Glenbrook North continues season
of firsts, Maine South latest victim
Spartans take CSL crown with dominating 3-0 win
By Patrick Z. McGavin
NORTHBROOK -- Maine South played the wrong team at the worst possible moment Wednesday.
Glenbrook North was angry with its lackluster performance against Deerfield the night before, and the host Spartans were out to prove they were capable of achieving something much greater. The Hawks were the next team up, in a platform the Spartans had never reached.
“Our coaches remind us all the time that we are doing something special, something that no previous Glenbrook North teams have done before,” star senior midfielder Timmy Iscra said. “We are looking to check off as many boxes as possible and get as many records as we can.”
Iscra continued his dream season by smashing home two goals on headers and the no. 2 Spartans put on a state championship-caliber performance in dismantling no. 13 Maine South 3-0 in the championship of the Central Suburban League on Wednesday night.
“It has taken a while to finally get this chemistry, but I think it’s really starting to click,” said Iscra, who was named the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match for a second-consecutive game. “We’re coming off a poor performance against Deerfield, so it was good for us to play well. We’re looking to tune everything up for playoffs. We want to be our best, and that is when we move the ball fast.”
Glenbrook North (17-1-1) ran its winning streak to 11 games. The Spartans have posted eight shutouts and created a staggering goal differential of 46-3 since playing New Trier to a 1-1 draw on September 8th. Two nights before that game, the Spartans beat Maine South 2-1.
“We have never won this since they had the championship game of the two divisions,” Glenbrook North coach Paul Vignocchi said. “We have won conference, but we never played in this game, because there was a tie involved. This year was the first one, and we did not want to have any regrets leaving this field tonight.”
Vignocchi felt emotionally and psychologically the Spartans’ 1-0 victory over Deerfield on Tuesday was a function of already looking ahead, resulting in a flat and sluggish performance. The conference title game marked an opportunity to go forward quickly and leave behind the disappointment of that match.
From the opening, Glenbrook North played with precision, speed and sharpness. Forward Deng Deng had headers in the opening 10 minutes that required terrific saves by Maine South keeper Mark Biedke. The tone was established, and the Spartans dictated pace and rhythm and forced the Hawks into reacting to their game rather than trying to establish any combination or organization of their own.
“The style of play was a little different in that first game,” Glenbrook North standout defender Seth Grossman said. “They kind of sat back and applied little pressure. We weren’t ready for that. They scored off a counter. They played a normal style of soccer tonight and that’s why we were able to spread them out very well. Their backline was a little higher tonight, and we were able to get it past their last defender.”
Maine South (13-4-2) was under constant pressure, reacting to the Spartans’ flurry and quick and fluid possession game that rarely allowed them to generate any significant pressure or organized play of its own. Patrick Hopkins had a potentially dangerous free-kick from just inside the midfield line that bounced before Spartans’ keeper Gabe Zorilla secured possession.
“Like we played the first time, we know they are going to have the greater run of play and that was okay,” Maine South coach Dan States said. “We need to play better defensively and counter quickly. Our counters and possession up-top were not good tonight. If you are going to play a team like this, you have to play an A game, and we didn’t.”
Glenbrook North's Sahil Modi, who has been one of the best players in the state the last month, won the earlier meeting by converting a penalty-kick. His movement and constant pressure against the Hawks’ backline yielded the first goal. Making a deep run down the right sideline, he controlled a cross and scissored between two Hawks’ defenders.
His explosive move was too quick, and he was tripped inside the box. Midfielder Jackson Grabill converted in the upper left corner in the 39th minute for the Spartans.
Mark Biedke recorded 11 saves, five in the first half that allowed Maine South to hang around the Spartans. If anything Glenbrook North intensified its play in the second half, connecting in the middle and out wide. Modi hit the post right at the start of the second half.
Iscra put the game out of reach with two beautiful goals in the 49th and 57th minutes. The scores were virtual copies as Max Knebelkamp and Ryan Golde each served perfect crosses the DePaul-recruit elevated on and finished inside the near post.
“When it gets outside the outside back I make eye contact with him, and I look to stay on the defender’s backside and then just get in front of him at the last second to square my shoulders and put one on net,” Iscra said.
The Glenbrook North defense was also exceptional. Maine South finally developed two good chances, a point-blank shot off a corner and a left-footed blast by forward Philip Mierzwa that Zorilla made fantastic stops on that preserved the shutout.
Everything is synchronized and in flow.
“As a back, we needed to play more together,” Grossman said. “Mason [Gold] and I were a little off rhythm earlier this year. The coaches talked to us about it, and I think we fixed that. I like to step up to the ball and intercept the pass and have Mason come up from behind me. We didn’t have that chemistry at first. We fixed that, and I think that is why we have given up so few goals.”
These two teams are the top two seeds of the Class 3A Maine East Sectional.
“I have said all along they’re one of the best teams out there,” States said. “There are some other good teams out there, but there is no reason why they should not be considered one of the best teams in the state.
“Are we able to run with these guys? I think we can, but we have to play a top-level A game. I think we made some mistakes out there tonight, and they made us pay for it.”
Starting lineups
Maine South
GK: Mark Biedke
D: Danny Guce
D: Patrick Hopkins
D: Liam Pittges
D: Michael Zimnoch
MF: Szymon Laczak
MF: Jacob Rozynek
MF: Szymon Glab
MF: Ryan Bull
F: Philip Mierzwa
F: Alessandro Corazzina
Glenbrook North
GK: Gabe Zorilla
D: Mason Rose
D: Max Knebelkamp
D: Evan Goldberg
D: Robbie Fraser
MF: Ryan Golde
MF: Sahil Modi
MF: Timmy Iscra
MF: Jackson Grabill
MF: Tommy Arner
F: Deng Deng
Man of the Match: Timmy Iscra, MF, Glenbrook North
of firsts, Maine South latest victim
Spartans take CSL crown with dominating 3-0 win
By Patrick Z. McGavin
NORTHBROOK -- Maine South played the wrong team at the worst possible moment Wednesday.
Glenbrook North was angry with its lackluster performance against Deerfield the night before, and the host Spartans were out to prove they were capable of achieving something much greater. The Hawks were the next team up, in a platform the Spartans had never reached.
“Our coaches remind us all the time that we are doing something special, something that no previous Glenbrook North teams have done before,” star senior midfielder Timmy Iscra said. “We are looking to check off as many boxes as possible and get as many records as we can.”
Iscra continued his dream season by smashing home two goals on headers and the no. 2 Spartans put on a state championship-caliber performance in dismantling no. 13 Maine South 3-0 in the championship of the Central Suburban League on Wednesday night.
“It has taken a while to finally get this chemistry, but I think it’s really starting to click,” said Iscra, who was named the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match for a second-consecutive game. “We’re coming off a poor performance against Deerfield, so it was good for us to play well. We’re looking to tune everything up for playoffs. We want to be our best, and that is when we move the ball fast.”
Glenbrook North (17-1-1) ran its winning streak to 11 games. The Spartans have posted eight shutouts and created a staggering goal differential of 46-3 since playing New Trier to a 1-1 draw on September 8th. Two nights before that game, the Spartans beat Maine South 2-1.
“We have never won this since they had the championship game of the two divisions,” Glenbrook North coach Paul Vignocchi said. “We have won conference, but we never played in this game, because there was a tie involved. This year was the first one, and we did not want to have any regrets leaving this field tonight.”
Vignocchi felt emotionally and psychologically the Spartans’ 1-0 victory over Deerfield on Tuesday was a function of already looking ahead, resulting in a flat and sluggish performance. The conference title game marked an opportunity to go forward quickly and leave behind the disappointment of that match.
From the opening, Glenbrook North played with precision, speed and sharpness. Forward Deng Deng had headers in the opening 10 minutes that required terrific saves by Maine South keeper Mark Biedke. The tone was established, and the Spartans dictated pace and rhythm and forced the Hawks into reacting to their game rather than trying to establish any combination or organization of their own.
“The style of play was a little different in that first game,” Glenbrook North standout defender Seth Grossman said. “They kind of sat back and applied little pressure. We weren’t ready for that. They scored off a counter. They played a normal style of soccer tonight and that’s why we were able to spread them out very well. Their backline was a little higher tonight, and we were able to get it past their last defender.”
Maine South (13-4-2) was under constant pressure, reacting to the Spartans’ flurry and quick and fluid possession game that rarely allowed them to generate any significant pressure or organized play of its own. Patrick Hopkins had a potentially dangerous free-kick from just inside the midfield line that bounced before Spartans’ keeper Gabe Zorilla secured possession.
“Like we played the first time, we know they are going to have the greater run of play and that was okay,” Maine South coach Dan States said. “We need to play better defensively and counter quickly. Our counters and possession up-top were not good tonight. If you are going to play a team like this, you have to play an A game, and we didn’t.”
Glenbrook North's Sahil Modi, who has been one of the best players in the state the last month, won the earlier meeting by converting a penalty-kick. His movement and constant pressure against the Hawks’ backline yielded the first goal. Making a deep run down the right sideline, he controlled a cross and scissored between two Hawks’ defenders.
His explosive move was too quick, and he was tripped inside the box. Midfielder Jackson Grabill converted in the upper left corner in the 39th minute for the Spartans.
Mark Biedke recorded 11 saves, five in the first half that allowed Maine South to hang around the Spartans. If anything Glenbrook North intensified its play in the second half, connecting in the middle and out wide. Modi hit the post right at the start of the second half.
Iscra put the game out of reach with two beautiful goals in the 49th and 57th minutes. The scores were virtual copies as Max Knebelkamp and Ryan Golde each served perfect crosses the DePaul-recruit elevated on and finished inside the near post.
“When it gets outside the outside back I make eye contact with him, and I look to stay on the defender’s backside and then just get in front of him at the last second to square my shoulders and put one on net,” Iscra said.
The Glenbrook North defense was also exceptional. Maine South finally developed two good chances, a point-blank shot off a corner and a left-footed blast by forward Philip Mierzwa that Zorilla made fantastic stops on that preserved the shutout.
Everything is synchronized and in flow.
“As a back, we needed to play more together,” Grossman said. “Mason [Gold] and I were a little off rhythm earlier this year. The coaches talked to us about it, and I think we fixed that. I like to step up to the ball and intercept the pass and have Mason come up from behind me. We didn’t have that chemistry at first. We fixed that, and I think that is why we have given up so few goals.”
These two teams are the top two seeds of the Class 3A Maine East Sectional.
“I have said all along they’re one of the best teams out there,” States said. “There are some other good teams out there, but there is no reason why they should not be considered one of the best teams in the state.
“Are we able to run with these guys? I think we can, but we have to play a top-level A game. I think we made some mistakes out there tonight, and they made us pay for it.”
Starting lineups
Maine South
GK: Mark Biedke
D: Danny Guce
D: Patrick Hopkins
D: Liam Pittges
D: Michael Zimnoch
MF: Szymon Laczak
MF: Jacob Rozynek
MF: Szymon Glab
MF: Ryan Bull
F: Philip Mierzwa
F: Alessandro Corazzina
Glenbrook North
GK: Gabe Zorilla
D: Mason Rose
D: Max Knebelkamp
D: Evan Goldberg
D: Robbie Fraser
MF: Ryan Golde
MF: Sahil Modi
MF: Timmy Iscra
MF: Jackson Grabill
MF: Tommy Arner
F: Deng Deng
Man of the Match: Timmy Iscra, MF, Glenbrook North