Flaws' two goals lead GBS past New Trier, onto state

Illinois-bound senior helps erase 1-0 deficit

All-State Glenbrook South senior forward Jannelle Flaws has had an immense impact on the girls soccer program in her four-year varsity career.

On  Tuesday night at the Class 3A Niles North Super-Sectional, she made it historic.

Flaws’ scored two consecutive goals to bring the Titans back from a 1-0 early second-half deficit for a 2-1 victory over the New Trier Trevians.

Glenbrook South will make its first trip to the state finals in school history. The Titans will play Waubonsie Valley at 7 p.m. Friday in the state semifinals at North Central College in Naperville.

Despite helping lead her team to the furthest it has ever gone, Flaws wants to make some more history this weekend.

"We want to go all the way," Flaws said. "This isn’t enough for us. We wanted to make it to state, but now we have our next goal of making it to the championship."

New Trier sophomore Rachel Shellenback broke a 0-0 tie after a physical first half with 31 minutes, 45 seconds left in the game after she knocked in a loose ball off an Amber Fry header attempt close to the goal on a corner kick.

Glenbrook South (24-4-4) responded with 24:23 left after senior co-captain Jessica Blair found a streaking Flaws.  After a great move on a defender, the Illini-bound Flaws sent a rocket off her left foot into the top corner of the goal to tie the game 1-1.

After a first half of empty opportunities, the Titans’ persistence paid off.

"We knew one was bound to come in," Flaws said. "The goalie had some great saves and defenders blocked some good shots. We had so many opportunities, we just knew one would fall in the second half. I saw an opening and knew Jessica would get me the ball, so I called for it and she got it to me."

Blair is a four-year varsity player and has learned when she finds her fellow forward in open space – good things usually happen. 

"I just knew we needed to score fast," Blair said. "I just found Jannelle. I saw her running to an open space and I just played it to her."

Behind stellar play from senior midfielders Kelly Brait and Geena Campobasso, GBS kept the pressure on with the game tied. With just over 16 minutes left , sophomore midfielder Collen McDonagh sent a ball to Flaws in the Trevians’ field, and Flaws did the rest. After dribbling to the end line, Flaws put a pivot move on a defender and sent a seemingly-impossible shot far post for a goal with 16:06 remaining to give the Titans a 2-1 lead.

"I was just looking to put it on frame, and it luckily went in," Flaws said with a chuckle.

Brait continued her gritty play in the midfield after the Titans gained a lead and won most 50-50 balls she went after.

"It was definitely a tough game," Brait said. "Lauren Pope and Christy Patterson are always magnificent rivals. I’m going to be playing Lauren next year too because she’s going to Brown. We were playing with three in the midfield, so I was marking two girls at all times. It was definitely a challenge, but my outside midfielders and defense just helped me so much and covered for me."

GBS coach Seong Ha tweaked the Titans’ formation when New Trier (26-2) took the lead, but after Flaws tied the game up, he switched back to what they started the game in – making the decisive goal extra sweet. 

"On equalize we went to 4-3-3," Ha said. "We brought Geena up to the four-line, and moved Colleen McDonagh from defensive mid to midfielder. We knew that if we got a goal, that we would have to go back to our regular formation. To get one on top of that, that’s just the cherry on the top."

The Trevians’ biggest threat to tie the game came minutes after Flaws’ second goal. Senior forward Dani Fraelick  took the ball from the midfield and found senior Amber Fry running towards the goal with a defender on her hip. Fry’s shot from 15 yards out was saved by Glenbrook South sophomore keeper Kesley Byers (10 saves).

"At first,I thought my teammate was going to tap it, but she came through," Byers said. "It was a really good shot by her. I was cheating near post, so that made her go far post, I think."

Byers gobbled up another Fry shot attempt from 25 yards out with just under eight minutes remaining, and with under two minutes left a Trevians’ shot from 10 yards out was mishit wide of the post. 

Even though his team was disappointed after the loss, New Trier coach Jim Burnside did not let the loss mar an otherwise successful season that included a conference championship.

"I’m proud of what these girls have done and where they’ve come from," Burnside said. "If one (loss) ruined the season, then all except one team has a good season. That’s just not the case. That’s not what sports is about."

The loss concluded the careers of nine Trevian seniors, who Burnside credits for much of this season’s success too.

"Our seniors have been full on, the heart and soul of this whole thing," Burnside said. "All nine of them came in at different times and have been the heart and soul of this team. We’re going to miss them. There’s no two ways about what they brought to this program, more than just this team. They’ve really molded this program and continued the tradition that it is."

Following the contest, Ha also was complimentary of his opponents.

"Amber, Dani, and Lauren Pope are just fun players to watch," Ha said. "I’ve gotten to know them in the last few months and they’re very nice players, but classy girls. Jim runs a great program. You just know every year you have to go through New Trier."

GBS  came from behind to defeat New Trier 3-2 on penalty kicks  in the Pepsi Showdown semifinals back in April to hand the Trevians; their only loss of the regular season. However, New Trier avenged the loss a couple weeks later with a 3-1 victory in Glenview.  In all three contests, including Tuesday night, Ha has preached the same resilient mentality to his team.

"Whether it was the game April 17, 27, or tonight, if we were going to get down, we weren’t going to keep our heads down at all," Ha said. "That starts with our captains, and resonated throughout the whole team.

For us to come back with that goal seven minutes later was just unbelievable. Jannelle has really taken her leadership to another level, but also her style of her play. We’re riding her coat tails right now."