Glenbrook North holds off Stevenson

Updated: May 20, 2011 9:51PM

There was no rally great enough for Stevenson to overcome a 5-1 deficit.

Glenbrook North (19-4-2) held on 5-3 over the Patriots in Friday’s Northbrook Regional Championship.

“Our girls really came out firing right away and they just didn’t let up the gas pedal and just continued to go,” said GBN head coach Paul Vignocchi. “Against this team, you have to do that and against this goal keeper to score five goals is a tremendous accomplishment.”

Both sides remained even for the game’s first 10 minutes until GBN junior midfielder Samantha Lallas floated a ball over Stevenson’s Lizzy Sacscrainte outstretched arms from the 18 yard box.

In the 23rd minute, the Patriots came inches from tying the title fight when junior midfielder Katie Krejsa struck a shot off of the crossbar.

Just a few games removed from an injury, Spartans sophomore striker Montana Paley juked her defender and beat Sacscrainte near post in the 29th minute.

“It definitely helps us with her and Stephanie [Murthey] back because then we have a strong forward and a strong defense,” said Lallas. “We were definitely missing them especially during the Deerfield game.”

Paley kept the momentum on her side just three minutes later as she assisted on the corner kick to Lallas, who volleyed the ball in from inside the six.

The second half turned out slightly different for the Patriots.

In the 42nd minute, the GBN defense failed to clear a ball from the box and junior midfielder Olivia Whalen capitalized with a toe poke to cut the deficit to 3-1.

The Spartans looked to lock up the victory with a pair of goals from Paley in the 45th and freshman midfielder Rachel Hirshman in the 56th, but as the final minutes came, Stevenson made it interesting.

In the 75th minute, the Patriots struck twice as Whalen headed in a ball after a free kick hit the crossbar and sophomore midfielder Jenna Weiner took a shot from around 22 yards out and found the inside of the right post to beat sophomore keeper Katherine Weber.

Stevenson’s inevitably ran out of time and Glenbrook North was awarded the regional title

“I think we’ve trained very hard this season, we have a really good team and we have a very good chance,” said Lallas.

The Spartans will now compete in Tuesday’s Glenbrook South Sectional semifinals against the winner of No. 2 Lake Forest and No. 7 Rolling Meadows.

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