Neighborhood pride on line
in Glenbrook North-Glenbrook South tilt
Spartans, Titans to meet for first time as CSL South rivals
By Ken Keenan
A pair of old rivals will clash once again when Glenbrook South takes the short drive from Glenview to Northbrook for a Central Suburban League South Division battle with Glenbrook North at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The Titans, ranked no. 22 in the latest Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, enter the match at 8-4-3 overall, including a 2-1-1 mark in conference play.
"We've had a decent season so far, though we know we should have better results in almost all of our ties and losses," said Glenbrook South head coach Reggie Lara. "I attribute our success to the fact that we have a deep team with a lot of skill, size and athleticism. We have players with exceptional speed, tremendous size and strength, and outstanding work rate."
Lara continued: "We pose match-up problems for a lot of opponents, and opposing defenses have to pretty much pick their poison when it comes to defending against us. On top of that, we have a close-knit group that supports each other and works extremely hard in practice and in games."
Glenbrook South is led on offense by senior forwards Danny Sergiev (5 goals, 4 assists) and Zach Ochab (5 goals, 3 assists), junior forward Justin Leszynski (4 goals, 3 assists) and junior defender Drew Maytum (3 goals, assist).
"Sergiev (6-foot-5) has the skill to possess the ball and the strength to hold off defenders, and he can hit shots with either foot," Lara said. "He's dangerous anytime he touches the ball. His free kicks can be intimidating for opposing goalkeepers, and he's also dangerous attacking balls in the air with his head.
"Ochab is crafty with the ball at his feet and doesn't shy away from physical contact. He's deceptively fast and can beat unsuspecting defenders in 1-v.-1 matchups. Leszynski (6-5, 220 lbs.) looks like a football tight end. He uses his size to his advantage as a target forward while still having decent speed, and he's dangerous when given space to turn and shoot. He's also deadly on the receiving end of crosses.
"Maytum has been a surprise as a scoring player. He's a tall (6-4) center back who has good instincts on reading when to push up to be on the receiving end of set pieces and other crosses. He's also a threat in the air, and he's capable of serving dangerous balls into the box on set pieces."
Lara said the Titans' defense is anchored by senior goalkeeper/captain Christian Noordover (0.85 goals-against average), Maytum, and senior defenders Jose Santos-DeSoto and Michael Zenzola, Maytum, with junior David Sohn and senior Ryan Batka rotating into the final spot.
"Our backline is big and strong in the middle and quick and gritty on the outsides," Lara said. "They're also strong on tackles and winning long balls with their heads."
Key performers in the midfield for Glenbrook South include senior captains (and three-year starters) Jhovany Guadarrama and Julian Issar, with support from seniors Blake Shechtman and Tengis Purevrentsen and sophomore Arturo Moyo.
"Both (Guadarrama and Issar) have a great combination of skill, hustle, speed, physicality and competitiveness," Lara said. "They excel in breaking up opposing attacks and possessions with timely tackles, and they also generate counterattack opportunities with accurate passing."
Meanwhile, Glenbrook North will take the pitch at 4-7-2 overall and 0-4-0 in conference action. The Spartans snapped a four-game losing skid with a 1-1 tie against Lake Forest on Saturday. The draw came in dramatic fashion on a goal in the final minute by senior midfielder Nico Adducci.
"To be fair, it felt like a victory," said Glenbrook North skipper Paul Vignocchi. "We've been taking our lumps in the CSL South, so it was nice to get that goal by Adducci to tie the game."
This season Glenbrook North switched places with Niles North, to reside in the same division as its District 225 rival.
Vignocchi said that some issues with consistency, combined with injuries to a trio of key players (senior forward/mid George Luke, senior defender Peyton Bernstein and senior keeper Nick Washelesky), have been factors in the recent lack of success.
"There have been games we've put ourselves in a position to win but some breakdowns have hurt us," Vignocchi said. "But now that we're in the CSL South ... some very tough schools. It's been a reality check for us, but it's the types of teams we'll see in the playoffs as well. The tough schedule should make us better in the end."
Concerning the injuries, Vignocchi said, "It means we gotta go deeper on the bench. A lot of the guys stepping in are first-year varsity players, so they are getting a lot of good experience."
Some of those Spartans will experience their first tilt against neighboring Glenbrook South as well.
"We've always played them every year, and now it's a conference game that means something," Vignocchi said. "We're looking forward to it, but they're very tall and athletic, so it will be a challenge for us."
Vignocchi will be counting on senior defender David Schueler, junior midfielder Tommy Henrickson and Adducci to lead the way against the Titans and also down the stretch.
"Schueler has done a great job in the back this year ... been the consistent contributor on defense," Vignocchi said. "Henrickson has done a nice job in the midfield, and Adducci should be a top contributor offensively."
Vignocchi continued: "Hopefully, we can build some momentum heading into the (IHSA) playoffs ... get healthy and get back to where we need to be."
Regarding his team's approach to the neighborhood rivalry match, Titans skipper Lara said, "I imagine our intensity and energy will be extremely high, but we aren't taking anything for granted. The Spartans are always a formidable opponent with their methodical possession style, and they're well-coached by Paul (Vignocchi) and his staff."
Added Lara: "I'm looking for our boys to take the next step as a team and have a solid, 80-minute performance. We've had hints of brilliance this year, but I'm still looking for us to put together a complete game. If we can become more consistent and address our weaknesses, we're capable of making a deep run in the playoffs."
in Glenbrook North-Glenbrook South tilt
Spartans, Titans to meet for first time as CSL South rivals
By Ken Keenan
A pair of old rivals will clash once again when Glenbrook South takes the short drive from Glenview to Northbrook for a Central Suburban League South Division battle with Glenbrook North at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The Titans, ranked no. 22 in the latest Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, enter the match at 8-4-3 overall, including a 2-1-1 mark in conference play.
"We've had a decent season so far, though we know we should have better results in almost all of our ties and losses," said Glenbrook South head coach Reggie Lara. "I attribute our success to the fact that we have a deep team with a lot of skill, size and athleticism. We have players with exceptional speed, tremendous size and strength, and outstanding work rate."
Lara continued: "We pose match-up problems for a lot of opponents, and opposing defenses have to pretty much pick their poison when it comes to defending against us. On top of that, we have a close-knit group that supports each other and works extremely hard in practice and in games."
Glenbrook South is led on offense by senior forwards Danny Sergiev (5 goals, 4 assists) and Zach Ochab (5 goals, 3 assists), junior forward Justin Leszynski (4 goals, 3 assists) and junior defender Drew Maytum (3 goals, assist).
"Sergiev (6-foot-5) has the skill to possess the ball and the strength to hold off defenders, and he can hit shots with either foot," Lara said. "He's dangerous anytime he touches the ball. His free kicks can be intimidating for opposing goalkeepers, and he's also dangerous attacking balls in the air with his head.
"Ochab is crafty with the ball at his feet and doesn't shy away from physical contact. He's deceptively fast and can beat unsuspecting defenders in 1-v.-1 matchups. Leszynski (6-5, 220 lbs.) looks like a football tight end. He uses his size to his advantage as a target forward while still having decent speed, and he's dangerous when given space to turn and shoot. He's also deadly on the receiving end of crosses.
"Maytum has been a surprise as a scoring player. He's a tall (6-4) center back who has good instincts on reading when to push up to be on the receiving end of set pieces and other crosses. He's also a threat in the air, and he's capable of serving dangerous balls into the box on set pieces."
Lara said the Titans' defense is anchored by senior goalkeeper/captain Christian Noordover (0.85 goals-against average), Maytum, and senior defenders Jose Santos-DeSoto and Michael Zenzola, Maytum, with junior David Sohn and senior Ryan Batka rotating into the final spot.
"Our backline is big and strong in the middle and quick and gritty on the outsides," Lara said. "They're also strong on tackles and winning long balls with their heads."
Key performers in the midfield for Glenbrook South include senior captains (and three-year starters) Jhovany Guadarrama and Julian Issar, with support from seniors Blake Shechtman and Tengis Purevrentsen and sophomore Arturo Moyo.
"Both (Guadarrama and Issar) have a great combination of skill, hustle, speed, physicality and competitiveness," Lara said. "They excel in breaking up opposing attacks and possessions with timely tackles, and they also generate counterattack opportunities with accurate passing."
Meanwhile, Glenbrook North will take the pitch at 4-7-2 overall and 0-4-0 in conference action. The Spartans snapped a four-game losing skid with a 1-1 tie against Lake Forest on Saturday. The draw came in dramatic fashion on a goal in the final minute by senior midfielder Nico Adducci.
"To be fair, it felt like a victory," said Glenbrook North skipper Paul Vignocchi. "We've been taking our lumps in the CSL South, so it was nice to get that goal by Adducci to tie the game."
This season Glenbrook North switched places with Niles North, to reside in the same division as its District 225 rival.
Vignocchi said that some issues with consistency, combined with injuries to a trio of key players (senior forward/mid George Luke, senior defender Peyton Bernstein and senior keeper Nick Washelesky), have been factors in the recent lack of success.
"There have been games we've put ourselves in a position to win but some breakdowns have hurt us," Vignocchi said. "But now that we're in the CSL South ... some very tough schools. It's been a reality check for us, but it's the types of teams we'll see in the playoffs as well. The tough schedule should make us better in the end."
Concerning the injuries, Vignocchi said, "It means we gotta go deeper on the bench. A lot of the guys stepping in are first-year varsity players, so they are getting a lot of good experience."
Some of those Spartans will experience their first tilt against neighboring Glenbrook South as well.
"We've always played them every year, and now it's a conference game that means something," Vignocchi said. "We're looking forward to it, but they're very tall and athletic, so it will be a challenge for us."
Vignocchi will be counting on senior defender David Schueler, junior midfielder Tommy Henrickson and Adducci to lead the way against the Titans and also down the stretch.
"Schueler has done a great job in the back this year ... been the consistent contributor on defense," Vignocchi said. "Henrickson has done a nice job in the midfield, and Adducci should be a top contributor offensively."
Vignocchi continued: "Hopefully, we can build some momentum heading into the (IHSA) playoffs ... get healthy and get back to where we need to be."
Regarding his team's approach to the neighborhood rivalry match, Titans skipper Lara said, "I imagine our intensity and energy will be extremely high, but we aren't taking anything for granted. The Spartans are always a formidable opponent with their methodical possession style, and they're well-coached by Paul (Vignocchi) and his staff."
Added Lara: "I'm looking for our boys to take the next step as a team and have a solid, 80-minute performance. We've had hints of brilliance this year, but I'm still looking for us to put together a complete game. If we can become more consistent and address our weaknesses, we're capable of making a deep run in the playoffs."