Clinical Glenbrook N. too much for Palatine
Ranked Spartans sharp in season-opening 5-0 victory
By Mike Garofola
NORTHBROOK -- Glenbrook North signaled its high postseason aspirations by claiming a convincing 5-0 victory Tuesday night over Palatine in the season opener for both clubs.
Matt Metzger's goal at nearly the stroke of ten minutes sent the Spartans on their way at William Lutz Stadium before Deng Deng Kur, Sahil Modi and a brace from Max Marquez made the final scoreline much more emphatic.
"We may have lost some very good players from last year, such as Tommy Iscra (playing at DePaul) and others, but we have the chance to be an even better attacking team than last season," said Glenbrook North manager Paul Vignocchi long after a big crowd went on its way home from the Spartans' Northbrook campus.
"It's obviously very early in the season, and there's a lot of work still to do along the way, but we've got the pieces in place to be a successful team. We'll get a good idea of where we're at after playing four games next week at New Trier's Northshore College Showcase.
After the Spartans, ranked no. 12 in Chicagoland Soccer's preseason poll, host Foreman from the Chicago Public League on Thursday, they will open pool play at New Trier against no. 14 Lyons this weekend. A date with another power, no. 4 Libertyville, follows on Aug. 31.
"I think all of us are excited about the potential of this team and season. And for all of the (current) seniors who were a part of our sectional final loss to Evanston last year, (we) know it wasn't fun going out that way," began Modi.
"We're anxious to get back to that game and get ourselves a better result this time around."
The senior midfielder, along with his mates, controlled long stretches of the match in the middle of the park with energy, pace and accurate passing.
For his efforts, Modi earned Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match honors.
He isn't the only Spartan with a long memory.
"It was tough watching that game with Evanston from the sidelines, so that in itself provided a lot of motivation for me this year," offered Evan Goldberg, who along with Modi suffered hip injuries that kept them out of action.
"We played a good game tonight. Our attack did very well, and so did our backline, which helped Daniel (Spencer) get his clean-sheet," added the backline star.
With all due respect to Goldberg and his mates along the back, the story of this 80-minute affair was that of an efficient and sharp offense, which shut down the opponents from front-to-back, to help insure a rather easy time of it for the senior goalkeeper.
Palatine had an idea of what it was up against.
"With us returning just three starters from a year ago, this wasn't exactly the team you would like to play in your season-opener, but for most everyone on our roster (they) got to see a quality team, who knows how to play the game with speed, quickness, strength and power. (This) will give us something to measure ourselves against," said Palatine manager Willie Filian, now in his 27th season with the Pirates and one win away from his 350th career win.
Pirates senior Conor McGarvey, who was a box-to-box warrior for Filian and assistant coach Charlie Greis throughout the game, agrred that the game will help his team.
"We have four, maybe five guys that played on the varsity last season, so for the rest of my teammates, this was their first varsity game," he said. "So they got to see the speed of play by a great team, which will only help all of us down the road."
The pattern of this game was set with the Spartans prowling in and around the edges of the Pirates area -- playing through Modi, Robbie Fraser, George Luke and others. The superb play of front-runners Kur and Marquez only added to the blistering work going forward for the home side.
The hosts were also keen to counter with their midfield and initiated several of the opportunities. So did the Glenbrook North backline, which was all too happy to join in on the fun.
"We were missing a couple of guys in the back, but both Ben Gordon and Sam Heydt stepped in beautifully and played really well with their teammates out for this game," said Vignocchi.
After Metzger's opener, off a superb crossfield helper from Heydt, the Spartans showed clear intent as they pressed with diligence and intelligence witnessed by a handful of glorious chances -- only to see Palatine keeper Ethan Bank turn them away with fearless confidence.
The senior stopped an early point-blank blast from Modi, then stymied another chance for the star midfielder on the tail-end of a center channel run in which Metzger put his teammate through with a lovely weighted ball.
Kur and Alex Kahn's terrific combination work put Kahn in a 1-v.-1 with Bank, who stepped up to save yet another one from going into the back of the net.
"Evan was injured last year, plus sitting behind our all-sectional keeper, but he's showing what he's capable of when his chance to play is there for him," said Filian.
Kur was given enough time and space to finish what Heydt started in the 34th minute to make it a two-goal advantage heading into the break.
"It was a very good first half of soccer for us, but we struggled at the start of the second half and found ourselves in a little bit of trouble -- which is something we'll address when we train next time," said Vignocchi.
A quick developing sequence led to Marquez scoring in the 55th minute with Fraser the architect of this goal. Eight minutes later, it became 4-0 when a long punt from Spencer was collected by Modi, who immediately found Kur.
The senior unloaded a wicked cracker that stretched the back of the net to its limits.
Josh Lee and Joey Martens would register helpers on another Marquez goal two minutes from time.
"We've been training for a long time now, so we were all itching to play a real game against a quality opponent to see how we match up. And I thought our first effort of the season was a very good one," said Modi.
Starting lineups
Palatine
GK- Ethan Bank
D- Miguel Barrera
D- Chris Munoz
D- Jakub Szafraniec
D- Connor Nix
M- Luke Garrett
M- Conor McGarvey
M- Sebastian Fraczek
M- Kevin Filian
F- Ricardo Tovar
F- Ricardo Garcia
Glenbrook North
GK- Daniel Spencer
D- Sam Heydt
D- Mason Rose
D- Evan Goldberg
D- Ben Gordon
M- Matt Metzger
M- Robbie Fraser
M- Sahil Modi
M- George Luke
F- Deng Deng Kur
F- Max Marquez
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Sahil Modi, Glenbrook North, sr., MF
Officials: Tim Csuri (center); Vic Walker (assistant); Mario Castillo (assistant)
Ranked Spartans sharp in season-opening 5-0 victory
By Mike Garofola
NORTHBROOK -- Glenbrook North signaled its high postseason aspirations by claiming a convincing 5-0 victory Tuesday night over Palatine in the season opener for both clubs.
Matt Metzger's goal at nearly the stroke of ten minutes sent the Spartans on their way at William Lutz Stadium before Deng Deng Kur, Sahil Modi and a brace from Max Marquez made the final scoreline much more emphatic.
"We may have lost some very good players from last year, such as Tommy Iscra (playing at DePaul) and others, but we have the chance to be an even better attacking team than last season," said Glenbrook North manager Paul Vignocchi long after a big crowd went on its way home from the Spartans' Northbrook campus.
"It's obviously very early in the season, and there's a lot of work still to do along the way, but we've got the pieces in place to be a successful team. We'll get a good idea of where we're at after playing four games next week at New Trier's Northshore College Showcase.
After the Spartans, ranked no. 12 in Chicagoland Soccer's preseason poll, host Foreman from the Chicago Public League on Thursday, they will open pool play at New Trier against no. 14 Lyons this weekend. A date with another power, no. 4 Libertyville, follows on Aug. 31.
"I think all of us are excited about the potential of this team and season. And for all of the (current) seniors who were a part of our sectional final loss to Evanston last year, (we) know it wasn't fun going out that way," began Modi.
"We're anxious to get back to that game and get ourselves a better result this time around."
The senior midfielder, along with his mates, controlled long stretches of the match in the middle of the park with energy, pace and accurate passing.
For his efforts, Modi earned Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match honors.
He isn't the only Spartan with a long memory.
"It was tough watching that game with Evanston from the sidelines, so that in itself provided a lot of motivation for me this year," offered Evan Goldberg, who along with Modi suffered hip injuries that kept them out of action.
"We played a good game tonight. Our attack did very well, and so did our backline, which helped Daniel (Spencer) get his clean-sheet," added the backline star.
With all due respect to Goldberg and his mates along the back, the story of this 80-minute affair was that of an efficient and sharp offense, which shut down the opponents from front-to-back, to help insure a rather easy time of it for the senior goalkeeper.
Palatine had an idea of what it was up against.
"With us returning just three starters from a year ago, this wasn't exactly the team you would like to play in your season-opener, but for most everyone on our roster (they) got to see a quality team, who knows how to play the game with speed, quickness, strength and power. (This) will give us something to measure ourselves against," said Palatine manager Willie Filian, now in his 27th season with the Pirates and one win away from his 350th career win.
Pirates senior Conor McGarvey, who was a box-to-box warrior for Filian and assistant coach Charlie Greis throughout the game, agrred that the game will help his team.
"We have four, maybe five guys that played on the varsity last season, so for the rest of my teammates, this was their first varsity game," he said. "So they got to see the speed of play by a great team, which will only help all of us down the road."
The pattern of this game was set with the Spartans prowling in and around the edges of the Pirates area -- playing through Modi, Robbie Fraser, George Luke and others. The superb play of front-runners Kur and Marquez only added to the blistering work going forward for the home side.
The hosts were also keen to counter with their midfield and initiated several of the opportunities. So did the Glenbrook North backline, which was all too happy to join in on the fun.
"We were missing a couple of guys in the back, but both Ben Gordon and Sam Heydt stepped in beautifully and played really well with their teammates out for this game," said Vignocchi.
After Metzger's opener, off a superb crossfield helper from Heydt, the Spartans showed clear intent as they pressed with diligence and intelligence witnessed by a handful of glorious chances -- only to see Palatine keeper Ethan Bank turn them away with fearless confidence.
The senior stopped an early point-blank blast from Modi, then stymied another chance for the star midfielder on the tail-end of a center channel run in which Metzger put his teammate through with a lovely weighted ball.
Kur and Alex Kahn's terrific combination work put Kahn in a 1-v.-1 with Bank, who stepped up to save yet another one from going into the back of the net.
"Evan was injured last year, plus sitting behind our all-sectional keeper, but he's showing what he's capable of when his chance to play is there for him," said Filian.
Kur was given enough time and space to finish what Heydt started in the 34th minute to make it a two-goal advantage heading into the break.
"It was a very good first half of soccer for us, but we struggled at the start of the second half and found ourselves in a little bit of trouble -- which is something we'll address when we train next time," said Vignocchi.
A quick developing sequence led to Marquez scoring in the 55th minute with Fraser the architect of this goal. Eight minutes later, it became 4-0 when a long punt from Spencer was collected by Modi, who immediately found Kur.
The senior unloaded a wicked cracker that stretched the back of the net to its limits.
Josh Lee and Joey Martens would register helpers on another Marquez goal two minutes from time.
"We've been training for a long time now, so we were all itching to play a real game against a quality opponent to see how we match up. And I thought our first effort of the season was a very good one," said Modi.
Starting lineups
Palatine
GK- Ethan Bank
D- Miguel Barrera
D- Chris Munoz
D- Jakub Szafraniec
D- Connor Nix
M- Luke Garrett
M- Conor McGarvey
M- Sebastian Fraczek
M- Kevin Filian
F- Ricardo Tovar
F- Ricardo Garcia
Glenbrook North
GK- Daniel Spencer
D- Sam Heydt
D- Mason Rose
D- Evan Goldberg
D- Ben Gordon
M- Matt Metzger
M- Robbie Fraser
M- Sahil Modi
M- George Luke
F- Deng Deng Kur
F- Max Marquez
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Sahil Modi, Glenbrook North, sr., MF
Officials: Tim Csuri (center); Vic Walker (assistant); Mario Castillo (assistant)