Sergiev.
States ended the night on a positive note, despite the Hawks loss which sent his club to 0-2-0 in the CSL South.
"We slowly beginning to find our way," he said. "The hope (is) from our second half of play tonight, we're getting close to being where we want to be for the last half of this season."
Starting lineups
Glenbrook South (4-3-3)
G- Christian Noorover
D- Michael Zenzola
D- Jose Santos-DeSoto
D- Drew Maytum
D- Ryan Batka
M- Jhovany Guadarrama
M- Arturo Moyo
M- Julian Issar
F- Sam Rogers
F- Blake Shechtman
F- Danny Sergiev
Maine South (4-5-1)
G- Luke Lorenc
D- Milosz Dykie
D- Charlie Ryan
D- Matt Skorupa
D- Carol Kwon
M- Luciano Cale
M- John Cronnolly
M- Sam McGinnis
M- Peter Bahu
M- Weston Bukar
F- Giuliano Corazzina
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Jose Santos-DeSoto, sr., D, Glenbrook South
Sam McGinnis, sr., MF, Maine South
Referee: John Martin
Scoring summary
First half
Glenbrook South: Sergiev (Ochab) 22'
Glenbrook South: Schechtman (Maytum) 31'
Glenbrook South: Leszynski (Ochab) 33'
Second half
Maine South: Markovic (Cronnolly, McGinnis) 60'
Maine South: Corazzina (Bukar, McGinnis) 62'
Titans secure 3-2 CSL road win, but not without anxious moments
By Mike Garofola
PARK RIDGE -- Danny Sergiev, Blake Shechtman and Justin Leszynski each bagged first half goals as Glenbrook South defied a strong second half fight back from host Maine South to register a 3-2 victory on Thursday.
The visting Titans (6-1-3, 1-0-1) looked every bit the part of their no. 14 ranking in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 and perhaps even better during a masterful first half of soccer. But Maine South turned things around in the second half to make things more than interesting at Wilson Field.
After the game Sergieve and Jose Santos-DeSoto felt Glenbrook South didn't put in a full 80 minutes of work in the big Central Suburban League South Division contest.
"We controlled the game by playing our best half of soccer, but came out flat after the break and suddenly found ourself in a game," said Santos-DeSoto, who was named co-Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match along with Maine South senior Sam McGinnis.
Glenbrook South manager Reggie Lara was on the same page.
"These are the games you learn something about yourselves, and the first thing the guys learned was about playing a full 80 minutes," Lara said.
"It's the same thing we experienced the other night when playing New Trier (in a 1-1) draw, and, once again we repeat history tonight.
"The funny thing (is) we've proven to be a second half team, but tonight, we come out and played our best first half of the season. You would figure the guys will turn in 80 strong minutes.
"My assistant cautioned the guys about how the next goal (after the break) would be the most important one of the match, and he proved to be a prophet. When (Maine South) scored, it became an entirely different game."
The Titans got off to a blistering start on this night, having most if not all of the play with precise passing and approximately 80 percent of the possession. The effort was fueled by terrific work from the midfield, which connected with the forwards, and a backline, led by Santos-DeSoto, that joined the attack with confidence and composure.
"It was a first half where we all contributed. Outside backs were getting forward to add numbers and all of us in the back were part of the attack," Santos-DeSoto said. "It was our best half of soccer of the season."
Maine South (4-4-1, 0-2-0), whose tactical plan was to pressure the ball (high) and throughout the middle of the park, instead found itself chasing the ball and the game, thanks in part to the free-flowing attack of its guests.
"We were not playing well at all at the start," said McGinnis. "We had zero energy, and even though they didn't score until midway in the half, I never felt like we were able to do much of anything but defend for 40 minutes."
Despite its high rate of possession, demostrated by several long sequences of ball-passing expertise, the Titans lacked the bite in the final third to force Hawks keeper Luke Lorenc into action.
That would soon change.
Senior Zach Ochab, brought on in the 12th minute, would soon make his mark when he provided the helper on the Sergiev opener.
That's when the big striker was allowed to get the ball on his left foot in space, before firing the other way past Lorenc, who moved far to his right in anticipation of Sergiev trying his luck in that direction.
Sergiev put the ball in the back of the net at 22 minutes, and after that moment, it was all one-way traffic for the Titans.
"That first goal got them so fired up, and we just could not stop them at all," McGinnis said.
The Titans went close minutes later when a corner ball from Shechtman was cleared off the line. However, the ball wasn't parried far enough out of the area and Glenbrook South made the Hawks pay for it immediately thereafter.
After Drew Maytum nearly redirected past Lorenc, Shechtman thumped in his close-range effort to double the Titans advantage in the 31st minute.
With the Hawks doing their best to weather the Titans siege, it appeared to be only a matter of time before Glenbrook South would strike again.
Justin Leszynski stunned the homeside after he was allowed to tee-up his attempt from outside the box and fire a brilliant cracker that Lorenc could do nothing about.
A Leszynski-Sam Rogers counter two minutes later nearly put a dagger in the Maine South hopes.
"We were at 0-0 with Evanston the other night in the 65th minute (then) they hit us for two goals, and I have to say it really damaged the psyche of our guys," said Hawks manager Dan States.
"We likely paid for that final 15 minutes the other night in tonight's first half.
"By no means, that's not an excuse for our first half effort, or is the fact we were without our starting center back, Konrad Kutrzuba (knee) but it all factored in.
"That, of course, and the play of GBS was very, very good."
McGinnis was concerned heading into the intermisson of what he and his mates might do to recover from a dreadful first 40 minutes. But he knew that his manager, in no uncertain terms and volume of voice, would remind them of several things."
"(States) let us have it; (we) deserved it," McGinnis said. "But we responded by coming out with a lot of energy, more urgency in our game, and knowing if we could score the first (second half goal), maybe the game would turn around in our favor."
McGinnis went wide just moments into the second period, while on the other end, Leszynski and Sergiev put Ochab through for an attempt just wide of Hawks second half keeper Drew Burgis.
When the Titans were careless with the ball in their own end, Hawks top scorer Giuliano Corazzina sent his strike narrowly wide of the mark.
"We became a little too comfortable with that three-goal advantage," said Santos-DeSoto. "It showed almost right away when we came out for the second half. (Maine South) was all over us at the start."
States went from a 4-5-1 first half formation to adding a second forward (Weston Bukar) alongside Corazzina. While the duo gave the Titans a different look and a little more trouble, it was the trio of Luciano Cale, John Cronnolly and McGinnis who provided purposeful and creative work in the middle of the park to inspire the Hawks attack.
It was McGinnis' mazy run filled with trickery on the hour that finally pried open the Titans. The sequence ended with David Markovic steering in an easy one-timer after Cronnolly played the ball to the senior.
From nothing, came something two minutes later after Bukar and Cronnolly joined up to allow Corazzina to finish with a sublime touch just inside the post.
"If there's one thing I can say about this group, (it's) that they have proven to be a resilient bunch, and tonight they showed just that," said a proud States.
Glenbrook South knew it was in trouble.
"All of a sudden we were in a game in which we had full control of, but let them back in by not finishing a couple of quality chances in the first half," said Lara.
"It was a test for us. But in the end, I believe we learned a valuable lesson."
Maine South was now pouring forward with the belief they could find the equalizer, The visitors' Santos-DeSoto and his backline mates Michael Zenzola, Ryan Batka and Maytum were now under the spotlight, along with keeper Colin Morse, who took over for Christian Noorover, who had a much easier time of it between the sticks in the first half.
"Those two goals in five minutes we conceded really gave them a lot of energy, so we had to tighten things up (so) we could get out of here with the win," said Santos-DeSoto.
The classy center back cleared a lovely cross into the box from Corazzina in the 68th minute, then watched Maytum and Julian Issar do the same on a well-aimed free kick by Corazzina at 70 minutes.
Before that, Shechtman came painstakingly close to evening the game off a deep throw by Sam Rogers.
A frantic last five minutes that saw each club create a pair of corners and deep throws, but none found its way on frame before this match was whistled over.
"That first half we played tonight showed we are capable of playing some great soccer, but we're going to have to do that for 70-80 minutes if we want to compete for the division and in the playoffs later on," said Sergiev.
States ended the night on a positive note, despite the Hawks loss which sent his club to 0-2-0 in the CSL South.
"We slowly beginning to find our way," he said. "The hope (is) from our second half of play tonight, we're getting close to being where we want to be for the last half of this season."
Starting lineups
Glenbrook South (4-3-3)
G- Christian Noorover
D- Michael Zenzola
D- Jose Santos-DeSoto
D- Drew Maytum
D- Ryan Batka
M- Jhovany Guadarrama
M- Arturo Moyo
M- Julian Issar
F- Sam Rogers
F- Blake Shechtman
F- Danny Sergiev
Maine South (4-5-1)
G- Luke Lorenc
D- Milosz Dykie
D- Charlie Ryan
D- Matt Skorupa
D- Carol Kwon
M- Luciano Cale
M- John Cronnolly
M- Sam McGinnis
M- Peter Bahu
M- Weston Bukar
F- Giuliano Corazzina
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: Jose Santos-DeSoto, sr., D, Glenbrook South
Sam McGinnis, sr., MF, Maine South
Referee: John Martin
Scoring summary
First half
Glenbrook South: Sergiev (Ochab) 22'
Glenbrook South: Schechtman (Maytum) 31'
Glenbrook South: Leszynski (Ochab) 33'
Second half
Maine South: Markovic (Cronnolly, McGinnis) 60'
Maine South: Corazzina (Bukar, McGinnis) 62'