Glenbrook N., New Trier battle for CSL title
By Patrick Z. McGavin
On Saturday, September 9, Glenbrook North confronted the most challenging part of its schedule. Four days earlier, in a physical and hard-fought showdown with Maine South, the Spartans suffered three significant injuries in losing 2-1 against the Hawks.
“This was not our night,” Glenbrook North coach Paul Vignocchi said. The team had little chance but fight through. New Trier loomed on the schedule that Saturday afternoon.
Utilizing a patchwork defense, almost on the fly, the Spartans played an inspired game in shutting out the Trevians 1-0. The strong result galvanized Glenbrook North, the opening of its current nine-game winning streak.
Now the no. 3 Spartans travel to Northfield Wednesday night to face the no. 4 Trevians in the championship of the Central Suburban League. Glenbrook North (13-2-1) won the North division. New Trier (14-3-0) won the South.
The stakes are set for the most anticipated conference title game in recent memory.
“These are two good teams that know each other very well,” Vignocchi said. “A game like this can go either way. It comes down to players making plays and limiting critical mistakes.”
Glenbrook North has made few mistakes during its nine-game winning streak. The Spartans have posted seven shutouts and enjoyed a staggering 43-2 goal differential during the run.
The Spartans have dangerous playmakers up and down the lineup. Midfielders Robbie Fraser and Sahil Modi are electric in space and capable of serving dangerous scoring chances from multiple positions on the field. Fraser is a brilliant free kick specialist. Midfielder Max Marquez is a speed demon who puts tremendous pressure on the other side’s back line.
Senior forward Deng Deng Kur, the team’s leading scorer, has the size and frame to make plays inside the box, on the run or in the air. He is another dangerous weapon on set pieces.
“I think we are playing well right now,” Vignocchi said. “We are starting to get healthy again and hopefully be at full strength in the next week or so. There always parts of the game that we need to work on and get better. We want to make sure we work on those areas heading into the playoffs.”
Glenbrook North is seeking its second-consecutive conference title. The Spartans dominated Maine South 3-0 in last year’s title game.
New Trier has made a breakthrough in the second year of coach Matt Ravenscraft. The Trevians edged Fremd 1-0 on Monday night in last-minute tune-up to the conference title game.
New Trier is a mirror of the Spartans, especially at the offensive end. The Trevians’ lineup is deep, athletic and very skilled. New Trier is one of the few teams capable of matching up with the Spartans’ size. New Trier features an imposing tandem in breakout midfielder Ryan Krueger and Will Felitto, the team’s top two scorers. Midfielders Logan Weaver, JoJo Farina, Sean Gooze and Matteo Blair are fast, big and strong.
The Trevians’ versatility is their greatest asset.
“We can play in many different ways but we like to command the tempo with our passing and our movement,” Ravenscraft said. “We need to continue to move the ball, string together passes, be patient in our approach and take our chances.”
The earlier meeting has only accented the importance of the match, underlining the familiarity between the two sides. Many of the players are club teammates at FC United.
“Every time we have had a setback this year, we have responded and gone on a winning streak,” Ravenscraft said. “The boys moved on from the (earlier) loss. It has not affected our play in any way, and I don’t expect it to have an impact on tonight’s performance.”
The Spartans are the top two seeds of the Class 3A New Trier sectional. Consider this a preview. New Trier has posted six shutouts in its previous seven games.
“This is a sectional final caliber game,” Ravenscraft said. “Not much separates the two teams, and there are not many secrets. We are thrilled to have another opportunity to play Glenbrook North. Training was at a very high level. These boys are fired up.
“We know what we need to do better tonight.”
By Patrick Z. McGavin
On Saturday, September 9, Glenbrook North confronted the most challenging part of its schedule. Four days earlier, in a physical and hard-fought showdown with Maine South, the Spartans suffered three significant injuries in losing 2-1 against the Hawks.
“This was not our night,” Glenbrook North coach Paul Vignocchi said. The team had little chance but fight through. New Trier loomed on the schedule that Saturday afternoon.
Utilizing a patchwork defense, almost on the fly, the Spartans played an inspired game in shutting out the Trevians 1-0. The strong result galvanized Glenbrook North, the opening of its current nine-game winning streak.
Now the no. 3 Spartans travel to Northfield Wednesday night to face the no. 4 Trevians in the championship of the Central Suburban League. Glenbrook North (13-2-1) won the North division. New Trier (14-3-0) won the South.
The stakes are set for the most anticipated conference title game in recent memory.
“These are two good teams that know each other very well,” Vignocchi said. “A game like this can go either way. It comes down to players making plays and limiting critical mistakes.”
Glenbrook North has made few mistakes during its nine-game winning streak. The Spartans have posted seven shutouts and enjoyed a staggering 43-2 goal differential during the run.
The Spartans have dangerous playmakers up and down the lineup. Midfielders Robbie Fraser and Sahil Modi are electric in space and capable of serving dangerous scoring chances from multiple positions on the field. Fraser is a brilliant free kick specialist. Midfielder Max Marquez is a speed demon who puts tremendous pressure on the other side’s back line.
Senior forward Deng Deng Kur, the team’s leading scorer, has the size and frame to make plays inside the box, on the run or in the air. He is another dangerous weapon on set pieces.
“I think we are playing well right now,” Vignocchi said. “We are starting to get healthy again and hopefully be at full strength in the next week or so. There always parts of the game that we need to work on and get better. We want to make sure we work on those areas heading into the playoffs.”
Glenbrook North is seeking its second-consecutive conference title. The Spartans dominated Maine South 3-0 in last year’s title game.
New Trier has made a breakthrough in the second year of coach Matt Ravenscraft. The Trevians edged Fremd 1-0 on Monday night in last-minute tune-up to the conference title game.
New Trier is a mirror of the Spartans, especially at the offensive end. The Trevians’ lineup is deep, athletic and very skilled. New Trier is one of the few teams capable of matching up with the Spartans’ size. New Trier features an imposing tandem in breakout midfielder Ryan Krueger and Will Felitto, the team’s top two scorers. Midfielders Logan Weaver, JoJo Farina, Sean Gooze and Matteo Blair are fast, big and strong.
The Trevians’ versatility is their greatest asset.
“We can play in many different ways but we like to command the tempo with our passing and our movement,” Ravenscraft said. “We need to continue to move the ball, string together passes, be patient in our approach and take our chances.”
The earlier meeting has only accented the importance of the match, underlining the familiarity between the two sides. Many of the players are club teammates at FC United.
“Every time we have had a setback this year, we have responded and gone on a winning streak,” Ravenscraft said. “The boys moved on from the (earlier) loss. It has not affected our play in any way, and I don’t expect it to have an impact on tonight’s performance.”
The Spartans are the top two seeds of the Class 3A New Trier sectional. Consider this a preview. New Trier has posted six shutouts in its previous seven games.
“This is a sectional final caliber game,” Ravenscraft said. “Not much separates the two teams, and there are not many secrets. We are thrilled to have another opportunity to play Glenbrook North. Training was at a very high level. These boys are fired up.
“We know what we need to do better tonight.”