By Rusty Silber

NORTHBROOK – Bragging rights were hard to find after Glenbrook South and Glenbrook North couldn’t scratch out a goal in a very competitive Central Suburban League South Division matchup Thursday night. 

But satisfaction was evident after the horn sounded with tired players giving each other hugs.

The match was delayed 45 minutes because of lightning in the area. But there was no effect on the teams when the whistle sounded

Glenbrook North (7-2-2, 0-0-2) has had the competitive edge in recent years. Glenbrook South (9-1-3, 1-0-1) couldn’t find a way to break out for a win.

"It's a rivalry game. Every game is going to be hot, and it's going to be exciting," Glenbrook South coach Cassidy Price said. "I thought we came out and played our best soccer. We had drive, and we had energy. We played at a great level, and sometimes certain things don't go your way. I think we played fantastic, and the stats will show that."

Glenbrook South, the eighth-ranked team in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, brought a lot of energy to the field.

"They brought a championship mentality and a championship energy," Price said of her team. " Warm-ups looked great, and we're fit. We did not quit for a second. 

“A couple of players were upset. I asked, 'Did you do your best?' They said 'Yes.' 'Did you get scored on?' They said, 'no.' Then they did their job. We didn't let any goals in, and they worked hard. That's what I asked them to do."

Glenbrook North knew the challenge their rival presented.

"Obviously, it was a fair result," Glenbrook North coach Tony Valsamis. "Both teams came out, and it was a competitive game. 

“First half, they had the better play than us, and we had to defend a lot more. Second half, the momentum shifted. Although we didn't have a clean opportunity to score, we had a lot of half-chances. Just didn't get that final opportunity in the final third. 

“I would commend the backlines on both teams. It was hard to break us down, and it was hard to break them down.

"This year, without insulting other years, Glenbrook South is stronger. I think they got some players back from club. They're a completely different team than I've seen over the last three or four years. I expected that and knew they would be a better team this year."

Co-MVP of the match, sophomore forward Caitlyn Panek, had a couple of chances for Glenbrook North. 

"We knew that they were going to be really good this year," Panek said. "So, I was OK with the result, but I was hoping for a win. They do play with five in the back, and it's a lot tougher to get a shot off. But my sister (Ella) was able to get a couple through-balls off to me." 

Glenbrook South keepers Makayla Morse, who recently decommitted from Manhattan to accept an offer to play at Yale, and Lyndsey Mack each played a half and shared the clean-sheet with a total of four saves between them. Glenbrook North keeper Maddy Noll made seven stops in her shutout performance.

UIC-commit Olivia Ollmert, of Glenbrook South, earned the MVP honor for her side for setting up Titans chances and going up-top toward the goal.

"I'm proud of our team for tying (Glenbrook North)," Ollmert said. "We wanted to win knowing that it's a rivalry. 

“We did have our chances. We worked really hard and did a great job connecting the ball and switching the field. We just couldn't get one in at the end of the day. I thought (Glenbrook North) was really good defensively. They were good at disrupting when we got into that final third. A lot of it was our finishing, we needed to get that one tap in."

Glenbrook South’s defense was solid once again.

"I thought our group does a great job communicating," said Titans defender Lindsey Ciss. "With teams like this, it's important to watch our line and catch them offside. I think every single time, we got the ball up. We made sure our line was pushed up. That really helped us in the midfield, and it helps us connect with everyone. Once we get our line up, then the midfielders get up and that allows to attack the ball and win it."

Midfielder Katie Condon saw what worked well for her Glenbrook South teammates.

"We did a good job being first to the ball, and when we got to the ball we settled it, connected to find feet," she said. "We just did a good job being composed in the middle and not letting the ball go through."

Dealing with the weather, Glenbrook South had to play two days in a row to beat Deerfield 1-0 in a match that started Tuesday and finished Wednesday. The match against Glenbrook North marked the Titans third-straight night of competition.

"We do sub in and out most of the time," Condon said. "We definitely work on the off days to stretch out a lot to recover. But we all have good fitness, and we can take it. It was a big adjustment in the rain, knowing the ball was going to skip more. It was definitely a bit exhausting, but at the end of the day we want to win and leave it all out there,"

Starting lineups

Glenbrook South
GK-Lyndsey Mack
D-Lindsey Ciss
D-Adyson Clemen
D-Emily Schultz
D-Avery Splear
MF-Olivia Ollmert
MF-Megan Murray
MF-Katie Condon
F-Sophia Sommer
F-Lauren Koopersmith
F-Claire Balm

Glenbrook North 
GK-Maddy Noll
D-Morgan Link
D-Annie Philbin
D-Emily Peterson
D-Sarah Denk
MF-Emily Mansinter
MF-Taylor Gichner
MF-Addison Blumenfeld
F-Caitlyn Panek
F-Ella Panek
F-Elana Stahl

Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Olivia Ollmert, sr. MF, Glenbrook South; Caitlyn Panek, so., F, Glenbrook North)

Scoring Summary 

First half 
No scoring

Second half
No scoring