Glenbard East youth yields benefits
Freshman Zatarski scores twice, Rams take 3rd in Windy City
By Patrick Z. McGavin
BRIDGEVIEW -- The most exciting part of the sudden education Maia Zatarski is undergoing as a freshman starter for Glenbard East is also the most difficult to pin down.
Talent develops and experience accrues over time. The intangibles are harder to fully grasp.
“I think it is mostly getting to know everyone, especially all the upperclassmen,” Zatarski said. “It is a lot different, with how I have been playing with my club and middle school throughout my whole life. I have to know there are lot good players on my team, and everyone deserves to be playing.
“One of the biggest transitions is just getting along with all of my teammates.”
At the opposite end, Amy Chiero is a constant factor, a four-year starter and the centerpiece of the Rams’ attack. The talent infusion embodied by Zatarski has animated her game.
“In my four years I have not been very big on taking on girls one-on-one, but this year with the freshmen around me, they have showed me a lot of confidence,” Chiero said. “Normally you do not see a lot of confidence in freshmen. They almost lead me, even though they are younger.”
That combination of savvy, guile and breathtaking talent was everywhere as Zatarski scored two goals and Chiero added her team-best seventh Rams, ranked eleventh in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, glided past Stagg 3-0 in the third place game of the Windy City Ram Classic on Sunday morngint at SeatGeek Stadium.
“At first I was kind of scared coming in as a freshman and living up to all of those expectations,” Zatarski said. “I feel like our team has come together and worked hard in practice, and it is allowing us to do how we have been doing in the past few games.”
The normal tournament format of playing two 35-minute halves was shortened to 30 minutes in order to protect the professional grass field against the inclement weather. The abbreviated game also helped offset a lack of depth each team experienced with players missing at the start of spring break.
Zatarski posted her second and third goals of the year for the Rams (5-1-0). She was one of three freshmen who started, joined by midfielder Natalie Borcean and forward Sarah Lilijestrand.
Coach Kent Overbey typically starts a fourth, keeper Zoe Romano, who instead played the second half and made two saves Sunday.
“I am happily surprised,” Overbey said of his team’s fast start and how quickly his freshmen have acclimated themselves to the speed and style of the varsity game.
“We knew right away we had a lot of legitimate young talent coming through, but the way they stepped up has been impressive. We have started four freshmen at this point, and played six. I am very encouraged at this point given we graduated 10 players, including seven starters, from last year.”
Zatarski has a smooth and elegant style. Rather than be overwhelmed at playing in the deep spaces and wide flanks of the professional field, she was liberated by the expanded offensive opportunities.
“You have a lot more space when you get your first touch,” she said. “There are a lot more opportunities to get good passes and make crisp runs on the outside. We have a lot of fast players like Lindsey [Novak], Sarah and [sophomore forward] Maddie [Weltin] and playing on this field gave them a lot of chances to run out wide.”
Glenbard East confronted a major obstacle in the form of Sydney Downs, Stagg's four-year starting keeper. A University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee recruit, Downs exhibited tremendous quickness, alert anticipation skills and athleticism as the final line of the Chargers’ defense.
“We knew coming into the game this goalie is extremely good,” Chiero said. “She is one of the best we have ever played against. We knew playing on this grass, since we normally play on turf, we had to take more shots on the ground. It was going to skip, a little soaked as it was with the rain.”
Scoring first was the crucial element. Holding the lead takes on a disproportionate advantage, Overbey said.
“It is so important, especially since we are not used to playing on a field this size,” he said. “You do not want to be chasing on this field. Their goalie is so good. She is very strong in the back, and it was important for us to open the field up to get more chances.”
Zatarski achieved those ends in the 26th minute, timing her run brilliantly in finishing a ball from Elaine Wesling for the 1-0 lead.
“I thought it was a really good look from Elaine, because she is the one who saw the opportunity,” Zatarski said. “She was the one who was open, and I was lucky enough to get on the ball at the end. I think it gave us a confidence boost, especially going against that goalie.”
For her accomplishments, Zatarski earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match distinction.
Downs made a great diving stop of Zatarski in the 33rd minute. She did everything possible to keep the Chargers close. Stagg (3-2-0) has four returning players from last year’s Class 3A sectional finalist.
“It was awesome playing here, the field and the grass were just amazing,” Downs said. “It was really exciting just to get a feel for how the professionals feel. It took us a little bit to adjust to how big it is.
“We were trying to make adjustments defensively and trying to figure it out, but we were also trying to get back into it offensively, and that was a constant struggle. We never gave up.”
In the 36th minute, Chiero caught a pass in space from Borcean and wove through the left edge as she broke down the final thread of the resistance and blasted home a left-footed ball from about 12 yards for the 2-0 lead.
Chiero, a Dennison recruit and captain, is one of three senior starters with forward Novak and defender Sam Johnson. Those three are the lynchpin. The young talent has energized and deepened what the team is capable of.
“At the end of last year, a lot of girls were saying they thought that was our last really good year,” Chiero said. “We have so many freshmen who were ready to prove themselves, and they made a huge difference to our team.
“I was a little surprised at how explosive we have been offensively, but I am more than happy that they are here because it gives us some really great talent and skill we get to show against teams like this.”
Junior Lisa Stranski, who splits time with Romano, had three saves for the Rams. Stagg’s best scoring chance occurred in the 37th minute as defender Ellis Hannon played a beautiful free kick that just eluded the run of defender Jasmine Brandyk.
The Chargers played the final 19 minutes down a player after a red card was issued.
“They were a great team and they created some great opportunities,” Stagg coach Allison Kaim said. “For us it was difficult to come back, but our girls never stopped playing and never stopped working. I am proud of our team and looking to create chances, but in the end Glenbard East played a great game.”
Downs finished with seven saves.
Zatarski punctuated her impressive day by finishing another blast inside the near post in the 45th minute. The only blemish on the Rams’ fast start was the 3-0 semifinal loss to no. 4 Glenbrook South, which went on to beat Lincoln-Way West 2-1 for the championship.
“If you had told me we’d be 5-1 and beaten some very good teams going into spring break, I’d have been happy to hear that,” Overbey said.
Starting lineups
Glenbard East
GK: Lisa Stranski
D: Summer Garcia
D: Molly Galvin
D: Sam Johnson
D: Kendall Crackel
MF: Amy Chiero
MF: Natalie Borcean
MF: Maia Zatarski
F: Sarah Lilijestrand
F: Lindsey Novak
F: Maddie Weltin
Stagg
GK: Sydney Downs
D: Tara Greene
D: Ellis Hannon
D: Dania Abidrabbu
D: Aiofe Finn
MF: Victoria Kuczek
MF: Ayanna Soto
MF: Mia Dosen
MF: Natalia Ochab
MF: Jizel Castanon
F: Karolina Sowa
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Maia Zatarski, fr., MF, Glenbard East
Scoring summary
First half
Glenbard East— Maia Zatarski (Elaine Wesling), 26th minute
Second half
Glenbard East—Amy Chiero (Natalie Borcean), 36th minute
Glenbard East—Zatarski (unassisted), 45th minute
Freshman Zatarski scores twice, Rams take 3rd in Windy City
By Patrick Z. McGavin
BRIDGEVIEW -- The most exciting part of the sudden education Maia Zatarski is undergoing as a freshman starter for Glenbard East is also the most difficult to pin down.
Talent develops and experience accrues over time. The intangibles are harder to fully grasp.
“I think it is mostly getting to know everyone, especially all the upperclassmen,” Zatarski said. “It is a lot different, with how I have been playing with my club and middle school throughout my whole life. I have to know there are lot good players on my team, and everyone deserves to be playing.
“One of the biggest transitions is just getting along with all of my teammates.”
At the opposite end, Amy Chiero is a constant factor, a four-year starter and the centerpiece of the Rams’ attack. The talent infusion embodied by Zatarski has animated her game.
“In my four years I have not been very big on taking on girls one-on-one, but this year with the freshmen around me, they have showed me a lot of confidence,” Chiero said. “Normally you do not see a lot of confidence in freshmen. They almost lead me, even though they are younger.”
That combination of savvy, guile and breathtaking talent was everywhere as Zatarski scored two goals and Chiero added her team-best seventh Rams, ranked eleventh in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, glided past Stagg 3-0 in the third place game of the Windy City Ram Classic on Sunday morngint at SeatGeek Stadium.
“At first I was kind of scared coming in as a freshman and living up to all of those expectations,” Zatarski said. “I feel like our team has come together and worked hard in practice, and it is allowing us to do how we have been doing in the past few games.”
The normal tournament format of playing two 35-minute halves was shortened to 30 minutes in order to protect the professional grass field against the inclement weather. The abbreviated game also helped offset a lack of depth each team experienced with players missing at the start of spring break.
Zatarski posted her second and third goals of the year for the Rams (5-1-0). She was one of three freshmen who started, joined by midfielder Natalie Borcean and forward Sarah Lilijestrand.
Coach Kent Overbey typically starts a fourth, keeper Zoe Romano, who instead played the second half and made two saves Sunday.
“I am happily surprised,” Overbey said of his team’s fast start and how quickly his freshmen have acclimated themselves to the speed and style of the varsity game.
“We knew right away we had a lot of legitimate young talent coming through, but the way they stepped up has been impressive. We have started four freshmen at this point, and played six. I am very encouraged at this point given we graduated 10 players, including seven starters, from last year.”
Zatarski has a smooth and elegant style. Rather than be overwhelmed at playing in the deep spaces and wide flanks of the professional field, she was liberated by the expanded offensive opportunities.
“You have a lot more space when you get your first touch,” she said. “There are a lot more opportunities to get good passes and make crisp runs on the outside. We have a lot of fast players like Lindsey [Novak], Sarah and [sophomore forward] Maddie [Weltin] and playing on this field gave them a lot of chances to run out wide.”
Glenbard East confronted a major obstacle in the form of Sydney Downs, Stagg's four-year starting keeper. A University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee recruit, Downs exhibited tremendous quickness, alert anticipation skills and athleticism as the final line of the Chargers’ defense.
“We knew coming into the game this goalie is extremely good,” Chiero said. “She is one of the best we have ever played against. We knew playing on this grass, since we normally play on turf, we had to take more shots on the ground. It was going to skip, a little soaked as it was with the rain.”
Scoring first was the crucial element. Holding the lead takes on a disproportionate advantage, Overbey said.
“It is so important, especially since we are not used to playing on a field this size,” he said. “You do not want to be chasing on this field. Their goalie is so good. She is very strong in the back, and it was important for us to open the field up to get more chances.”
Zatarski achieved those ends in the 26th minute, timing her run brilliantly in finishing a ball from Elaine Wesling for the 1-0 lead.
“I thought it was a really good look from Elaine, because she is the one who saw the opportunity,” Zatarski said. “She was the one who was open, and I was lucky enough to get on the ball at the end. I think it gave us a confidence boost, especially going against that goalie.”
For her accomplishments, Zatarski earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match distinction.
Downs made a great diving stop of Zatarski in the 33rd minute. She did everything possible to keep the Chargers close. Stagg (3-2-0) has four returning players from last year’s Class 3A sectional finalist.
“It was awesome playing here, the field and the grass were just amazing,” Downs said. “It was really exciting just to get a feel for how the professionals feel. It took us a little bit to adjust to how big it is.
“We were trying to make adjustments defensively and trying to figure it out, but we were also trying to get back into it offensively, and that was a constant struggle. We never gave up.”
In the 36th minute, Chiero caught a pass in space from Borcean and wove through the left edge as she broke down the final thread of the resistance and blasted home a left-footed ball from about 12 yards for the 2-0 lead.
Chiero, a Dennison recruit and captain, is one of three senior starters with forward Novak and defender Sam Johnson. Those three are the lynchpin. The young talent has energized and deepened what the team is capable of.
“At the end of last year, a lot of girls were saying they thought that was our last really good year,” Chiero said. “We have so many freshmen who were ready to prove themselves, and they made a huge difference to our team.
“I was a little surprised at how explosive we have been offensively, but I am more than happy that they are here because it gives us some really great talent and skill we get to show against teams like this.”
Junior Lisa Stranski, who splits time with Romano, had three saves for the Rams. Stagg’s best scoring chance occurred in the 37th minute as defender Ellis Hannon played a beautiful free kick that just eluded the run of defender Jasmine Brandyk.
The Chargers played the final 19 minutes down a player after a red card was issued.
“They were a great team and they created some great opportunities,” Stagg coach Allison Kaim said. “For us it was difficult to come back, but our girls never stopped playing and never stopped working. I am proud of our team and looking to create chances, but in the end Glenbard East played a great game.”
Downs finished with seven saves.
Zatarski punctuated her impressive day by finishing another blast inside the near post in the 45th minute. The only blemish on the Rams’ fast start was the 3-0 semifinal loss to no. 4 Glenbrook South, which went on to beat Lincoln-Way West 2-1 for the championship.
“If you had told me we’d be 5-1 and beaten some very good teams going into spring break, I’d have been happy to hear that,” Overbey said.
Starting lineups
Glenbard East
GK: Lisa Stranski
D: Summer Garcia
D: Molly Galvin
D: Sam Johnson
D: Kendall Crackel
MF: Amy Chiero
MF: Natalie Borcean
MF: Maia Zatarski
F: Sarah Lilijestrand
F: Lindsey Novak
F: Maddie Weltin
Stagg
GK: Sydney Downs
D: Tara Greene
D: Ellis Hannon
D: Dania Abidrabbu
D: Aiofe Finn
MF: Victoria Kuczek
MF: Ayanna Soto
MF: Mia Dosen
MF: Natalia Ochab
MF: Jizel Castanon
F: Karolina Sowa
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Maia Zatarski, fr., MF, Glenbard East
Scoring summary
First half
Glenbard East— Maia Zatarski (Elaine Wesling), 26th minute
Second half
Glenbard East—Amy Chiero (Natalie Borcean), 36th minute
Glenbard East—Zatarski (unassisted), 45th minute