CAROL STREAM – Glenbard West’s Alex Ginder missed a golden opportunity in the middle of Thursday’s game.
The high-scoring sophomore standout found himself in the ideal position to make an early statement against host Glenbard North in the Glenbard Cup title game.
Before a large crowd on a cool but beautiful night, Ginder lined up for a penalty kick. Considering he entered the game with 17 goals, it seemed a sure thing the Hilltoppers forward would seize the momentum away from the home team.
As he took a few steps away from the ball and took his time, a few remarks from the crowd floated over the field. Ginder smacked the ball with a strong force and watched it ping off the crossbar and carom to the side.
As a few Glenbard West fans expressed surprise at the miss by the star players, the Glenbard North were ecstatic and even aimed a few barbs at the Hilltoppers.
Eventually, Glenbard North and its fans would regret that short sequence.
Ginder atoned for his PK miss with an ensuing penalty conversion among his brace, and led the Hilltoppers to their fourth-straight Glenbard Cup title in a 2-0 road win.
The scorer said he wasn’t overly disappointed about his missed PK in the 50th minute, because he knew other chances would come up for him to score.
“I knew my team’s got me … and I won’t miss twice,” Ginder said.
The Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match finished the regular-season with a team-leading 19 goals.
Glenbard West senior captain Christopher Weber proudly grabbed the Glenbard Cup and marched with his teammates toward an enthusiastic group of supporters at the main grandstand.
Glenbard West (13-8-3) ended a three-game skid with the win.
The Hilltoppers, the no. 4-seed in the St. Charles North Sectional, hope to start a new home winning-streak week when they host 13th-seeded Hoffman Estates in a 4 p.m. semifinal Oct. 22.
“I’m just glad our team didn’t lose sight of how we were playing so well in the past, and that our last five games (1-3-1 run) have been against tough teams. This shows we’re a quality side,” Wicyk said. “We kept sight of what we were doing those past couple of games when we went on that 11-game unbeaten streak (9-0-2).
“We came back to it and attacked on the outside, and we converted when we needed to convert. Overall, it was a great effort by everybody. We followed our game plan, and the results showed. I’m glad we got this one going into the playoffs. It just reinforces to our team that if we stick to the plan, we should have a good run in the playoffs.”
Glenbard North coach Spero Mandakas said was a disappointing way to end the regular-season for his club. The Panthers, the no. 12-seed in the St. Charles North Sectional, open the Class 3A playoffs against fifth-seeded Charles North at Glenbard West at 6 p.m. Oct. 22.
“We game planned for (Ginder) and had extra coverage, but unfortunately we got beat in transition where we didn’t have the coverage in place,” Mandakas said. “We gave them two PKs, and against a good team that’s going to work hard, we can’t hand them stuff. We can’t give them anything. We have to make teams earn it.”
The manager said he’s hopeful the Panthers’ tough 20-game pre-playoff docket pays off with a clean slate in the playoffs.
“We went through the grinder and now the regular-season is over. It’s now win or go home for everyone in the state,” Mandakas said. “We saw an undefeated team (Oak Park and River Forest) lose in a regional final last year. We have to make sure we’re ready to play. When we step off the field for the final time, whether it’s next week or in a few weeks at Hoffman Estates (for the Final Four), we know that we left it all out there.”
With the backdrop of the super moon rising up high in direct view of the main grandstand during the first half, Glenbard West was clearly in control of possession and the game.
Ginder had an attempt saved in the 11th minute and the visitors came up short on corner and free kicks over the next three minutes.
Glenbard North goalie Daniel Noval was a fan favorite throughout the game as several implored him to come up big to help the Panthers win. The senior was stellar and showcased ability and agility that led to nine saves and kept his team in the match.
“Daniel was rock solid, and he’s a multiple year starter for us,” Mandakas said. “He missed a stretch of the season and is now shaking off some rust, but he’s ready to go. He’s really effective with the balls in the air. We knew that (Glenbard West) plays forward and over the top, and he was able to read a lot of them and pick them off. He couldn’t do anything about the second PK. He did really well, and the back was really organized.
“We had some really good stretches where we were moving the ball and were effective in the final third, but it would go away. We would then go into chase mode.
“Hopefully, we will see them (Glenbard West) again next Saturday (Oct. 26 in the regional final) and be ready to go.”
The first half ended without much action in the final 23 minutes, but the second half was a different story. Ten minutes into the half, Ginder set himself up for his first PK attempt.
Wicyk said he understands youth might have played in a factor in Ginder’s failed opening penalty kick attempt.
“He’s a sophomore, and I guarantee they studied which we he goes on PKs, so that might have been in his head,” Wicyk said. “I preach that you should be so good on your side that you can tell the goalie which way you are going and still score. He went there a second time and didn’t change sides and struck the ball where he needed to and converted.”
Then lightning struck when an inspired Ginder, who is a shifty player with elite 1-v-1 moves and top-level speed, advanced a pass several yards and hit a bullet from 12 yards that deflected off the Panthers’ keeper into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead with 28:31 left.
Ginder immediately darted toward the nearest corner and celebrated the goal with his teammates.
“I had the confidence that I’m going to score, and I have a chance right now to score,” Ginder said. “As soon as I got the ball and one-touched it, on a great ball from Jackson Chibucos, I slotted it home. The key for us was to play hard and play 100 percent the whole time and put the ball in the net. I’m happy with the win, and we’re ready for the playoffs.”
Wicyk has come to rely on Ginder.
“When he cut inside on his man and finished, that goalie they have is solid, but Ginder put enough pace on it to get it by him even with a hand on it,” he said.
Glenbard North (5-11-4) tried to tie the game with three shots in a two-minute segment. The best attempt, off the foot of Marco Galto, was blocked by the defense.
In the 64th minute, Ginder got another chance from the spot, and he was ready. He lasered the attempt into the upper third inside the far post for a 2-0 lead.
“I knew that I wanted to definitely slot it away, capitalize on it and show that I could put it in the back of the net again,” Ginder said.
The remaining 16-plus minutes were generally controlled by the Hilltoppers. Glenbard North had a shot to cut its deficit, but
Glenbard West junior Nolan Borgman had other ideas. The blue-clad keeper notched his third and final save with a leaping stop in the 75th minute.
Galto said the Panthers were a little too inconsistent.
“I definitely feel the game, it was a struggle,” Galto said. “We had to figure out what we have to do to organize.
“The first 15 minutes of the second half, I felt that we were dominating. But after that, we left off the gas a bit. They caught us on that one breakaway. And the penalty in the box, you can’t do much about that.”
Glenbard North midfielder-defender Hugo Lopez-Vargas said Ginder was tough to contain for 80 minutes.
“I know (Ginder) because we play club together, so before the game, our coach said all eyes on him,” Vargas said. “We wanted to keep him away as far as possible, and (coach) wanted certain players to man-mark him, myself included.
“We kept him secluded for most of the time. It was unlucky he got that one breakaway goal and penalty kick.
“I’m happy how … nobody gave up. We kept running and fighting for balls, like 50/50s. I’m proud of the team.”
Glenbard West’s Chibucos likes his team’s focus.
“This was great because at the beginning of the season I didn’t have much hope for the team,” he said. “We didn’t have the chemistry that we have now. Over these past couple of games, we’ve been building up our chemistry and hyping it up, and Alex is able to put the ball in the back of the net.
“Our turning point was preseason when our coach made us do a lot of running and that gave us discipline.”
Glenbard West sophomore midfielder Harrison Olechowski agreed.
“We won the ball in the midfield and played out wide,” Olechowski said. “We have great chemistry and bonded during the preseason. Our coach made us run all the time. It made us closer and pushed us. I think we can make a run in the playoffs and go far.”
Click here to see the Glenbard Cup history
Starting lineup
Glenbard West
GK: Nolan Borgman
D: Christopher Weber
D: Aidan Adachi
D: Spencer Melms
D: Colin Weil
MF: Angel Garnica
MF: Davis Barta
MF: Harrison Olechowski
MF: Jackson Chibucos
MF: Johan Palacios
F: Alex Ginder
Glenbard North
GK: Daniel Noval
D: Matteo Diaz-Strong
D: Diego Navarro
D: Jesus Lopez
D: Alex Guerrero
MF: Marcos Hernandez
MF: Keith Thumutok
MF: Hugo Lopez-Vargas
F: Sebastian Reyes
F: Gavin VanTichelt
F: Andy Rodriguez
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Alex Ginder, so., F, Glenbard West
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
GW: Ginder (Chibucos), 52’
GW: Ginder (penalty kick), 64’