Glenbrook North, Maine South
look for breakthrough in league play
By Mike Garofola
Glenbrook North and Maine South go into Thursday night's Central Suburban League South Division contest with nary a win between them, so something has to give at Wilson Field in Park Ridge.
Both clubs have had the same fortune against division-leading Evanston, as well as second place New Trier. After Tuesday action: North (4-6-1, 0-3-0) enters the game on the heels of a 3-1 defeat to Evanston; South (5-5-1, 0-2-0) dropped a 1-0 decision at New Trier.
"The Evanston result was a disappointing one," said Spartans junior and two-year starter Gabe Nayman. "We were 0-0 at the break, then got back even when I was able to create a PK for David Schueler to convert. Two quick goals did us in.
"That's kind of been the story for us. A couple of mishaps, a few unlucky goals and things end up in a loss."
Both Nayman and Glenbrook North manager Paul Vignocchi feel the talent is there for a strong finish during the next month.
"The focus has been on defending, being disciplined and knowing when to press and when not to," said Nayman. "If we can become more defensively aware, I really feel with the guys we have on our roster, we can surprise at the back end of our season."
Added Vignocchi: "The record may not show it, (but) there's been improvement as a team. We've been much better since the start of the season."
The Spartans manager agrees with Nayman on what he and his staff have spent plenty of hours in training on -- defense.
"We're getting better defensively as a team in addition to putting extra work on keeping possession of the ball, without turning it over in critical areas," said Vignocchi.
"We're expecting a very disciplined, and hard-working Maine South team that will have skilled players.
"They buy into what (manager) Dan (States) is teaching them, and we know we'll have to compete for 80 minutes."
Nayman feels several of his teammates who are new to the North varsity roster are getting close to the speed and physical play of play at the varsity level.
He also points to three of his mates who have made an impact this fall.
"Sophomore Alex Link has a great work ethic," Nayman said. "Yusuf Shaaban ... along with Joey Martens, those two can run forever and have shown a real nice work rate whenever they're out there."
Nayman is looking forward to play Maine South for another reason -- playing against club mates Tommy Prokos (GK) and junior John Cronnolly (MF/F), whom Maine South captain, Sam McGinnis, calls one of the best the Hawks have to offer.
"John is a goal scorer, who is so good with the ball on either foot, and he's a great guy to play alongside in the middle," says McGinnis, who came back to South two years ago after playing club soccer with the Sockers FC Academy team.
"It's great to be back playing with my friends and my school," said McGinnis, who is unsure whether or not he'll play soccer in college.
"That's a decision I'll make in the near future, but one thing I know for sure is I'll major in engineering, maybe at Purdue, or another big school like that."
McGinnis also believes his club is close to turning the corner after the 1-0 loss to New Trier and 3-2 defeat a week ago to Glenbrook South that saw the Hawks fight back from a 3-0 disadvantage at the intermission.
"We've played well against some very good opponents, so we know we can compete with the big dogs," admits McGinnis. "We cannot come out on our back foot like we did in the first half with Glenbrook South and expect to be in position to win.
"That second half against GBS was our best half of the season. So I know we're capable of playing at that level because we're fit, athletic and have the players who can put 80 minutes together."
McGinnis, just like his manager, looks forward to the return of center back, Konrad Kutrzuba, who's been on the injured list with a kneee injury.
"Konrad is a stud back there for us," said McGinnis. "Although we've done pretty well without him, getting him back will be a big for us."
Maine South's leader is optimistic.
"There's a lot to like about this team," States said. "But the thing I have to keep reminding myself is how little varsity experience on our roster we have, and that sometimes shows.
"We're working through all of that, and that is what makes me believe we can put a full 80 minus together in order to compete with quality opponents."
look for breakthrough in league play
By Mike Garofola
Glenbrook North and Maine South go into Thursday night's Central Suburban League South Division contest with nary a win between them, so something has to give at Wilson Field in Park Ridge.
Both clubs have had the same fortune against division-leading Evanston, as well as second place New Trier. After Tuesday action: North (4-6-1, 0-3-0) enters the game on the heels of a 3-1 defeat to Evanston; South (5-5-1, 0-2-0) dropped a 1-0 decision at New Trier.
"The Evanston result was a disappointing one," said Spartans junior and two-year starter Gabe Nayman. "We were 0-0 at the break, then got back even when I was able to create a PK for David Schueler to convert. Two quick goals did us in.
"That's kind of been the story for us. A couple of mishaps, a few unlucky goals and things end up in a loss."
Both Nayman and Glenbrook North manager Paul Vignocchi feel the talent is there for a strong finish during the next month.
"The focus has been on defending, being disciplined and knowing when to press and when not to," said Nayman. "If we can become more defensively aware, I really feel with the guys we have on our roster, we can surprise at the back end of our season."
Added Vignocchi: "The record may not show it, (but) there's been improvement as a team. We've been much better since the start of the season."
The Spartans manager agrees with Nayman on what he and his staff have spent plenty of hours in training on -- defense.
"We're getting better defensively as a team in addition to putting extra work on keeping possession of the ball, without turning it over in critical areas," said Vignocchi.
"We're expecting a very disciplined, and hard-working Maine South team that will have skilled players.
"They buy into what (manager) Dan (States) is teaching them, and we know we'll have to compete for 80 minutes."
Nayman feels several of his teammates who are new to the North varsity roster are getting close to the speed and physical play of play at the varsity level.
He also points to three of his mates who have made an impact this fall.
"Sophomore Alex Link has a great work ethic," Nayman said. "Yusuf Shaaban ... along with Joey Martens, those two can run forever and have shown a real nice work rate whenever they're out there."
Nayman is looking forward to play Maine South for another reason -- playing against club mates Tommy Prokos (GK) and junior John Cronnolly (MF/F), whom Maine South captain, Sam McGinnis, calls one of the best the Hawks have to offer.
"John is a goal scorer, who is so good with the ball on either foot, and he's a great guy to play alongside in the middle," says McGinnis, who came back to South two years ago after playing club soccer with the Sockers FC Academy team.
"It's great to be back playing with my friends and my school," said McGinnis, who is unsure whether or not he'll play soccer in college.
"That's a decision I'll make in the near future, but one thing I know for sure is I'll major in engineering, maybe at Purdue, or another big school like that."
McGinnis also believes his club is close to turning the corner after the 1-0 loss to New Trier and 3-2 defeat a week ago to Glenbrook South that saw the Hawks fight back from a 3-0 disadvantage at the intermission.
"We've played well against some very good opponents, so we know we can compete with the big dogs," admits McGinnis. "We cannot come out on our back foot like we did in the first half with Glenbrook South and expect to be in position to win.
"That second half against GBS was our best half of the season. So I know we're capable of playing at that level because we're fit, athletic and have the players who can put 80 minutes together."
McGinnis, just like his manager, looks forward to the return of center back, Konrad Kutrzuba, who's been on the injured list with a kneee injury.
"Konrad is a stud back there for us," said McGinnis. "Although we've done pretty well without him, getting him back will be a big for us."
Maine South's leader is optimistic.
"There's a lot to like about this team," States said. "But the thing I have to keep reminding myself is how little varsity experience on our roster we have, and that sometimes shows.
"We're working through all of that, and that is what makes me believe we can put a full 80 minus together in order to compete with quality opponents."