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Glenbrook South edges Huntley on PKs
Updated: April 22, 2011 2:06PM
Three goalies are apparently better than one for Glenbrook South.
The Titans used three keepers en route to beating host Huntley on penalty kicks Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Pepsi Showdown.
Kelsey Byers shut out No. 5 Huntley in the first half, while fellow junior Kelly McConnell took over for the second half and the two overtime sessions, also holding the Red Raiders scoreless.
Senior Jessica Campobasso stepped into the cage for the penalty-kicks shootout, which Glenbrook South won 5-3 for the 1-0 victory.
"I've got complete confidence in all three keepers," Glenbrook South coach Seong Ha said. "Byers took us state last year when we took fourth, McConnell did a great job surviving (Huntley's) onslaught as the constantly pushed bodies forward, and Campobasso handled the pressure of the shootout.
"I've seen enough shootouts as a referee and a coach to know there's some natural ability involved, a lot of practice on PKs, plus a little luck. Whenever you get into one, sometimes you just have to look upward and hope the soccer gods put on the right side of the scoreboard when it's over."
Both teams converted their opening opportunities thanks to the Titans' Rori McPhilliamy and Huntley's Aimee Wronski. But when Glenbrook South's Sarah Snow scored to the left side, the Red Raiders' Sam Zobott struck the left post only to carom past the right post for a 2-1 Titan lead.
Glenbrook South (6-3-0) had successful shots from April Cronin and Kathryn Ficho sandwiched around Kelly Manzcko's make for Huntley (8-1-0).
The Red Raiders' hopes continued when Emily Konior found the back of the net to the right for a 4-3 tally. But that's when Nina Kodros decided the shootout with her goal.
"It's certainly a tough loss, but I'm still very proud of how hard we played and even in a loss I could see improvement," Huntley coach Kris Grabner said. "Each team had a breakaway but just didn't finish. The wind was obviously a factor and although we had a couple chances in the first half we pretty much played for a tie and they did the same in the second half. The overtimes were hard-fought as well, but in the end it's just not the outcome we would have preferred."
Huntley outshot Glenbrook South 21-11, including 15-3 in shots on goal. Playing with the wind at their back in the second half, the Red Raiders had a number of attempts sail over the goal and the same thing in the final 30 seconds of the first 10-minute extra session.
"We've got to work on focusing more and learn from our mistakes," Huntley's Bre Burry said. "The wind was a big factor at times but we didn't let it affect us too much in terms of our effort. While we welcomed having the unbeaten' target on our backs, now we just have to start a new win streak."
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