Glenbard East sets sights
on elusive Windy City title
Marist plays for consolation title;
Class A IC Catholic Prep in ninth place match
By Patrick Z. McGavin
It is inevitable Glenbard East is going to be judged on last year given the historic run the 2016 team accomplished -- stunning Naperville North in the supersectional and eventually capturing the first state trophy in program history with a third place Class 3A state finish.
It is also the nature of sports to declare, that was then, this is now.
Already the current iteration of the Rams has done what last year’s failed, get to the championship of the Windy City Ram Classic. The team faces no. 24 Andrew at noon Saturday at Reavis. The forecast for inconsiderate weather unfortunately necessitated shifting the championship site from the previously scheduled Toyota Park.
The no. 10 Rams staged a sharp second half comeback in beating no. 11 Lincoln-Way East 2-1 in Thursday’s semifinals. Senior midfielder Dana Plotke scored the game-winner on a header in the 64th minute.
“I think we have fared pretty well through the first four games,” Glenbard East coach Kent Overbey said. The Rams (4-0-0) have outscored the opposition by an aggregate of 14-1, the only goal conceded so far was off a penalty kick against the Griffins on Thursday.
“Our first priority coming into this season was addressing our season,” Overbey said. “We graduated a center back, Sammie Sarles, and [had] three returning defensive starters with Katie Hansen, Paige Taylor and Faith Davies. But we also knew we were going to move Faith into the midfield, so we needed to replace two spots. Our first move was sliding Paige into the middle with Katie. Paige is just way too strong to leave on the outside.”
Offensively, Plotke and junior forward Elizabeth Toledo have been the catalysts of the sharp offense. “Elizabeth is all over the place,” Overbey said. Junior forward Mimi Camacho has been another standout. Midfielder Amy Chiero injured her wrist against the Griffins. Glenbard East has other emerging attacking players, like midfielders Mattie Pusateri and Alyse Donato, to help make up for her absence.
Last year Davies was principally a defender who also worked as a keeper as an alternate to Sierra Dana. As much as Overbey relished the opportunity to utilize her positional versatility to bolster his offense, Davies remains available to work in the goal against offensively-skilled teams. She made a couple of spectacular saves against Lincoln-Way East on Thursday.
“She might be the best keeper in the state, but nobody knows about her because we haven’t needed her in the goal,” Overbey said.
Interestingly, the championship harks back to last year in one important way. The game marks a rematch of the consolation final. After losing to Lincoln-Way East in the first game last year, the Rams ripped off four-straight wins, culminating with a 1-0 victory over Andrew in the consolation championship at Toyota Park.
Glenbard East lost its two other championship appearances in 2014 and 2015.
Andrew (4-0-0) took the loss to heart. They promptly ripped off a 19-game unbeaten streak. Senior forward Brooke Zidek is one of the state’s best players. She scored 22 goals on last year’s 20-3-1 team. Six other starters return for Andrew, who beat rival Tinley Park 2-1 in the other semifinal.
This is a new year, but it is clear the Rams are reaping the benefits of that incomparable state experience.
“I think the most surprising aspect of our play has been our poise and our confidence,” Overbey said. “We had a lot of pieces to fix, and if you watched us against Lincoln-Way East, it looked like we had been playing together for a full season. Some of that carries over from last year’s success. But I think a lot of it comes from the amount of returning experience we have.”
Saturday’s championship day schedule also features additional games at Reavis.
The third place game between Lincoln-Way East and Tinley Park is at noon. The consolation championship between Marist and Lincoln-Way Central is at 10 a.m.
Marist (3-1-0) has already endured its share of difficulties. The RedHawks lost two starters, Amaya Knoll and Sofia Perez, to ACL knee injuries in one game. The team is improvising and learning on the fly. The RedHawks survived Romeoville 2-1 in the consolation semifinals on Thursday.
Midfielder Anne Callaghan is an elite player, capably supported by midfielder Serenity Rosa and forwards Delaney Mulcahy and Alessa Corcoran.
In the ninth place game, also at 10 a.m., IC Catholic Prep plays Providence, which offers the newest challenge to a Lady Knights’ team bursting with optimism over its early season play. IC Catholic Prep's only loss came against tournament semifinalist Tinley Park in the second round.
“We are very pleased with the progress our team has made in the four games in the tournament,” coach Tom Schergen said. “We have learned a lot about our team in a short amount of time. Our team chemistry is already stronger this year, and that is evident in the play. We are moving the ball well and defending as a team.”
Offensively, the players to watch for IC Catholic Prep are midfielders Kaitlyn Grady and Grace Fuller. Schergen is also high on the abilities of forwards Tessa Langan and Olivia Hurt. “They have been strong in every game pressuring the defense and putting the ball in the back of the net,” he said.
Defensively, the team leaders have been Tess Reardon and Liz Maloney.
Every game the Lady Knights demonstrate the ability to play up and with much larger programs; the benefits are hard to fully measure.
“We are taking away the positive play that our team has exhibited,” Scherger said. “Even though we are a 1A school, we can compete with strong 2A and 3A programs. This tournament has been a confidence builder for us and has further proven to them how good they really can be.”
on elusive Windy City title
Marist plays for consolation title;
Class A IC Catholic Prep in ninth place match
By Patrick Z. McGavin
It is inevitable Glenbard East is going to be judged on last year given the historic run the 2016 team accomplished -- stunning Naperville North in the supersectional and eventually capturing the first state trophy in program history with a third place Class 3A state finish.
It is also the nature of sports to declare, that was then, this is now.
Already the current iteration of the Rams has done what last year’s failed, get to the championship of the Windy City Ram Classic. The team faces no. 24 Andrew at noon Saturday at Reavis. The forecast for inconsiderate weather unfortunately necessitated shifting the championship site from the previously scheduled Toyota Park.
The no. 10 Rams staged a sharp second half comeback in beating no. 11 Lincoln-Way East 2-1 in Thursday’s semifinals. Senior midfielder Dana Plotke scored the game-winner on a header in the 64th minute.
“I think we have fared pretty well through the first four games,” Glenbard East coach Kent Overbey said. The Rams (4-0-0) have outscored the opposition by an aggregate of 14-1, the only goal conceded so far was off a penalty kick against the Griffins on Thursday.
“Our first priority coming into this season was addressing our season,” Overbey said. “We graduated a center back, Sammie Sarles, and [had] three returning defensive starters with Katie Hansen, Paige Taylor and Faith Davies. But we also knew we were going to move Faith into the midfield, so we needed to replace two spots. Our first move was sliding Paige into the middle with Katie. Paige is just way too strong to leave on the outside.”
Offensively, Plotke and junior forward Elizabeth Toledo have been the catalysts of the sharp offense. “Elizabeth is all over the place,” Overbey said. Junior forward Mimi Camacho has been another standout. Midfielder Amy Chiero injured her wrist against the Griffins. Glenbard East has other emerging attacking players, like midfielders Mattie Pusateri and Alyse Donato, to help make up for her absence.
Last year Davies was principally a defender who also worked as a keeper as an alternate to Sierra Dana. As much as Overbey relished the opportunity to utilize her positional versatility to bolster his offense, Davies remains available to work in the goal against offensively-skilled teams. She made a couple of spectacular saves against Lincoln-Way East on Thursday.
“She might be the best keeper in the state, but nobody knows about her because we haven’t needed her in the goal,” Overbey said.
Interestingly, the championship harks back to last year in one important way. The game marks a rematch of the consolation final. After losing to Lincoln-Way East in the first game last year, the Rams ripped off four-straight wins, culminating with a 1-0 victory over Andrew in the consolation championship at Toyota Park.
Glenbard East lost its two other championship appearances in 2014 and 2015.
Andrew (4-0-0) took the loss to heart. They promptly ripped off a 19-game unbeaten streak. Senior forward Brooke Zidek is one of the state’s best players. She scored 22 goals on last year’s 20-3-1 team. Six other starters return for Andrew, who beat rival Tinley Park 2-1 in the other semifinal.
This is a new year, but it is clear the Rams are reaping the benefits of that incomparable state experience.
“I think the most surprising aspect of our play has been our poise and our confidence,” Overbey said. “We had a lot of pieces to fix, and if you watched us against Lincoln-Way East, it looked like we had been playing together for a full season. Some of that carries over from last year’s success. But I think a lot of it comes from the amount of returning experience we have.”
Saturday’s championship day schedule also features additional games at Reavis.
The third place game between Lincoln-Way East and Tinley Park is at noon. The consolation championship between Marist and Lincoln-Way Central is at 10 a.m.
Marist (3-1-0) has already endured its share of difficulties. The RedHawks lost two starters, Amaya Knoll and Sofia Perez, to ACL knee injuries in one game. The team is improvising and learning on the fly. The RedHawks survived Romeoville 2-1 in the consolation semifinals on Thursday.
Midfielder Anne Callaghan is an elite player, capably supported by midfielder Serenity Rosa and forwards Delaney Mulcahy and Alessa Corcoran.
In the ninth place game, also at 10 a.m., IC Catholic Prep plays Providence, which offers the newest challenge to a Lady Knights’ team bursting with optimism over its early season play. IC Catholic Prep's only loss came against tournament semifinalist Tinley Park in the second round.
“We are very pleased with the progress our team has made in the four games in the tournament,” coach Tom Schergen said. “We have learned a lot about our team in a short amount of time. Our team chemistry is already stronger this year, and that is evident in the play. We are moving the ball well and defending as a team.”
Offensively, the players to watch for IC Catholic Prep are midfielders Kaitlyn Grady and Grace Fuller. Schergen is also high on the abilities of forwards Tessa Langan and Olivia Hurt. “They have been strong in every game pressuring the defense and putting the ball in the back of the net,” he said.
Defensively, the team leaders have been Tess Reardon and Liz Maloney.
Every game the Lady Knights demonstrate the ability to play up and with much larger programs; the benefits are hard to fully measure.
“We are taking away the positive play that our team has exhibited,” Scherger said. “Even though we are a 1A school, we can compete with strong 2A and 3A programs. This tournament has been a confidence builder for us and has further proven to them how good they really can be.”
