Shorthanded Glenbrook South
falls 1-0 to Lincoln-Way Central
Titans show grit in Windy City Ram Classic semifinal
By Patrick Z. McGavin
BURBANK — Glenbrook South midfielder Anna Durow combines a steely nerve with a calm presence.
She embodies the quiet-though-striking culture change of a year ago within the Titans’ program. Growth, development, greater assurance, coming of age, whatever you want to call it, Durow marks a tonal shift.
“Last year we had an older team, and this year we have a younger squad,” said the senior captain. “We have a couple of freshmen and three sophomores. I think we’re a lot stronger than last year.
“Right now, we are still learning to play together.”
Durow’s free kicks and play on the ball constituted some of the best actions by the Titans in their Windy City Ram Classic semifinal against Lincoln-Way Central on Tuesday night.
She played a couple of beautiful balls into the box that proved alternately dangerous and thrilling. With her team playing without some key personnel, every opportunity mattered.
“My leadership role has changed,” Durow said. “Last year I was a junior, and my voice was out there. Now that I’m a captain and a senior, I have a bigger role on the team.
“There is more pressure in some ways, but this year we are going to have a stronger plan and playing style.”
Durow helped stabilize a makeshift roster for no. 18 Glenbrook South, which persuasively battled and showed promising depth and toughness before falling 1-0 against the Knights Tuesday night at Reavis High School.
Freshman midfielder Jaylin Sustr scored the game’s only goal in the 51st minute of the 70-minute game.
Glenbrook South, which won the tournament the last time it was played in 2019, will meet no. 17 Andrew in the third place game at 4:30 p.m. Thursday on Reavis’ Field B. The Thunderbolts lost to Lincoln-Way East in a 4-3 shootout after the scoreless semifinal match.
The championship match kicks off at at 6 p.m. Thursday night on Field A.
Glenbrook South (3-1-0) played without eight seniors who were unavailable due to spring break.
The absent players included Glenbrook South mainstays Audrey Langenbach and captains Lilly O’Rourke, Bella Gemignani and Bella Crist.
The absence of DePaul recruit O’Rourke meant the Titans had to adjust on the fly.
“I feel like Lilly is really helpful, because she talks to us,” forward Payton Davidson said. “Without her being here tonight, we had to figure out how to position ourselves on our own. We had to step up more.
“I thought we struggled after sending the ball up. We were not really able to get to the ball first. I feel like we weren’t winning 50/50 balls.”
The Knights (4-0-0) maintained their perfect start to the season and have yet to surrender a goal.
“Just like Glenbard East on Saturday (a 1-0 win) and now this game, both of those teams came out hard and played very physically,” Lincoln-Way Central coach Sean Fahey said.
“Our backline does a great job of limiting a lot of opportunities. The goalie Alexa Hadley has given them a high-5 every game, because she hasn’t really had to do a ton.”
Hadley made four stops. The most crucial came in the second half when she bolted out of the box and got just enough to deflect a ball from midfielder Claire Baim.
Durow’s free kick that started the play was beautifully sent over the top.
Lincoln-Way Central's keeper earned her shutout.
“This game tonight Alexa was called upon a few times, which was critical,” Fahey said. “We’re not playing our best by any stretch of the imagination, but we play hard; and we play with energy.
“Our kids also back each other up. Everything else will hopefully find its way.”
The typical initiator of the Knights’ attack remains senior forward Christine Erdman, a Bowling Green recruit.
But Lincoln-Way Central has found a dynamic and sharp new collaboration from two emerging talents in the fluid and graceful play of Sustr and classmate and midfielder Madi Watt.
With Glenbrook South looking to take away her options in space, Watt took charge. She made repeated forays at the Titans’ goal in the second half.
Glenbrook South sophomore keeper Lyndsey Mack started in place of Crist and was spectacular. Among her six saves was a point-blank denial that kept the Titans close.
Watt found her best chance in the 51st minute. She got to the left edge and broke down the line before delivering a perfect cross that Sustr ran on to without obstruction.
She blasted home the short volley for her second goal of the season.
“We had a lot of chances, and I felt like we kept the energy up,” Sustr said. “I felt like the more chances we got, the more motivated we got.
“We just finally got one in.”
Though the pair plays in sync, surprisingly Watt and Sustr never knew each other until the start of the school year. They played at rival middle schools.
Their ability to quickly assimilate to each other’s game has been a jolting experience for the Knights' opponents.
“I just screamed at Madi for the ball, and I hoped for the best and just shot,” Sustr said. “Being a freshman and new to the team, I just feel so inspired by the others and very motivated to do well.”
Watt earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match for her outstanding play, particularly her acute work in the second half. Her ability to break Glenbrook South down off the dribble created a consistent high pressure.
Mack kept the Titans close with strong net play in the final 17 minutes.
If Durow provided a stabilizing voice, players like Davidson showed even a reduced Glenbrook South squad is a dangerous one. Her length, quickness and on-the-ball creativity allowed the junior to stand out.
“I like to have somebody send the ball up, and I just like to run and have somebody get that second touch,” Davidson said. “I think it has gone well so far. I think we’re connecting really well.
“I know our team struggled last year (5-14-4), so I think it has gone a lot better.”
Results matter, especially for a historically strong program that went through a very atypical season last year.
The Titans won just one out of their first 14 games.
Zooming out and looking at the big picture, the Titans went 4-4-1 over their last nine games. They played powerhouse programs New Trier and Loyola tight in 1-0 losses.
Barely a week into the season, the Titans are approaching their win total of last year.
“Last year was an interesting one,” Glenbrook South coach Mark Daniels said.
And Tuesday was an unusual night.
“We did not have the play in the middle we normally have. We were missing eight seniors," he said. "Tonight was a good experience for some of our younger players, and we are going to learn from this game.”
Starting lineups
Glenbrook South
GK: Lyndsey Mack
D: Megan Flentye
D: Ashley Ciss
D: Caitlyn Antman
D: Adyson Clemen
MF: Anna Durow
MF: Lauren Koopersmith
MF: Carolyn Cameranesi
MF: Claire Baim
F: Kate Winter
F: Payton Davidson
Lincoln-Way Central
GK: Alexa Hadley
D: Jenni Andjelic
D: Grace Grundhofer
D: Abby Sudkamp
MF: Jaylin Sustr
MF: Madi Watt
MF: Emma Olson
MF: Madisyn Kenworthy
MF: Emma Vogler
F: Christine Erdman
F: Reagan Schultz
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Madi Watt, fr., MF, Lincoln-Way Central
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Lincoln-Way Central—Jaylin Sustr (Madi Watt), 51st minute
falls 1-0 to Lincoln-Way Central
Titans show grit in Windy City Ram Classic semifinal
By Patrick Z. McGavin
BURBANK — Glenbrook South midfielder Anna Durow combines a steely nerve with a calm presence.
She embodies the quiet-though-striking culture change of a year ago within the Titans’ program. Growth, development, greater assurance, coming of age, whatever you want to call it, Durow marks a tonal shift.
“Last year we had an older team, and this year we have a younger squad,” said the senior captain. “We have a couple of freshmen and three sophomores. I think we’re a lot stronger than last year.
“Right now, we are still learning to play together.”
Durow’s free kicks and play on the ball constituted some of the best actions by the Titans in their Windy City Ram Classic semifinal against Lincoln-Way Central on Tuesday night.
She played a couple of beautiful balls into the box that proved alternately dangerous and thrilling. With her team playing without some key personnel, every opportunity mattered.
“My leadership role has changed,” Durow said. “Last year I was a junior, and my voice was out there. Now that I’m a captain and a senior, I have a bigger role on the team.
“There is more pressure in some ways, but this year we are going to have a stronger plan and playing style.”
Durow helped stabilize a makeshift roster for no. 18 Glenbrook South, which persuasively battled and showed promising depth and toughness before falling 1-0 against the Knights Tuesday night at Reavis High School.
Freshman midfielder Jaylin Sustr scored the game’s only goal in the 51st minute of the 70-minute game.
Glenbrook South, which won the tournament the last time it was played in 2019, will meet no. 17 Andrew in the third place game at 4:30 p.m. Thursday on Reavis’ Field B. The Thunderbolts lost to Lincoln-Way East in a 4-3 shootout after the scoreless semifinal match.
The championship match kicks off at at 6 p.m. Thursday night on Field A.
Glenbrook South (3-1-0) played without eight seniors who were unavailable due to spring break.
The absent players included Glenbrook South mainstays Audrey Langenbach and captains Lilly O’Rourke, Bella Gemignani and Bella Crist.
The absence of DePaul recruit O’Rourke meant the Titans had to adjust on the fly.
“I feel like Lilly is really helpful, because she talks to us,” forward Payton Davidson said. “Without her being here tonight, we had to figure out how to position ourselves on our own. We had to step up more.
“I thought we struggled after sending the ball up. We were not really able to get to the ball first. I feel like we weren’t winning 50/50 balls.”
The Knights (4-0-0) maintained their perfect start to the season and have yet to surrender a goal.
“Just like Glenbard East on Saturday (a 1-0 win) and now this game, both of those teams came out hard and played very physically,” Lincoln-Way Central coach Sean Fahey said.
“Our backline does a great job of limiting a lot of opportunities. The goalie Alexa Hadley has given them a high-5 every game, because she hasn’t really had to do a ton.”
Hadley made four stops. The most crucial came in the second half when she bolted out of the box and got just enough to deflect a ball from midfielder Claire Baim.
Durow’s free kick that started the play was beautifully sent over the top.
Lincoln-Way Central's keeper earned her shutout.
“This game tonight Alexa was called upon a few times, which was critical,” Fahey said. “We’re not playing our best by any stretch of the imagination, but we play hard; and we play with energy.
“Our kids also back each other up. Everything else will hopefully find its way.”
The typical initiator of the Knights’ attack remains senior forward Christine Erdman, a Bowling Green recruit.
But Lincoln-Way Central has found a dynamic and sharp new collaboration from two emerging talents in the fluid and graceful play of Sustr and classmate and midfielder Madi Watt.
With Glenbrook South looking to take away her options in space, Watt took charge. She made repeated forays at the Titans’ goal in the second half.
Glenbrook South sophomore keeper Lyndsey Mack started in place of Crist and was spectacular. Among her six saves was a point-blank denial that kept the Titans close.
Watt found her best chance in the 51st minute. She got to the left edge and broke down the line before delivering a perfect cross that Sustr ran on to without obstruction.
She blasted home the short volley for her second goal of the season.
“We had a lot of chances, and I felt like we kept the energy up,” Sustr said. “I felt like the more chances we got, the more motivated we got.
“We just finally got one in.”
Though the pair plays in sync, surprisingly Watt and Sustr never knew each other until the start of the school year. They played at rival middle schools.
Their ability to quickly assimilate to each other’s game has been a jolting experience for the Knights' opponents.
“I just screamed at Madi for the ball, and I hoped for the best and just shot,” Sustr said. “Being a freshman and new to the team, I just feel so inspired by the others and very motivated to do well.”
Watt earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match for her outstanding play, particularly her acute work in the second half. Her ability to break Glenbrook South down off the dribble created a consistent high pressure.
Mack kept the Titans close with strong net play in the final 17 minutes.
If Durow provided a stabilizing voice, players like Davidson showed even a reduced Glenbrook South squad is a dangerous one. Her length, quickness and on-the-ball creativity allowed the junior to stand out.
“I like to have somebody send the ball up, and I just like to run and have somebody get that second touch,” Davidson said. “I think it has gone well so far. I think we’re connecting really well.
“I know our team struggled last year (5-14-4), so I think it has gone a lot better.”
Results matter, especially for a historically strong program that went through a very atypical season last year.
The Titans won just one out of their first 14 games.
Zooming out and looking at the big picture, the Titans went 4-4-1 over their last nine games. They played powerhouse programs New Trier and Loyola tight in 1-0 losses.
Barely a week into the season, the Titans are approaching their win total of last year.
“Last year was an interesting one,” Glenbrook South coach Mark Daniels said.
And Tuesday was an unusual night.
“We did not have the play in the middle we normally have. We were missing eight seniors," he said. "Tonight was a good experience for some of our younger players, and we are going to learn from this game.”
Starting lineups
Glenbrook South
GK: Lyndsey Mack
D: Megan Flentye
D: Ashley Ciss
D: Caitlyn Antman
D: Adyson Clemen
MF: Anna Durow
MF: Lauren Koopersmith
MF: Carolyn Cameranesi
MF: Claire Baim
F: Kate Winter
F: Payton Davidson
Lincoln-Way Central
GK: Alexa Hadley
D: Jenni Andjelic
D: Grace Grundhofer
D: Abby Sudkamp
MF: Jaylin Sustr
MF: Madi Watt
MF: Emma Olson
MF: Madisyn Kenworthy
MF: Emma Vogler
F: Christine Erdman
F: Reagan Schultz
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Madi Watt, fr., MF, Lincoln-Way Central
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Lincoln-Way Central—Jaylin Sustr (Madi Watt), 51st minute