GBN Girls Spring Sports Catch-up

Softball

GBN’s softball program is on the rise and that was on display Wednesday against Fremd. The , a traditional power and state runner-up a year ago, 9-9 in 9 innings after the game was called due to darkness. This result is respectable on its own, since Fremd was 6-0 entering the game, but it was coach Jenn Mau’s attitude about the tie that shows how far GBN has come.

Mau told Patch’s Andrew Braverman that in years past it would have been a good result, but she felt the team let one get away after holding a 7-4 lead entering the seventh inning.

"I think we have a great team and a great group of girls that works hard and understands what it takes to win--now we just need to execute each game," she said. "We have a team that could have and should have beat them today. When we have a 7-3 lead, we can't be satisfied with that."

The Spartans made it to the sectional finals last year, before losing to New Trier, and look to make another strong run this year behind the bat of senior Lindsay Synek, who had a pair of home runs against Fremd. Colleen Ahern, Sarah Koulogeorge and Alena Marovitz add to GBN’s offensive punch. If the team can replace the loss of Sammy Roth on the mound, the Spartans should be primed to make another strong postseason run.

Soccer

Coach Paul Vignocchi’s side set a school record for wins (18) and won the CSL North last season. With a lot of key players returning, the Spartans are capable of winning conference again.

After a on Wednesday in GBN’s home opener, the Spartans are 2-2 on the season with wins over Lincoln Park and Resurrection and losses to ranked teams, Loyola and New Trier.

Sophomore Montana Paley and junior Samantha Lallas will be the main offensive weapons up front, but freshman Rachel Hirshman has already scored a couple goals and senior Ashley Kamin netted off the bench against New Trier.

Sophomore Katherine Weber is a key part of the Spartans’ defense, taking some of the set pieces and helping to prevent sophomore goalkeeper Jen Liberman, a first year starter, from being forced into action.

The Spartans’ season ended in heartbreaking fashion last year, when the team lost 1-0 in triple overtime to Mundelein in a regional final, but for now the focus is on repeating as CSL North champs.

“We've got three games left before we play Highland Park a week from Saturday,” Vignocchi said. “This is just kind of to get ourselves ready to go and ready for them when we play them. Our next three games are against very good teams, so we've just got to make sure we bring the intensity for those next three games so that we’re ready to go.”

Track

Sophomores Valerie Bobart and Patricia Hare return after all-conference seasons a year ago and hope to improve on their freshman year success.

Bobart, who starred on the Spartans’ cross country squad that finished seventh at state, took first in the conference meet in the 100-meter hurdles and qualified for state in the 3200. Hare tied for third in the high jump at conference last year, but after a strong indoor season is trying to take first this season.

Coach Ron Gatchalian’s team has only one outdoor meet under their belts so far, but has a pair of midweek invites this week as the team prepares for the heart of the schedule.

Water Polo

The girls had a winning record last year (13-11) and finished third in the CSL, but this year’s squad is off to a rocky start. The Spartans are 1-6, 1-3 in CSL play, despite returning prolific scorers Margot Tuchler and Mary Claire Seeberg.

Coach Robin Walker has put his team through a tough early schedule so far, with four of the Spartans’ losses coming to teams in illpolo.com’s top 25 rankings. A turnaround could be in the cards, though. The Spartans will be favored to beat Maine West and Maine East next week before taking part in the St. Ignatius Invite at UIC next weekend.

Lacrosse

After going 7-10 with a third place finish in the Central Suburban League last year, coach Ted Rosenbaum’s team started the season with a pair against Sandburg and Regina. On Thursday, they met a roadblock when rival Glenbrook South beat them 20-10 in Glenview. The game against the Titans was the Spartans’ first in more than two weeks after a spring break layoff. Basketball players Laura Zillner and Rachel and Kelly Dress feature on the Spartans’ attack along with Maggie Holohan and senior Lisa Diamond. GBN, 2-1 entering tournament action in Ohio this weekend, hopes to improve upon last year’s 18-12 loss to Libertyville in the sectional quarterfinals.

Badminton

David Weber’s team hasn’t shown the depth needed to compete with the top teams so far, but Liz Zharovsky and Alyssa Salzstein look strong at No. 1 doubles. The duo picked up a win against Maine South to start the season. Salzstein returns with experience from competing in sectionals last year and will try to anchor the team.