Glenbrook N. explosion buries Vernon Hills
7-goal 2nd half delivers CSL North title, 7-0 win
By Rusty Silber
NORTHBROOK -- Glenbrook North has a way of getting its game going very quickly. The Spartans seem to like scoring goals in bunches. A lot of the offense works from the back to one of the quickest of midfields, until the sequence hooks up to the front line.
In contrast to the Spartans' habit, they were held without a goal for the opening 40 minutes on Tuesday night. But after a halftime talk from their coach Paul Vignocchi, which must have been one for the ages, Glenbrook North ran wild. The Spartans emphatically claimed the Central Suburban League North Division title with an resounding seven-goal second half.
League newcomer Vernon Hills was the victim of the scoring outburst in a 7-0 defeat to the Spartans.
Glenbrook North (12-1-1, 4-0-0) meets Deerfield in its final conference game next Tuesday. But the match was rendered meaningless when the Warriors (2-0-2) tied Highland Park 1-1 Tuesday. Vernon Hills (8-7-0) finished its first season in the CSL North at 2-3-0.
Sahil Modi earned Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match honor more for his contributions in the midfield more than for the goal he added to the scoreboard total. He plays a big role with Glenbrook North's organization in the midfield and how the team sets up moving forward.
"I think we play very well in the midfield, because we've been playing with each other for a very long time," said Modi, who has 11 goals and 5 assists as an attacking midfielder this season. "We always try to find an easy pass. We try not to complicate things. We play a one- and two-touch like our coaches always say to do in practice, and it carries over to the game.
"So we a play a fast, quick one-, two-touch, and our movement off the ball is really good. We're really dynamic, and we're able to break defenses down."
Though unable to score, the Spartans pressured Vernon Hills. Cougars keeper Brennan Reback made five outstanding stops in the first half and had 12 for the game, including a penalty-kick stop.
"We had to work more on our finishing in the box," Modi said. "We had to pass the ball around the keeper, instead of kicking it blindly. Because the goalie was very athletic, and we had to find those pockets in the corners, which we did in the second half."
Vernon Hills had two opportunities to take a halftime lead in the final minute of the opening period. Steven Auw made a move that forced Spartans keeper Gabe Zorilla into a leg save. Then, the Cougars' Michael Harty missed with a point-blank shot that went over the bar.
"(Vernon Hills) was a good team and was very organized," Vignocchi said. "We knew that going in, and we knew coach (Mike) McCaulou organized his guys very well and had a good plan. We had some good opportunities and their keeper made some good saves. We could have easily been down 1-0 at the half.
"We put a little fire in our guys at halftime. I think it was a little more about (Vernon Hills) being tired in the second half, and we were able to do a little bit more. We kept attacking and eventually when you get the first one, it opens things up a little bit more. You get the second one it opens up even more, and it just kept coming for us.
"This goalkeeper was one of the best we've seen this year along with the St. Charles East keepers. Once we got to the endline and played the ball across the box, it gave us easy opportunities."
Timmy Iscra was the Spartan who finally found the first one for Glenbrook North. He sent home a header that came after a Jackson Grabill free-kick from 30 yards in the 44th minute.
About three minutes later, Modi made it 2-0 with an unassisted goal that deflected off a Cougars defender in the box.
In the 50th minute, Ryan Golde sent a low cross, which Robbie Fraser tapped in for the 3-0 advantage.
Grabill (8 goals, 10 assists on the season) added the fourth after taking a pass from Deng Deng in the 56th minute. A minute later Deng added an unassisted goal. Then, Alex Kahn added two others off assists from Matt Metzger and Kamil Barabas.
"We have guys the contribute so much offensively and defensively," Grabill said. "They get back winning 50/50 balls. winning headers and at the same time, they pressure the attack and playing great through-balls. It's back and forth for a full game. It's awesome to play with."
Vernon Hills knew that this one would be one of their toughest challenges coming into the game. The Cougars gave it their best shot and stayed with Glenbrook North until they broke down.
"(Glenbrook North) is ranked (high) ... and they deserve it," McCaulou said. "They have electric, attacking, creative players. First half, we were super disciplined and super organized. We had a couple of chances to score in that first half.
"I was disappointed in allowing the game to get the better of them (in the second half) in the mentality -- being tough mentally and focused.
"There's a reason why Glenbrook North is one of the best in the state."
Starting lineups
Vernon Hills
GK-Brennan Reback
D-Michael Harty
D-Brandon Kim
D-Steven Tow
D-Sean Collins
MF-Aaron Castellanos
MF-Anakin Ruiz
MF-Devin Papiernik
MF-Corey Takaoka
F-Steven Auw
F-Chris White
Glenbrook North
GK-Gabe Zorilla
D-Ryan Golde
D-Mason Rose
D-Max Knebelkamp
D-Seth Grossman
MF-Tommy Arner
MF-Sahil Modi
MF-Timmy Iscra
MF- Robbie Fraser
F-Jackson Grabill
F-Deng Deng
Man of the Match: Sahil Modi, MF, Glenbrook North
7-goal 2nd half delivers CSL North title, 7-0 win
By Rusty Silber
NORTHBROOK -- Glenbrook North has a way of getting its game going very quickly. The Spartans seem to like scoring goals in bunches. A lot of the offense works from the back to one of the quickest of midfields, until the sequence hooks up to the front line.
In contrast to the Spartans' habit, they were held without a goal for the opening 40 minutes on Tuesday night. But after a halftime talk from their coach Paul Vignocchi, which must have been one for the ages, Glenbrook North ran wild. The Spartans emphatically claimed the Central Suburban League North Division title with an resounding seven-goal second half.
League newcomer Vernon Hills was the victim of the scoring outburst in a 7-0 defeat to the Spartans.
Glenbrook North (12-1-1, 4-0-0) meets Deerfield in its final conference game next Tuesday. But the match was rendered meaningless when the Warriors (2-0-2) tied Highland Park 1-1 Tuesday. Vernon Hills (8-7-0) finished its first season in the CSL North at 2-3-0.
Sahil Modi earned Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match honor more for his contributions in the midfield more than for the goal he added to the scoreboard total. He plays a big role with Glenbrook North's organization in the midfield and how the team sets up moving forward.
"I think we play very well in the midfield, because we've been playing with each other for a very long time," said Modi, who has 11 goals and 5 assists as an attacking midfielder this season. "We always try to find an easy pass. We try not to complicate things. We play a one- and two-touch like our coaches always say to do in practice, and it carries over to the game.
"So we a play a fast, quick one-, two-touch, and our movement off the ball is really good. We're really dynamic, and we're able to break defenses down."
Though unable to score, the Spartans pressured Vernon Hills. Cougars keeper Brennan Reback made five outstanding stops in the first half and had 12 for the game, including a penalty-kick stop.
"We had to work more on our finishing in the box," Modi said. "We had to pass the ball around the keeper, instead of kicking it blindly. Because the goalie was very athletic, and we had to find those pockets in the corners, which we did in the second half."
Vernon Hills had two opportunities to take a halftime lead in the final minute of the opening period. Steven Auw made a move that forced Spartans keeper Gabe Zorilla into a leg save. Then, the Cougars' Michael Harty missed with a point-blank shot that went over the bar.
"(Vernon Hills) was a good team and was very organized," Vignocchi said. "We knew that going in, and we knew coach (Mike) McCaulou organized his guys very well and had a good plan. We had some good opportunities and their keeper made some good saves. We could have easily been down 1-0 at the half.
"We put a little fire in our guys at halftime. I think it was a little more about (Vernon Hills) being tired in the second half, and we were able to do a little bit more. We kept attacking and eventually when you get the first one, it opens things up a little bit more. You get the second one it opens up even more, and it just kept coming for us.
"This goalkeeper was one of the best we've seen this year along with the St. Charles East keepers. Once we got to the endline and played the ball across the box, it gave us easy opportunities."
Timmy Iscra was the Spartan who finally found the first one for Glenbrook North. He sent home a header that came after a Jackson Grabill free-kick from 30 yards in the 44th minute.
About three minutes later, Modi made it 2-0 with an unassisted goal that deflected off a Cougars defender in the box.
In the 50th minute, Ryan Golde sent a low cross, which Robbie Fraser tapped in for the 3-0 advantage.
Grabill (8 goals, 10 assists on the season) added the fourth after taking a pass from Deng Deng in the 56th minute. A minute later Deng added an unassisted goal. Then, Alex Kahn added two others off assists from Matt Metzger and Kamil Barabas.
"We have guys the contribute so much offensively and defensively," Grabill said. "They get back winning 50/50 balls. winning headers and at the same time, they pressure the attack and playing great through-balls. It's back and forth for a full game. It's awesome to play with."
Vernon Hills knew that this one would be one of their toughest challenges coming into the game. The Cougars gave it their best shot and stayed with Glenbrook North until they broke down.
"(Glenbrook North) is ranked (high) ... and they deserve it," McCaulou said. "They have electric, attacking, creative players. First half, we were super disciplined and super organized. We had a couple of chances to score in that first half.
"I was disappointed in allowing the game to get the better of them (in the second half) in the mentality -- being tough mentally and focused.
"There's a reason why Glenbrook North is one of the best in the state."
Starting lineups
Vernon Hills
GK-Brennan Reback
D-Michael Harty
D-Brandon Kim
D-Steven Tow
D-Sean Collins
MF-Aaron Castellanos
MF-Anakin Ruiz
MF-Devin Papiernik
MF-Corey Takaoka
F-Steven Auw
F-Chris White
Glenbrook North
GK-Gabe Zorilla
D-Ryan Golde
D-Mason Rose
D-Max Knebelkamp
D-Seth Grossman
MF-Tommy Arner
MF-Sahil Modi
MF-Timmy Iscra
MF- Robbie Fraser
F-Jackson Grabill
F-Deng Deng
Man of the Match: Sahil Modi, MF, Glenbrook North