Rebounding Glenbrook North
seeks win at Niles North
By Dave Owen
After winning the Northside College Showcase at New Trier, Glenbrook North’s momentum ran into a manpower problem.
But the Spartans (5-3-2 overall, 1-0-0 Central Suburban League North Division) were back on track Monday with a 1-0 league win over Maine East. They hope to continue the uptrend at 7 p.m. Thursday with a trip just east of I-94 to Niles North (3-5-7, 0-0-2).
“I feel pretty good about where our team is at,” Glenbrook North coach Paul Vignocchi said. “Since winning the Northside College Showcase we went through a stretch of games where we had important players out with injuries.
“It gave other players opportunities, and even though we didn't get the results we wanted (a three-game winless streak that ended Monday), those players will be better prepared when called upon.”
And the news is getting better on the medical side.
“This week we got Seth Grossman back on defense, and he is a big difference-maker out on the field,” Vignocchi said. “I think if we can start clicking on all cylinders we can be a very dangerous team to play.”
The defensive engine has been humming, even with Grossman out. The Spartans have earned three shutouts and allowed one goal in five other matches.
“I think Ian Albert our goalkeeper has done a very steady job for us in net,” Vignocchi said. “He is very consistent and doesn't make a lot of mistakes. I would also say the guys that have come off the bench for our injured starters have done a nice job.
“We have a few seniors (seven on the roster) that contribute and lead our team, but the majority of our team are sophomores and juniors. They’ve done a nice job and are very talented.”
Among the other standouts for the Spartans have been junior captain Jackson Grabill and midfielder Ryan Golde, who scored the game-winning goal in Glenbrook North's 2-1 Northside Showcase title game win over Streamwood.
Under first-year head coach Filip Cejovic, Niles North opened the season impressively with a 2-1 win over 2014 third-place state finisher Fremd. The Vikings have played to ties in their last four games and six of their last seven, including a 0-0 result against Loyola Sept. 17.
Enrique Torres, Fanuel Teclai and Matt Naranjo are among the standouts for a senior-dominated Niles North side.
“Niles North is a very well coached team,” Vignocchi said. “They will be very organized and disciplined. They have some good individual players throughout the field. They're very capable of taking you out of your game.”
Glenbrook North has scored just two goals in its last four games: a pair of shutout losses, a 1-1 tie with Maine South and Monday’s win.
“We have to be concerned about getting better and finishing in the final third,” Vignocchi said. “I think if we can accomplish those things we can get a good result.”
Niles North's intention is to return to the form it showed at the start of the campaign.
“We started the season well,” said Cejovic, whose club went 3-2-1 with two 1-goal losses early. “But (we) have had very important players out for long stretches. We still have injuries but are coping with them.
“We’ve played pretty well most of our games, dominated the majority of possession in almost all, but have had a hard time finishing. Everyone on the roster has played good minutes, and hopefully that will help come playoff time.”
After a growing collection of ties, the Vikings hope to rise to the challenge the Spartans pose.
“We are really looking forward to this game because of the quality GBN has,” Cejovic said. “A very well-coached opponent, great kids that compete on both sides, a conference game – it should be a fun evening for all involved.
"At this point, we are focused on playing good soccer. GBN will be very good, and we’re trying to turn some of these ties into wins. It will be a great challenge for our school, and I’m just hoping that we give them a good game.”
seeks win at Niles North
By Dave Owen
After winning the Northside College Showcase at New Trier, Glenbrook North’s momentum ran into a manpower problem.
But the Spartans (5-3-2 overall, 1-0-0 Central Suburban League North Division) were back on track Monday with a 1-0 league win over Maine East. They hope to continue the uptrend at 7 p.m. Thursday with a trip just east of I-94 to Niles North (3-5-7, 0-0-2).
“I feel pretty good about where our team is at,” Glenbrook North coach Paul Vignocchi said. “Since winning the Northside College Showcase we went through a stretch of games where we had important players out with injuries.
“It gave other players opportunities, and even though we didn't get the results we wanted (a three-game winless streak that ended Monday), those players will be better prepared when called upon.”
And the news is getting better on the medical side.
“This week we got Seth Grossman back on defense, and he is a big difference-maker out on the field,” Vignocchi said. “I think if we can start clicking on all cylinders we can be a very dangerous team to play.”
The defensive engine has been humming, even with Grossman out. The Spartans have earned three shutouts and allowed one goal in five other matches.
“I think Ian Albert our goalkeeper has done a very steady job for us in net,” Vignocchi said. “He is very consistent and doesn't make a lot of mistakes. I would also say the guys that have come off the bench for our injured starters have done a nice job.
“We have a few seniors (seven on the roster) that contribute and lead our team, but the majority of our team are sophomores and juniors. They’ve done a nice job and are very talented.”
Among the other standouts for the Spartans have been junior captain Jackson Grabill and midfielder Ryan Golde, who scored the game-winning goal in Glenbrook North's 2-1 Northside Showcase title game win over Streamwood.
Under first-year head coach Filip Cejovic, Niles North opened the season impressively with a 2-1 win over 2014 third-place state finisher Fremd. The Vikings have played to ties in their last four games and six of their last seven, including a 0-0 result against Loyola Sept. 17.
Enrique Torres, Fanuel Teclai and Matt Naranjo are among the standouts for a senior-dominated Niles North side.
“Niles North is a very well coached team,” Vignocchi said. “They will be very organized and disciplined. They have some good individual players throughout the field. They're very capable of taking you out of your game.”
Glenbrook North has scored just two goals in its last four games: a pair of shutout losses, a 1-1 tie with Maine South and Monday’s win.
“We have to be concerned about getting better and finishing in the final third,” Vignocchi said. “I think if we can accomplish those things we can get a good result.”
Niles North's intention is to return to the form it showed at the start of the campaign.
“We started the season well,” said Cejovic, whose club went 3-2-1 with two 1-goal losses early. “But (we) have had very important players out for long stretches. We still have injuries but are coping with them.
“We’ve played pretty well most of our games, dominated the majority of possession in almost all, but have had a hard time finishing. Everyone on the roster has played good minutes, and hopefully that will help come playoff time.”
After a growing collection of ties, the Vikings hope to rise to the challenge the Spartans pose.
“We are really looking forward to this game because of the quality GBN has,” Cejovic said. “A very well-coached opponent, great kids that compete on both sides, a conference game – it should be a fun evening for all involved.
"At this point, we are focused on playing good soccer. GBN will be very good, and we’re trying to turn some of these ties into wins. It will be a great challenge for our school, and I’m just hoping that we give them a good game.”