Girls soccer: Glenbard East shuts out Leyden
In 2014 Glenbard East senior Sammie Sarles experienced a regional championship in girls volleyball.
As Sarles and her girls soccer teammates continued the greatest season in program history Monday, the Rams' next step is achieving their first regional championship.
"Everyone (in volleyball) was laughing and being serious at the same time and that's how soccer is this year. We're making history and this team is put together well so that everything's just fun," Sarles said.
"Just the feeling of winning a regional title is what I want to have with these girls because we're all so close. We've been through regional losses so we're kind of bitter about it and now we want one really bad."
The Rams scored within the first three minutes and defeated Leyden 5-0 in the Class 3A Glenbard East regional semifinals in Lombard.
Illinois State-bound senior Brittany Paganucci, the program's all-time leading scorer with 76 goals, collected two more for the Rams (19-4), the No. 5 seed in the Hinsdale Central sectional.
Senior Sammie Sarles had 2 assists and Elizabeth Toledo had a goal and assist. The starting defense of goalkeeper Sierra Dana, Katie Hansen, Faith Davies, Paige Taylor and Sarles recorded their 16th shutout.
The Rams already have set a single-season school record for victories. Last week they won the Upstate Eight Valley - their first conference title.
They also have lost three straight regional finals.
Glenbard East plays for this regional title at 5:30 p.m. Friday against Tuesday's winner between No. 4 Downers Grove North and No. 12 Curie. On April 16 they lost 3-0 to Downers North (13-6-1) on a neutral field that Glenbard East coach Kent Overbey said was about 95 yards long.
"This year I was like, 'All I want is a regional title.' It's going to happen," Paganucci said. "I definitely think playing on our field will be an advantage because this field is a lot bigger. It's easier to spread the defense and open up the game."
Paganucci struck just 2:58 into Monday's game off a breakaway pass from Sarles. Paganucci scored her 29th goal this season 22 seconds into the second half for a 4-0 lead with Toledo providing the lead pass.
The Rams could have had more first-half goals if not for strong play by Leyden senior goalkeeper Karina Sanchez. Taylor did bend in a right-footed shot from the left sideline 25 yards out and Davies headed in Sarles' corner kick 6:32 before halftime.
"I think we could have had more opportunities in the first half that should have been put away," Paganucci said. "Going into the second half, we knew we had to step up our energy."
The No. 12 Eagles (10-11-2) had their central attack neutralized and were limited to one shot at goal, a blast high and wide by senior Gabriella Castillo in the 48th minute. About two minutes earlier Toledo scored the Rams' final goal on a through pass by Holly Ward.
"I'm happy with the energy and effort. Obviously, we knew we were up against a pretty good team," Leyden coach Tom Fowler said.
All six Glenbard East seniors will play in college soccer - Paganucci, Sarles and Ward (Benedictine), Dana (Brandeis), Amanda Chlebek (Dubuque) and Taylor Ray (Carthage). Paganucci is a four-year varsity player. Sarles, Ward, Dana and Chlebek are three-year varsity players, and Ray is a transfer from Glenbard South.
"We've just got to play our best game on Friday," Overbey said. "Frankly, (Downers North) was the worst game of our season, the worst effort."
The Eagles lose seven seniors, including four-year varsity player Michelle Andrade, their leading scorer with 9 goals and 9 assists. They lost five games by one goal, four of them 1-0, which included West Suburban Gold rivals Willowbrook and Morton.
"There's, like, four of them that have been with me at least three years," Fowler said. "They really bought in (as a group). I'm trying to picture who my leaders are next year and not quite sure. It's kind of cool to see how they matured into that role as seniors."