Lasso's goal gets Glenbrook North past Maine W.
Glenbrook North's boys soccer team held off a spirited Maine West club Wednesday night to keep its Central Suburban North hopes alive in the final stages of the regular season.
Spartans junior Mauricio Lasso scored the breakthrough goal in the ninth minute, and that held up in the 1-0 contest at William Lutz Stadium in Northbrook.
"I know we're at the bottom of our division, and that (Glenbrook North) is at the top, but we showed tonight we can play with the best in this conference," said Maine West coach Alan Matan, whose Warriors (3-8-3, 0-2-2) kept their hosts under pressure for the better part of the first period, particularly after the early Lasso goal.
"We didn't start very well tonight," said Warriors senior Juan Vallejo. "But I thought we found our game after that first goal, and dominated most of the play for the rest of the first half."
Matan moved Vallejo into the middle of the back line after an injury to another player, and the move has looked good ever since.
"We did everything but score in that first half," Matan said. "Then they really piled on the pressure after the break to help slow our attack."
A marvelous crossfield serve over the top by Tommy Arner helped create the Lasso goal, which came about when Warriors keeper Edgar Vallejo came off his line but was unable to control the Arner helper.
Lasso flicked the ball over Vallejo to put Glenbrook North out in front.
"It's a shame that Edgar conceded that goal because he was just superb all throughout this match," Matan said.
The Warriors quickly pulled themselves up off the floor after the goal as Joey Pulvino, Terry Hatfield, Geronimo Xolio and Luis Contreras showed remarkable pace and speed on the ball to gain opportunities in the Spartans' end.
"(Maine West) totally controlled the midfield play that entire first half, which forced us to make a few adjustments at the break," said Glenbrook North coach Paul Vignocchi. "We added a few more guys into the middle, which made a huge difference for us in the second half, while leaning on Mason (Rose) and Seth (Grossman) in the back, who continue to impress back there as sophomore and junior first-year starters."
The Warriors were unable to match the pace, energy and work rate of the Spartans (8-4-2, 4-1-0) following intermission.
But through it all, Glenbard North was still unable to see its quality possession and rampant attacking prowess lead to more scoring.
"We've been so stingy in the back, conceding just (9 goals) on the season, but we have had our troubles scoring," Vignocchi said. "And despite creating opportunities, especially in the first 15 minutes of the second half, we still couldn't find the back of the net."
Vallejo fearlessly came far off his line to turn away attempts from Kamil Barabas, and persuaded Adam Melnick to take a different course after he broke free up the right side.
The Warriors' keeper held his breathe when Alex Kahn was put through, then heaved a sigh of relief when his mates blocked a shot from in close by the sophomore.
Matan pushed three up top for the last quarter-hour as the Warriors went in search of the equalizer.
However, except for a shot on frame by Hector Gonzalez off a Pulvino corner, the visitors were unable to force keeper Ian Albert to make a strong save on his way to his sixth shutout of the year.
"It was truly an effort that I am most proud of, despite the loss," said Matan, whose club hosts Chicago Taft on Friday before heading north to Round Lake on Saturday for more nonconference play.
"Maybe we were flat because of our emotionally draining loss to Deerfield on Monday, and with an upcoming trip to St. Louis this weekend," Vignocchi said. "But credit the Warriors for playing very well tonight."
The Spartans will need some help from division rivals Niles North and Maine West, who still remain on the schedule for Deerfield, in the race for the top spot in the division.