Glenbard East, Glenbard West content with draw

The season opener for both the Glenbard East and Glenbard West girls soccer teams, which resulted in a 2-2 tie Friday night at Memorial Field in Glen Ellyn, started at about 6:15 p.m.

Each team’s season really got going in the second half.

After an uneventful first 40 minutes that seemed like a needed additional warmup, each team got its offense going in the cold and wet conditions.

At game’s end both teams walked off the field satisfied with their solid opening-night efforts.

“Things are looking positive. We’ve had problems scoring goals. This year we look more potent than we have in the past,” said Glenbard East coach Kent Overbey.

The Hilltoppers opened the scoring 8:10 into the second half when Alexandra Levin redirected a shot from teammate Zoe Pearson.

Then the Rams produced in a big way, scoring their goals within 22 seconds of each other. Jess DeJong, on an assist from Megan Mrazek, deposited a 20-yard shot that hugged the inside part of a goal post. Then freshman Brittany Paganucci scored on an assist from Jordyn Fulton.

“It was fun. It was good to work with the older girls against tough competition,” she said.

Brittany is the sister of Lindsey Paganucci, who graduated in 2012 as Glenbard East’s all-time leading scorer.

DeJong is Glenbard East’s top returning scorer.

“This was good. We’re a real young team. There were a lot of players playing their first varsity game. But to score two goals within 30 seconds is real good,” she said.

With just less than eight minutes left in the game, Glenbard West sophomore Courtney Dugan, just a yard or two from the net, was fed the ball by Levin and tied the game. It was Dugan’s first varsity goal.

“We started offensively kind of slow, but we picked up the pace and at the end we went all out. And that’s why we got the second goal,” Dugan said.

The last great scoring chance for either team occurred with 6:13 remaining when Paganucci went on a breakaway and sprinting toward Glenbard West goalkeeper Kylie Paul, who came out and made a diving save.

“We showed some good play today,” said Glenbard West coach Maciej Kusmierz. “Give credit to the girls for trying hard being down 2-1. It’s the first game and we have a lot of new players.”

Goalkeeper Veronica Fairbairn also finished with 4 saves for the Rams, who play at Addison Trail at noon Saturday.