Glenbard East seniors hope
to celebrate vs. Glenbard South
By Dave Owen
A renewed district rivalry and a Senior Night tribute will be in the spotlight Monday night in Lombard.
Glenbard East (8-9-2) hosts Glenbard South (5-7-1) at 6:30 p.m., as the battle-tested Rams try to gather momentum for the impending postseason.
As if the tough Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division schedule wasn’t enough, the Rams have played three nonconference foes in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 20: no. 1 New Trier, no. 3 Naperville North and no. 15 Loyola.
“I really would be surprised if any team in the state had a harder schedule,” Glenbard East coach Kent Overbey said. “That includes the teams that have made it to the finals of both the Pepsi and the Naperville Invite.
“New Trier, Naperville North, Waubonsie, Neuqua, Metea, Loyola are all top teams. We've handled it pretty well. Injuries certainly haven't helped.”
Leading scorers Brittany Paganucci and Holly Ward, and midfielder Jessica Whipple were among the key Rams to miss notable time.
“We're almost back to full strength,” Overbey said.
“When we lost to Metea and Neuqua in the first week, it virtually eliminated us from conference contention. So at that point we started focusing on the state tournament.
“These tough games (including one-goal losses to Loyola and Geneva) will serve us well in the state tournament,” Overbey added. “We've been in games against good teams late into the game and had to make adjustments just like you'll have to do to win state tournament games.”
Glenbard East has earned seven shutouts (eight including a penalty kick loss to Lincoln-Way East after a 0-0 regulation). Only three teams all year have topped the two-goal mark against the Rams, and those three foes are ranked in the top six of the Chicagoland Soccer poll.
“Defense has been the high point for the most part,” Overbey said. “Paige Taylor, Corie Ewoldt, Mary Kurtz, and Maria Berrum have faced the best talent in the state and played well.”
Getting back to injuries, Glenbard South has also felt the sting.
Top forward Taylor Ray is out, and the Raiders were down to just 13 players for the end of Saturday’s 4-0 loss at Wheaton Academy when senior midfielder Hannah Nelson left with a late game foot injury.
“Another girl was on and off the field vomiting, but still working as hard as she can,” Raiders coach Glen Eggert said. “She had to make the choice whether to play. They’re all making that commitment to each other and dealing with obstacles.”
Eggert knows the obstacle across the field Monday won’t be easy.
“The last few years the players they’ve had coming in have a stronger training background than most of our players,” Eggert said. “Historically we used to beat them. Now we have (the series) back on and they’re more in the drivers’ seat with more experience.
“But it’s great to try to build local rivalries. I think the girls are excited to play.”
The Rams share that enthusiasm.
“This has particular significance for a lot of our players because they play club with a lot of Glenbard South players and they've known them since they were kids,” Overbey said.
Senior Night will be in focus both during pregame ceremonies and the match.
The Rams’ senior class features Carly Anderson, Rachel Anderson, Maria Berrum, Corie Ewoldt, Jordyn Fulton, Mary Kurtz, Haley Lydon, Megan Mrazek, Lisa Valgiusti and Jessica Whipple.
All 10 will go on to college, with six planning to play soccer. Mrazek and Valgiusti will be college teammates at Elmhurst. Ewoldt (Rose-Hulman), Lydon (Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne), Berrum (Oakton) and Whipple (Concordia Wisconsin) will also be on the field in the Midwest this fall.
Monday will be about celebrating their roles in the emerging Rams’ program.
“For our 10 seniors, this is the culmination of their soccer experience,” Overbey said. “The key to the game will be our ability to use our experience to win the game. We're going to be shuffling people around to get those 10 seniors as much time as possible. They'll have to use all their experience and knowledge of the game to get a good result.”
to celebrate vs. Glenbard South
By Dave Owen
A renewed district rivalry and a Senior Night tribute will be in the spotlight Monday night in Lombard.
Glenbard East (8-9-2) hosts Glenbard South (5-7-1) at 6:30 p.m., as the battle-tested Rams try to gather momentum for the impending postseason.
As if the tough Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division schedule wasn’t enough, the Rams have played three nonconference foes in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 20: no. 1 New Trier, no. 3 Naperville North and no. 15 Loyola.
“I really would be surprised if any team in the state had a harder schedule,” Glenbard East coach Kent Overbey said. “That includes the teams that have made it to the finals of both the Pepsi and the Naperville Invite.
“New Trier, Naperville North, Waubonsie, Neuqua, Metea, Loyola are all top teams. We've handled it pretty well. Injuries certainly haven't helped.”
Leading scorers Brittany Paganucci and Holly Ward, and midfielder Jessica Whipple were among the key Rams to miss notable time.
“We're almost back to full strength,” Overbey said.
“When we lost to Metea and Neuqua in the first week, it virtually eliminated us from conference contention. So at that point we started focusing on the state tournament.
“These tough games (including one-goal losses to Loyola and Geneva) will serve us well in the state tournament,” Overbey added. “We've been in games against good teams late into the game and had to make adjustments just like you'll have to do to win state tournament games.”
Glenbard East has earned seven shutouts (eight including a penalty kick loss to Lincoln-Way East after a 0-0 regulation). Only three teams all year have topped the two-goal mark against the Rams, and those three foes are ranked in the top six of the Chicagoland Soccer poll.
“Defense has been the high point for the most part,” Overbey said. “Paige Taylor, Corie Ewoldt, Mary Kurtz, and Maria Berrum have faced the best talent in the state and played well.”
Getting back to injuries, Glenbard South has also felt the sting.
Top forward Taylor Ray is out, and the Raiders were down to just 13 players for the end of Saturday’s 4-0 loss at Wheaton Academy when senior midfielder Hannah Nelson left with a late game foot injury.
“Another girl was on and off the field vomiting, but still working as hard as she can,” Raiders coach Glen Eggert said. “She had to make the choice whether to play. They’re all making that commitment to each other and dealing with obstacles.”
Eggert knows the obstacle across the field Monday won’t be easy.
“The last few years the players they’ve had coming in have a stronger training background than most of our players,” Eggert said. “Historically we used to beat them. Now we have (the series) back on and they’re more in the drivers’ seat with more experience.
“But it’s great to try to build local rivalries. I think the girls are excited to play.”
The Rams share that enthusiasm.
“This has particular significance for a lot of our players because they play club with a lot of Glenbard South players and they've known them since they were kids,” Overbey said.
Senior Night will be in focus both during pregame ceremonies and the match.
The Rams’ senior class features Carly Anderson, Rachel Anderson, Maria Berrum, Corie Ewoldt, Jordyn Fulton, Mary Kurtz, Haley Lydon, Megan Mrazek, Lisa Valgiusti and Jessica Whipple.
All 10 will go on to college, with six planning to play soccer. Mrazek and Valgiusti will be college teammates at Elmhurst. Ewoldt (Rose-Hulman), Lydon (Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne), Berrum (Oakton) and Whipple (Concordia Wisconsin) will also be on the field in the Midwest this fall.
Monday will be about celebrating their roles in the emerging Rams’ program.
“For our 10 seniors, this is the culmination of their soccer experience,” Overbey said. “The key to the game will be our ability to use our experience to win the game. We're going to be shuffling people around to get those 10 seniors as much time as possible. They'll have to use all their experience and knowledge of the game to get a good result.”