Grayslake North savors first tournament title

Grayslake North's girls soccer team raised its game to a new level Thursday.

For the first time in their history, the Knights raised a championship plaque by virtue of their 4-0 shutout of Maine East coupled with Glenbard West's 2-0 win over Dundee-Crown in the inaugural Grayslake North tournament.

Grayslake North (3-2-1) finished 2-0-1 in the tournament, ahead of Glenbard West (2-1), Dundee-Crown (1-1-1) and Maine East (0-3).

"This is a big step for us," Grayslake North coach Adam DeCaluwe said. "We've never won a tournament and we've never had a winning record. It's two goals in one day for us.

"It's all a work in progress with a young team. It's great to get the results."

The Knights' Maggie Stojak scored twice, Chloe Basa added a goal and 2 assists and Kim Shurtliff also scored. Lainey Pasternak also picked up an assist.

Stojak scored both of her goals in the first half, finishing a Basa pass in the third minute and knocking in another shot off an assist from Pasternak in the 18th minute.

Basa buried a loose ball following a corner kick in the 50th minute. Shurtliff completed the scoring five minutes later off another Basa assist.

Grayslake North keeper Brooke Sauer earned her second shutout in three games, making 1 save.

The Knights allowed just 1 goal in three games.

"It's very important to see us play that way," DeCaluwe said. "We did a great job, knocked the ball around (against Maine East) very comfortably and looked like a solid team."