Glenbrook North, Highland Park
game features role reversal
By Patrick Z. McGavin
As Glenbrook North hosts Highland Park on Tuesday night, the Spartans in are a curious place, at least by their lofty standards.
They are cast in the potential role of spoilers.
Glenbrook North dominated the Central Suburban League North Division of late. That was then. Now the math is clearly against the Spartans (5-6-2, 2-2-0). Highland Park and Maine West are each 3-0-1 in conference play. The two played to a 4-4 draw two weeks ago.
This is the week that shapes the balance of the season. The Tuesday night clash in a full slate of league games will be the final clash before coaches submit their team information for the state tournament seeds in Class AA and Class 3A.
Glenbrook North is hosting a regional in the Class 3A Evanston Sectional. Highland Park is hosting a regional in the Class 3A Barrington complex. The winners of those sectional winners will meet in the Barrington Supersectional
For Highland Park, the game marks another step toward a superb turnaround season. Playing primarily underclassmen a year ago, the Giants finished 5-15-1.
From the opening week of the season as the Giants posted three-consecutive shutouts to capture the Lake Forest tournament, the Giants (8-2-3) have played with toughness and resolve.
Keeper Ethan Fineman has been a revelation. He is backed by a solid and skilled backline in Aaron Bach, Matt Holleman, Luke Illes and Chris Mateos.
A talented midfield is led by Joey Schwartz, Ronin Moore, Joey Schwartz and Ivan Roldan. Luke Zucker is fast and dynamic at the top of the attack.
According to Moore, a junior, the success is traced to the growing pains of a year ago as coach Blake Novotny sacrificed victories to privilege development.
“It’s really good for the young guys to get chances to play with the older kids, because it really prepares you really well,” Moore said. “I have been on this team since my freshman year, and it has really prepared me for understanding what I have to do to help my team and help win games. It’s really important for the young guys to get chances.
“We are always looking to bring up some young guys from the lower levels and get chances for everyone.”
After winning 42 games and qualifying for back-to-back sectional finals, Glenbrook North has experienced a different kind of season. Early-season injuries combined with serious graduation losses forestalled the team's early development. Senior midfielder Max Marquez, the team’s most dynamic player in space, has been out since the third game of the year. He is expected back soon.
Glenbrook North has played a grueling and deeply challenging schedule. This is a team with pride and talent. They do not go down without a fight.
Whatever else the team has been burdened by, lack of confidence is not an issue.
“We’ve got a lot of talent, and I think the big thing for us coming out [of recent games] was just trusting each other and getting the mental side of the game down,” junior forward Joey Martens said.
Martens’s emergence as a top junior has been an individual highlight of the Spartans’ season. He brings a flair to the team with and athleticism and ability to break down defenders and get into space. Junior forward George Luke, one of the Spartans who dealt with an early-season injury, is getting his rhythm and fitness back. He is another skilled attacking piece who threatens defenses. Nate Aronson, Nico Adducci and Sam Sullivan are the players to watch in the midfield.
Coach Paul Vignocchi has stressed the Spartans returning to their identity of the past -- a defensive-oriented team that builds its offense through the counter and from the back.
Starting with the Deerfield game last Thursday, Glenbrook North went to a five-man back with the addition of lanky junior David Schueler and athletic Konrad Kulesza from their usual midfield spots. Patrick O’Brien, Ben Gordon and Noah Ben-Isvy are the other defenders.
They face a considerable challenge in slowing down the Giants.
“It’s been a little tough given we have had to put new guys into new positions, and it has been a little hard for some of them to assimilate to those positions,” Gordon said.
“I think they have done a job. They are learning and getting there, and we are coming together as a team. After graduating a lot of guys at a high level, it is tough to replace them, but I think we have a lot of talent and athleticism. We are getting there.”
game features role reversal
By Patrick Z. McGavin
As Glenbrook North hosts Highland Park on Tuesday night, the Spartans in are a curious place, at least by their lofty standards.
They are cast in the potential role of spoilers.
Glenbrook North dominated the Central Suburban League North Division of late. That was then. Now the math is clearly against the Spartans (5-6-2, 2-2-0). Highland Park and Maine West are each 3-0-1 in conference play. The two played to a 4-4 draw two weeks ago.
This is the week that shapes the balance of the season. The Tuesday night clash in a full slate of league games will be the final clash before coaches submit their team information for the state tournament seeds in Class AA and Class 3A.
Glenbrook North is hosting a regional in the Class 3A Evanston Sectional. Highland Park is hosting a regional in the Class 3A Barrington complex. The winners of those sectional winners will meet in the Barrington Supersectional
For Highland Park, the game marks another step toward a superb turnaround season. Playing primarily underclassmen a year ago, the Giants finished 5-15-1.
From the opening week of the season as the Giants posted three-consecutive shutouts to capture the Lake Forest tournament, the Giants (8-2-3) have played with toughness and resolve.
Keeper Ethan Fineman has been a revelation. He is backed by a solid and skilled backline in Aaron Bach, Matt Holleman, Luke Illes and Chris Mateos.
A talented midfield is led by Joey Schwartz, Ronin Moore, Joey Schwartz and Ivan Roldan. Luke Zucker is fast and dynamic at the top of the attack.
According to Moore, a junior, the success is traced to the growing pains of a year ago as coach Blake Novotny sacrificed victories to privilege development.
“It’s really good for the young guys to get chances to play with the older kids, because it really prepares you really well,” Moore said. “I have been on this team since my freshman year, and it has really prepared me for understanding what I have to do to help my team and help win games. It’s really important for the young guys to get chances.
“We are always looking to bring up some young guys from the lower levels and get chances for everyone.”
After winning 42 games and qualifying for back-to-back sectional finals, Glenbrook North has experienced a different kind of season. Early-season injuries combined with serious graduation losses forestalled the team's early development. Senior midfielder Max Marquez, the team’s most dynamic player in space, has been out since the third game of the year. He is expected back soon.
Glenbrook North has played a grueling and deeply challenging schedule. This is a team with pride and talent. They do not go down without a fight.
Whatever else the team has been burdened by, lack of confidence is not an issue.
“We’ve got a lot of talent, and I think the big thing for us coming out [of recent games] was just trusting each other and getting the mental side of the game down,” junior forward Joey Martens said.
Martens’s emergence as a top junior has been an individual highlight of the Spartans’ season. He brings a flair to the team with and athleticism and ability to break down defenders and get into space. Junior forward George Luke, one of the Spartans who dealt with an early-season injury, is getting his rhythm and fitness back. He is another skilled attacking piece who threatens defenses. Nate Aronson, Nico Adducci and Sam Sullivan are the players to watch in the midfield.
Coach Paul Vignocchi has stressed the Spartans returning to their identity of the past -- a defensive-oriented team that builds its offense through the counter and from the back.
Starting with the Deerfield game last Thursday, Glenbrook North went to a five-man back with the addition of lanky junior David Schueler and athletic Konrad Kulesza from their usual midfield spots. Patrick O’Brien, Ben Gordon and Noah Ben-Isvy are the other defenders.
They face a considerable challenge in slowing down the Giants.
“It’s been a little tough given we have had to put new guys into new positions, and it has been a little hard for some of them to assimilate to those positions,” Gordon said.
“I think they have done a job. They are learning and getting there, and we are coming together as a team. After graduating a lot of guys at a high level, it is tough to replace them, but I think we have a lot of talent and athleticism. We are getting there.”