Draw Suits Maine South Just Fine in Soccer

It could have been a big night for Glenbrook South's boys soccer team. Instead, the Titans will rue what could have been: a first conference title since 1984.

The home team battled to a 0-0 draw with Central Suburban League (CSL) rival Maine South in front of a vocal student section during a cool and crisp Tuesday evening.

"We created some good chances in the first half. We hit the post one time. It bodes well for us down the line," said Maine South Head Coach Dan States as his team looks down the road in the CSL.

While the Titans (9-5-4 overall, 3-1-1 conference) had much to play for and looked the better team throughout, it looked like the visiting Hawks would be the ones to celebrate early.

Six minutes into the game, senior Brendan Mullane was on the receiving end of a pass from Maine South teammate Mike Termina, and his chip shot over the onrushing Titan  goalie, David Abiera, looked perfect. But the crossbar saved Glenbrook South from an early deficit.

A similar situation would unfold minutes later on the opposite side of the field when Glenbrook South senior Luke Harrison, the team's leading scorer, jumped to header a corner kick. However, the ball hit the underside of the crossbar and fall into the hands of Hawks goalkeeper Richard Balek.

The rest of the first half had few highlights, but that would change after halftime.

Six minutes into the second half, it looked like a senior would be the hero for Maine South (5-9-3, 1-0-1), when Ben Hannon had two chances to score.

The first came when Hannon was left alone at the far post but his shot was saved by Abiera, with a partial assist from the post. Twenty-five seconds later, Hannon again came close to scoring when a long ball found him in a one-on-one situation with the goalie. His shot hit the goalpost and went out of bounds.

"I had two shots that hit the post and if I hit either of them, we win the game and it's a bad feeling," said Hannon after the scoreless game.

"It's very tough to take but I knew if we tied them [Glenbrook South], we could go on and win the conference and I know that is what we're going to do," he added.

The Titans had opportunities to score as well later in the second half. Glenbrook South would have a good chance at the lead after a sloppy defensive mistake.

Senior Nathan Park collected a pass on the Maine South left and cut inside the Hawks' defense only to be scathed down by a defender. But the referee didn't see it that way and waved the play on.

The only other real scoring opportunity of the half came with seven minutes remaining in the game, when Harrison missed from two yards out on a header from a corner kick.

For Glenbrook South coach Paul Agombar, it was a game he won't soon forget.

"We asked them [the team] to go out and try their hardest. Sometimes you try your best and you just don't win," he said. "I think it was anxiety because we haven't won the conference in 26 years and I think we are anxious.

"The nerves were there and the adrenaline was there but it just wasn't meant to happen tonight," Agombar added.