Boys soccer: Glenbrook South gathers momentum by topping Maine West
With state powers Glenbrook North and Evanston on its schedule horizon, it appears Glenbrook South's boys soccer team is building up a head of steam.
Visiting Maine West saw first hand just how disciplined and dogged the Titans (5-0-2) are right now after a convincing 2-0 victory Tuesday afternoon in a Central Suburban League crossover at John Davis Stadium in Glenview.
Senior Max Klemm set up Alec Leach to open the scoring in the 45th minute. Klemm, the Titans' captain, doubled the lead just after the hour to help seal the victory.
"We struggled all day," said Maine West coach Alan Matan, who wouldn't use injury and illness to a handful of his players as an excuse for the Warriors' third loss in six matches. "We just didn't have a lot of life in our game - we had trouble with our touches, our attack was way too predictable, and (the Titans) were far better than us in 50-50 balls."
"I didn't think we had a very good first half - maybe we were a little too frantic knowing we had to take advantage of the wind," said Glenbrook South coach Seong Ha. "(Their) keeper (Dean Hernandez) was tough to solve. He was strong in the air, active and agile in his box, and just a tough guy to score on. So when we got that first one, it was so big for us."
The hosts spent most of the first period in the Warriors' end. Despite not being able to fully take advantage of a strong wind at their back, it still was clear it would be a challenging night for Matan's squad, including senior Charlie Madrigal.
"We weren't very good today," Madrigal said. "We didn't look at all like the team that we can be, but I know we be so much better next time out," said the Warriors midfielder, who provided some good pace and attacking flair on the outside, particularly in the first period whenever the visitors were able to get forward.
Hernandez was able to get his right glove up in time to turn around Gavin Morse' angled shot from the right side five minutes into the game. Hernandez was at his best again just minutes before intermission, parrying away a 40-yard wind-aided missile from Grady Ruch.
"I told the guys at the break that despite it all, our overall defense was very good in the first half, which included the work from our midfielders, but it would likely take a special goal to finally break through on their keeper," said Ha.
Leach's strike was just that. He finished a crossfield helper from Klemm, who delivered a lovely ball from the right side after Gabe Diculescu kept things alive in the Warriors' end.
Just before that, Osmar Vega had cleared what seemed a sure goal off the line for the Warriors (3-3-0).
Hernandez was forced out of the game, along with Josh Shin, when the two met at the top of the box on a 50-50 ball. Both left under their own power yet were unable to continue.
The visitors tried throughout to target both Emerson Herrera and Brant Ibarra. But the Titans' backline was to keep the duo under tabs in front of keeper Chase Swaringen, who recorded the shutout.
"Credit South for a solid effort," said Matain. "They kept the pressure on us for nearly all of the 80 minutes and made us work for everything. For such a young team as ours, it's important for them to play a team that has such a high work rate to find out what it's like to play at this level."
Hersey 2, Lake Zurich 1: The Huskies remain unbeaten after getting a pair of goals from Saul Casillas in a nonconference matchup with the Bears.
Jack Rasmussen and Guiseppe Scaletta supplied the assists from Hersey, which improved to 5-0-1 overall and is 2-0 against Mid-Suburban East opponents.
Buffalo Grove 2, Palatine 1: The visiting Bison made a pair of first-half goals hold in in a Mid-Suburban League crossover.
Tyler Nieman scored on of the BG goals on a penalty kick, and Kyle Adams also had a goal while Daniel Sempoch stopped 6 shots.