Glenbard West can't find way past
Lincoln-Way Central
Hilltoppers score rare goal against Knights, but fall 2-1
By Curt Herron
ORLAND PARK -- After becoming just the fourth team to score a goal against a Lincoln-Way Central defense that posted 21 shutouts in 24 matches, Glenbard West's players had good reason to believe that Tuesday might be their night to get the program’s first state finals bid.
But just 3:30 after senior Emmie Roberts evened the match with a goal in the 49th minute, the Knights went back to something that helped them open the scoring in the 47th. A flip throw-in from Grace Grundhofer gave Emma Vogler a close-range tip for the 52nd-minute game-winner, then Lincoln-Way Central relied on its strong defense to hang on for a 2-1 victory in the Class 3A Sandburg Supersectional at Seliga Field.
"We had scouted three of their games so we knew what was coming," Glenbard West coach Adam Szyszko said. "We didn't do a good job of clearing the ball out, which was one of our points of emphasis. Kudos to them, they capitalized. They had bouncing balls in the box, and they finished. They weren't pretty goals, but at the end of the day, they're coming away with hardware.
The Knights (24-1-0) assured themselves their first trophy in 15 years and will play Metea Valley (20-2-1) at 7 p.m. in Friday's IHSA Class 3A semifinals at North Central College in Naperville. Lincoln-Way Central is back at state for the first time since a 10-year run from 1998 to 2007 when the school made six state appearances and won five trophies under coaches Brian Papa and Dan Radz, including placing fourth in 2005 and 2007, after finishing fourth in 1998 and second in 1999 and 2000 when there was one Lincoln-Way high school.
Glenbard West (15-7-1) upset top-seeded Lyons on penalties to win its first sectional title since 1997 and the third in program history. This edition of the Hilltoppers became the first in the program to advance to the Elite Eight in the IHSA tournament, but fell just short of picking up the school’s third girls state trophy in a bracketed tournament and sixth overall.
Glenbard West won a regional title a year ago to advance to its first sectional semifinal appearance in 20 years. Twelve players returned from that team and their accomplishments have definitely raised the Hilltoppers' expectations.
"We got to the last week of the season and were one of the Elite Eight teams in the state,” said Szyszko. “It's a credit to the group; they worked hard in practice every day. Just the camaraderie and the spirit and the way that they fought for one another, that's the one thing that we ask.
“I tell them that a lot of people talk about fighting for school, and we play for the community, but we also play for ourselves. Our girls fought and scrapped and played so hard for one another. I'm so proud of their effort, game-in and game-out. It speaks volumes to their character."
Although the Hilltoppers came up just a bit shy of joining a Final Four that features state-newcomer Metea Valley, an Evanston program that won a title in 2002 in its only previous visit and Barrington, which makes it fifth-straight trip and won titles in 2017 and 2018, their coach will always remember this special squad.
"I told them the other day that I've been doing this for a while and in terms of the great teams that I coached, they're in the team photo. They're in the top three or four best teams that I've ever had the pleasure to work with," Szyszko said. "It was a lot of fun coming to work every day and listening to the banter on the bus rides and at practice when they were getting water breaks.
"It was a fun group, it was a special group, and the seniors are going to be hard to replace. But they left their mark; they left their legacy in this program. They set a very high bar for everybody that follows to reach."
Lincoln-Way Central coach Sean Fahey, who was a standout on several good Lincoln-Way teams under Papa, later coached the boys program and is in his third season as the girls coach, realizes that teams that have allowed just five goals heading into the state finals don't come around very often.
Beside allowing two goals in their lone loss to Warren and one apiece in a 2-1 win over rival Lincoln-Way East and in their 2-1 sectional semifinals win against Andrew, Lincoln-Way Central prevailed in a match decided by one goal for the ninth time.
"It was definitely dicey at the end there, and Glenbard West was tremendous," Fahey said. "They're another organized team that is fit and fast and scrappy and tough, and it's no wonder that they got through Lyons.
“Generally when we score first, we are a different team, but that almost didn't happen. After their goal, it was like we're back to square one. That's fine, since we're not losing. So, let's keep going, and they did.
"There's just about every kind of personality in this crew. We've got freshmen that are new to high school, and we have seniors who are on their way to college, and then everything in between.
“They're just a joy to be around, even if we're not playing. We spend a lot of time together even outside of the game, because they enjoy each other’s company. We do a lot of eating, and food is definitely what brings us together a lot."
All of the match's scoring came within a span of just 5:27 early in the final half. Madi Watt scored on a header from inside the box in the 47th minute to give the Knights the initial score, but that lead didn't last for long.
Just under two minutes later, junior Gwen Johnson sent a pass to Roberts, who made a long run downfield before connecting for a score from close range in the 49th minute.
"Gwen slotted the ball at about the 50-yard line, and it was perfect," Roberts said. "I just beat the last defender, and it was me and the keeper. I saw her kind of shading the back post. I slotted it lower left. and it went in perfectly.
“You don't see many teams with that kind of throw-in, and some times we were just not ready for it. I think that it's an unfortunate way to go down, two headers that just kind of slipped through our keeper.
"Obviously it's a tough loss, but we had an incredible season. We battled in conference and out of conference and in playoffs. Our seniors have definitely stepped up in leadership. We've had a ton of underclassmen who've helped out, and we honestly couldn't be more proud of them. This team is special. I was just excited to come to practice every day. The bonds that we have and our connections are amazing. We talk to each other on and off the field, and our chemistry is what kept us in games."
Lincoln-Way Central moved back in front for good in the 52nd minute when Grundhofer sent in another flip throw-in. Vogler emerged from those assembled in front of the net to put in the eventual winning goal.
"It's really crazy to me, knowing all of the work that we've put in," said Grundhofer, who is a senior. "I was a gymnast when I was little, so I've had the flip and flexibility since I was really young. It gives us more opportunities to get the ball in and to be more dangerous.
“We knew that they weren't going to give up so we just had to go 10-times harder. After that we got more composed, and we kept control and knew that we just had to keep the ball.
"I just love that all of us are there for each other. If anyone messes up, we don't get mad. We just say, 'Hey, move on, next thing,' and then we're there to cover for each other. We love each other, and it's a whole team, not just individuals. It's everyone, and we're all in."
Although down, the Hilltoppers certainly weren't out as they amped up the pressure the rest of the game and had several good attempts. Senior Emma Kluge lined one just over the net. Junior Sophia Brown sent in a threatening free kick from just outside of the box, senior Kendall Walch was stopped on a header by goalie Alexa Hadley, Johnson placing an attempt just wide and senior Elise Pollock sent in one final try that the Knights keeper halted.
The Lincoln-Way Central backline of Grundhofer and her sister Chloe, Christine Erdman and Abby Sudkamp frustrated Glenbard West's comeback efforts in the final minutes. That group helped their team to win their first 10 matches. Following the lone loss April 9, Lincoln-Way Central is currently on a 14-game win streak.
Glenbard West reflected on its successful season.
"I am very proud of my team," Kluge said. "I've played with some of these girls since I was six or seven years old. To be able to get to this point as a team and to win a sectional championship for the first time in 25 years against Lyons, the first time that we beat them. I'm just so proud. We just work so hard together and work really well.
"This just showed the resilience of our team. We're never going to quit and fight for every 50/50 ball and every chance. It was unfortunate on the second goal, but I'm so proud of how we stuck in the game and our effort throughout the whole 80 minutes. This is a special group of seniors."
It took both teams a while to get their attack going during the opening half. The Hilltoppers threatened shortly before the midpoint with senior J. Fox sending a pass inside to Johnson, whose header was deflected.
Shortly after sophomore goalie Ava Callaway stopped a short try by Grundhofer, she also came up with a stop on Vogler.
As the first half wound down, the Hilltoppers challenged Hadley as junior Clare Kostolansky sent in a long free kick, senior Maeve Repking had a liner stopped by the Knights goalie and Kostolansky sent in a corner kick that was deflected away.
"It's been a fun year and I feel like in every game we improved," said senior Maggie McDonnell, who shared captain duties with Kluge and Roberts. "From freshman year, my class set the bar high and after last year when we were regional champs, we knew that we wanted to come back even stronger and hopefully win a sectional, and we did. It was two great teams going against each other.
"The bond that we had was just incredible. I'll miss these girls. It's been a great season, and I couldn't ask for anything more."
Starting lineups
Lincoln-Way Central
G Alexa Hadley
D Christine Erdman
D Grace Grundhofer
D Abby Sudkamp
D Chloe Grundhofer
M Madisyn Kenworthy
M Reagan Schultz
M Emma Vogler
M Jenni Andjelic
F Sarah Borsellino
F Madi Watt
Glenbard West
G Ava Callaway
D Elise Pollock
D Emma Kluge
D J Fox
D Ellie Beaudoin
M Clare Kostolansky
M Maeve Repking
M Maggie McDonnell
F Emmie Roberts
F Sophia Brown
F Gwen Johnson
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match:
Grace Grundhofer, sr., D, Lincoln-Way Central
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
LWC: Madi Watt (Grace Grundhofer), 47th
GW: Emmie Roberts (unassisted), 49th
LWC: Emma Vogler (Grace Grundhofer), 52nd
Lincoln-Way Central
Hilltoppers score rare goal against Knights, but fall 2-1
By Curt Herron
ORLAND PARK -- After becoming just the fourth team to score a goal against a Lincoln-Way Central defense that posted 21 shutouts in 24 matches, Glenbard West's players had good reason to believe that Tuesday might be their night to get the program’s first state finals bid.
But just 3:30 after senior Emmie Roberts evened the match with a goal in the 49th minute, the Knights went back to something that helped them open the scoring in the 47th. A flip throw-in from Grace Grundhofer gave Emma Vogler a close-range tip for the 52nd-minute game-winner, then Lincoln-Way Central relied on its strong defense to hang on for a 2-1 victory in the Class 3A Sandburg Supersectional at Seliga Field.
"We had scouted three of their games so we knew what was coming," Glenbard West coach Adam Szyszko said. "We didn't do a good job of clearing the ball out, which was one of our points of emphasis. Kudos to them, they capitalized. They had bouncing balls in the box, and they finished. They weren't pretty goals, but at the end of the day, they're coming away with hardware.
The Knights (24-1-0) assured themselves their first trophy in 15 years and will play Metea Valley (20-2-1) at 7 p.m. in Friday's IHSA Class 3A semifinals at North Central College in Naperville. Lincoln-Way Central is back at state for the first time since a 10-year run from 1998 to 2007 when the school made six state appearances and won five trophies under coaches Brian Papa and Dan Radz, including placing fourth in 2005 and 2007, after finishing fourth in 1998 and second in 1999 and 2000 when there was one Lincoln-Way high school.
Glenbard West (15-7-1) upset top-seeded Lyons on penalties to win its first sectional title since 1997 and the third in program history. This edition of the Hilltoppers became the first in the program to advance to the Elite Eight in the IHSA tournament, but fell just short of picking up the school’s third girls state trophy in a bracketed tournament and sixth overall.
Glenbard West won a regional title a year ago to advance to its first sectional semifinal appearance in 20 years. Twelve players returned from that team and their accomplishments have definitely raised the Hilltoppers' expectations.
"We got to the last week of the season and were one of the Elite Eight teams in the state,” said Szyszko. “It's a credit to the group; they worked hard in practice every day. Just the camaraderie and the spirit and the way that they fought for one another, that's the one thing that we ask.
“I tell them that a lot of people talk about fighting for school, and we play for the community, but we also play for ourselves. Our girls fought and scrapped and played so hard for one another. I'm so proud of their effort, game-in and game-out. It speaks volumes to their character."
Although the Hilltoppers came up just a bit shy of joining a Final Four that features state-newcomer Metea Valley, an Evanston program that won a title in 2002 in its only previous visit and Barrington, which makes it fifth-straight trip and won titles in 2017 and 2018, their coach will always remember this special squad.
"I told them the other day that I've been doing this for a while and in terms of the great teams that I coached, they're in the team photo. They're in the top three or four best teams that I've ever had the pleasure to work with," Szyszko said. "It was a lot of fun coming to work every day and listening to the banter on the bus rides and at practice when they were getting water breaks.
"It was a fun group, it was a special group, and the seniors are going to be hard to replace. But they left their mark; they left their legacy in this program. They set a very high bar for everybody that follows to reach."
Lincoln-Way Central coach Sean Fahey, who was a standout on several good Lincoln-Way teams under Papa, later coached the boys program and is in his third season as the girls coach, realizes that teams that have allowed just five goals heading into the state finals don't come around very often.
Beside allowing two goals in their lone loss to Warren and one apiece in a 2-1 win over rival Lincoln-Way East and in their 2-1 sectional semifinals win against Andrew, Lincoln-Way Central prevailed in a match decided by one goal for the ninth time.
"It was definitely dicey at the end there, and Glenbard West was tremendous," Fahey said. "They're another organized team that is fit and fast and scrappy and tough, and it's no wonder that they got through Lyons.
“Generally when we score first, we are a different team, but that almost didn't happen. After their goal, it was like we're back to square one. That's fine, since we're not losing. So, let's keep going, and they did.
"There's just about every kind of personality in this crew. We've got freshmen that are new to high school, and we have seniors who are on their way to college, and then everything in between.
“They're just a joy to be around, even if we're not playing. We spend a lot of time together even outside of the game, because they enjoy each other’s company. We do a lot of eating, and food is definitely what brings us together a lot."
All of the match's scoring came within a span of just 5:27 early in the final half. Madi Watt scored on a header from inside the box in the 47th minute to give the Knights the initial score, but that lead didn't last for long.
Just under two minutes later, junior Gwen Johnson sent a pass to Roberts, who made a long run downfield before connecting for a score from close range in the 49th minute.
"Gwen slotted the ball at about the 50-yard line, and it was perfect," Roberts said. "I just beat the last defender, and it was me and the keeper. I saw her kind of shading the back post. I slotted it lower left. and it went in perfectly.
“You don't see many teams with that kind of throw-in, and some times we were just not ready for it. I think that it's an unfortunate way to go down, two headers that just kind of slipped through our keeper.
"Obviously it's a tough loss, but we had an incredible season. We battled in conference and out of conference and in playoffs. Our seniors have definitely stepped up in leadership. We've had a ton of underclassmen who've helped out, and we honestly couldn't be more proud of them. This team is special. I was just excited to come to practice every day. The bonds that we have and our connections are amazing. We talk to each other on and off the field, and our chemistry is what kept us in games."
Lincoln-Way Central moved back in front for good in the 52nd minute when Grundhofer sent in another flip throw-in. Vogler emerged from those assembled in front of the net to put in the eventual winning goal.
"It's really crazy to me, knowing all of the work that we've put in," said Grundhofer, who is a senior. "I was a gymnast when I was little, so I've had the flip and flexibility since I was really young. It gives us more opportunities to get the ball in and to be more dangerous.
“We knew that they weren't going to give up so we just had to go 10-times harder. After that we got more composed, and we kept control and knew that we just had to keep the ball.
"I just love that all of us are there for each other. If anyone messes up, we don't get mad. We just say, 'Hey, move on, next thing,' and then we're there to cover for each other. We love each other, and it's a whole team, not just individuals. It's everyone, and we're all in."
Although down, the Hilltoppers certainly weren't out as they amped up the pressure the rest of the game and had several good attempts. Senior Emma Kluge lined one just over the net. Junior Sophia Brown sent in a threatening free kick from just outside of the box, senior Kendall Walch was stopped on a header by goalie Alexa Hadley, Johnson placing an attempt just wide and senior Elise Pollock sent in one final try that the Knights keeper halted.
The Lincoln-Way Central backline of Grundhofer and her sister Chloe, Christine Erdman and Abby Sudkamp frustrated Glenbard West's comeback efforts in the final minutes. That group helped their team to win their first 10 matches. Following the lone loss April 9, Lincoln-Way Central is currently on a 14-game win streak.
Glenbard West reflected on its successful season.
"I am very proud of my team," Kluge said. "I've played with some of these girls since I was six or seven years old. To be able to get to this point as a team and to win a sectional championship for the first time in 25 years against Lyons, the first time that we beat them. I'm just so proud. We just work so hard together and work really well.
"This just showed the resilience of our team. We're never going to quit and fight for every 50/50 ball and every chance. It was unfortunate on the second goal, but I'm so proud of how we stuck in the game and our effort throughout the whole 80 minutes. This is a special group of seniors."
It took both teams a while to get their attack going during the opening half. The Hilltoppers threatened shortly before the midpoint with senior J. Fox sending a pass inside to Johnson, whose header was deflected.
Shortly after sophomore goalie Ava Callaway stopped a short try by Grundhofer, she also came up with a stop on Vogler.
As the first half wound down, the Hilltoppers challenged Hadley as junior Clare Kostolansky sent in a long free kick, senior Maeve Repking had a liner stopped by the Knights goalie and Kostolansky sent in a corner kick that was deflected away.
"It's been a fun year and I feel like in every game we improved," said senior Maggie McDonnell, who shared captain duties with Kluge and Roberts. "From freshman year, my class set the bar high and after last year when we were regional champs, we knew that we wanted to come back even stronger and hopefully win a sectional, and we did. It was two great teams going against each other.
"The bond that we had was just incredible. I'll miss these girls. It's been a great season, and I couldn't ask for anything more."
Starting lineups
Lincoln-Way Central
G Alexa Hadley
D Christine Erdman
D Grace Grundhofer
D Abby Sudkamp
D Chloe Grundhofer
M Madisyn Kenworthy
M Reagan Schultz
M Emma Vogler
M Jenni Andjelic
F Sarah Borsellino
F Madi Watt
Glenbard West
G Ava Callaway
D Elise Pollock
D Emma Kluge
D J Fox
D Ellie Beaudoin
M Clare Kostolansky
M Maeve Repking
M Maggie McDonnell
F Emmie Roberts
F Sophia Brown
F Gwen Johnson
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match:
Grace Grundhofer, sr., D, Lincoln-Way Central
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
LWC: Madi Watt (Grace Grundhofer), 47th
GW: Emmie Roberts (unassisted), 49th
LWC: Emma Vogler (Grace Grundhofer), 52nd