Boys soccer: Late Glenbrook N. goal snaps Mundelein's unbeaten streak

Mundelein has been playing its best soccer over the last few weeks.

The Mustangs' recent roll includded an unbeaten string of six games in which they were 5-0-1. The surge led to a second-place 5-2 finish in the North Suburban behind conference champion Libertyville (11-3, 6-1).

But all of that preceded Saturday's matchup, as Mundelein (12-5-1) met up with one of the best soccer programs in the state, Glenbrook North (18-1-1), on Saturday.

The Mustangs played right with the Spartans for a full 80 minutes before giving up a late goal in a 2-1 nonconference loss in Mundelein.

"We obviously know the quality they have at Glenbrook North," Mundelein coach Ernie Billittier said. "It was a game we were looking forward too. I thought we played very well for most of the game.

"Especially in the last 15 minutes, you could tell that we were tired with a game last night (a 3-1 victory over Grayslake North). Glenbrook North isn't a team, you want to play with heavy legs. I think they got the goal they deserved."

Billittier considers it the kind of match that could help prepare the Mustangs for the upcoming postseason.

"I take nothing but positives away from this," he said. "(Glenbrook North is) one of the top teams in the state. We are motivated as well and want to be one of the top teams in state. They showed us where the bar is at, and we feel pretty good knowing that we can compete."

Glenbrook North opened the scoring early in the first half, as Sahil Modi found the back of net after a pass from Robbie Fraser in the seventh minute.

Mundelein's Kenny Adiyiah broke through the Spartans' defense in the 50th minute, getting his seventh goal of the season with an assist from Bryan Alba that tied the game at 1-1.

"I just try to look for the passes," said Alba, who has 5 goals and 7 assists this fall. "I check to the ball, and keep working for the ball. This year, we're more calm and trying to check in and do our own thing."

The Spartans got their winning goal from Max Knebelkamp on a header off a Jackson Grabil corner kick in the 72nd minute.

"From a game perspective, it was a great game and (Mundelein) has a great team," said Glenbrook North Paul Vignocchi, whose team defeated Maine South to claim the Central Suburban League title Thursday. "(Mundelein) has speed up front and that's dangerous. Ad we had lapses in the game that caused problems for us."