Glenbrook South seeks to end
Glenbrook North's unbeaten start
By Mike Garofola
With its comeback 2-2 draw Tuesday night with New Trier, Glenbrook North (13-0-1, 2-0-1) was unable to inch closer to a Central Suburban League South Division title.
Also standing in the way of the Spartans, who are ranked fourth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, is no. 5 Evanston, which sits atop the division and one school that always has aspirations to derail any Glenbrook North success -- cross-town league rival Glenbrook South (6-10-0, 1-2-0). The pair meet tonight in Northbrook in what can be called an old-fashioned derby despite the fact both sides reside in different towns, albeit just over three miles away from each other.
Last season, Glenbrook South’s Lilly O'Rourke deflated the Spartans faithful when her equalizer in the 77th minute ended that contest in a 1-1 draw.
"Obviously a win tonight would be great because of the rivalry, and for me against friends from my club team,” said O’Rourke. “It doesn’t define our season; the hope is a win would help send us into the final few weeks of the season with momentum and confidence."
The senior will play next fall at DePaul University. Her friendship with Jen Devona, a former Chicagoland Soccer all-stater from Barrington and an FC United teammate helped seal the deal.
"I immediately felt comfortable in my visit to (DePaul) and the Lincoln Park campus,” she said.
For club O’Rourke plays either as a central defender or at the six. She hopes play in the latter position when she competed for new DePaul manager Michele O'Brien.
But for now, all eyes are on Glenbrook North.
"Margy Porta and Morissa Lambert are great friends of mine from club soccer. So. it will fun to play them one last time; we'll be friends before and after the game but not during," joked O'Rourke,
O'Rourke and her teammates have shown they can compete against first-class opponents like no. 10 Stevenson, Evanston and no. 22 New Trier, but on the flipside, the Titans have slipped on the proverbial banana peel against others not on par with the aforementioned trio.
"The video analysis tells all of us our possession percentage and ability to connect passes is very good," said O'Rourke. “Where we've had our troubles is in the final third.”
The Titans bagged eight goals in their first three matches, then just nine in its next 11 contests until a 4-0 win over Niles West to earn its first league victory.
In that game, Payton Davidson, Bella Gemignani, Lauren Koopersmith and Talia Massarelli scored and Audrey Langenbach, and Gemignani each claimed two helpers.
"During the last two weeks, we've begun to come together," said O'Rourke. “Unlike some high school programs that play more direct, because they have the speed up-top to out run the defense, we try to play more of a possession style of soccer. We've been much better at that recently.”
You can be sure Glenbrook North is leary of its rival.
"One thing we'll be looking to do is to stay away from our last game with GBS when they came back and equalized late," said Spartans manager Tony Valsamis.
"We missed our opportunities, hit the post 3-4 times, and we ultimately were punished for it.
Glenbrook North comes into the game in a good place.
"Team morale is high, and there is a hunger to both win and play good soccer," he said. "Psychologically speaking, we understand we are not perfect, but we are always striving to improve and not take our success for granted."
In the Spartans well deserved 3-1 victory over then no. 4 and current no. 8 Libertyville last weekend. Lily Denk, Porta and Dani Gichner found the back of the net.
"We were extremely active in the first 20 minutes of that game, (we) made dynamic runs, and put away our chances,” said Valsamis. “We showed our physical side of the game, which does not always appear due to our style of play.
"I expect GBS will fight hard to stay in the game. It won't be an easy game until we can break through and score a couple of goals, but these are the types of games that make high school soccer so special.”
Glenbrook South is ready for a battle.
"We're much more comfortable in the system we play, more confident on the ball and with each other, and we're more focused with plenty of no quit in our game," said Titans manager Mark Daniels.
"GBN is always a tough opponent, but we'll show up, and find a way to compete as best as we can."
O’Rourke finds it difficult to believe her high school career is nearing its end.
"I've developed a lot of friendships since coming here, so it will be sad when that last game comes,” she said. “There will be some tears shed. Soccer has given me so much more than I could have imagined. It's been a great four years here at Glenbrook South."
Glenbrook North's unbeaten start
By Mike Garofola
With its comeback 2-2 draw Tuesday night with New Trier, Glenbrook North (13-0-1, 2-0-1) was unable to inch closer to a Central Suburban League South Division title.
Also standing in the way of the Spartans, who are ranked fourth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, is no. 5 Evanston, which sits atop the division and one school that always has aspirations to derail any Glenbrook North success -- cross-town league rival Glenbrook South (6-10-0, 1-2-0). The pair meet tonight in Northbrook in what can be called an old-fashioned derby despite the fact both sides reside in different towns, albeit just over three miles away from each other.
Last season, Glenbrook South’s Lilly O'Rourke deflated the Spartans faithful when her equalizer in the 77th minute ended that contest in a 1-1 draw.
"Obviously a win tonight would be great because of the rivalry, and for me against friends from my club team,” said O’Rourke. “It doesn’t define our season; the hope is a win would help send us into the final few weeks of the season with momentum and confidence."
The senior will play next fall at DePaul University. Her friendship with Jen Devona, a former Chicagoland Soccer all-stater from Barrington and an FC United teammate helped seal the deal.
"I immediately felt comfortable in my visit to (DePaul) and the Lincoln Park campus,” she said.
For club O’Rourke plays either as a central defender or at the six. She hopes play in the latter position when she competed for new DePaul manager Michele O'Brien.
But for now, all eyes are on Glenbrook North.
"Margy Porta and Morissa Lambert are great friends of mine from club soccer. So. it will fun to play them one last time; we'll be friends before and after the game but not during," joked O'Rourke,
O'Rourke and her teammates have shown they can compete against first-class opponents like no. 10 Stevenson, Evanston and no. 22 New Trier, but on the flipside, the Titans have slipped on the proverbial banana peel against others not on par with the aforementioned trio.
"The video analysis tells all of us our possession percentage and ability to connect passes is very good," said O'Rourke. “Where we've had our troubles is in the final third.”
The Titans bagged eight goals in their first three matches, then just nine in its next 11 contests until a 4-0 win over Niles West to earn its first league victory.
In that game, Payton Davidson, Bella Gemignani, Lauren Koopersmith and Talia Massarelli scored and Audrey Langenbach, and Gemignani each claimed two helpers.
"During the last two weeks, we've begun to come together," said O'Rourke. “Unlike some high school programs that play more direct, because they have the speed up-top to out run the defense, we try to play more of a possession style of soccer. We've been much better at that recently.”
You can be sure Glenbrook North is leary of its rival.
"One thing we'll be looking to do is to stay away from our last game with GBS when they came back and equalized late," said Spartans manager Tony Valsamis.
"We missed our opportunities, hit the post 3-4 times, and we ultimately were punished for it.
Glenbrook North comes into the game in a good place.
"Team morale is high, and there is a hunger to both win and play good soccer," he said. "Psychologically speaking, we understand we are not perfect, but we are always striving to improve and not take our success for granted."
In the Spartans well deserved 3-1 victory over then no. 4 and current no. 8 Libertyville last weekend. Lily Denk, Porta and Dani Gichner found the back of the net.
"We were extremely active in the first 20 minutes of that game, (we) made dynamic runs, and put away our chances,” said Valsamis. “We showed our physical side of the game, which does not always appear due to our style of play.
"I expect GBS will fight hard to stay in the game. It won't be an easy game until we can break through and score a couple of goals, but these are the types of games that make high school soccer so special.”
Glenbrook South is ready for a battle.
"We're much more comfortable in the system we play, more confident on the ball and with each other, and we're more focused with plenty of no quit in our game," said Titans manager Mark Daniels.
"GBN is always a tough opponent, but we'll show up, and find a way to compete as best as we can."
O’Rourke finds it difficult to believe her high school career is nearing its end.
"I've developed a lot of friendships since coming here, so it will be sad when that last game comes,” she said. “There will be some tears shed. Soccer has given me so much more than I could have imagined. It's been a great four years here at Glenbrook South."