(Glenview Announcements) Glenbrook South stepped into a mine field and turned the wrong way.

The Titans (16-5-3) ended their remarkable season May 17 with a 2-1 loss in penalty kicks to Buffalo Grove in the Palatine Regional semifinals.

Nevertheless, the Titans achieved incredible success this spring. After graduating the school’s all-time leading scorer, Jannelle Flaws, head coach Seong Ha didn’t hear a lot of optimistic comments his way.

“I felt nobody was going to give us a chance,” said Ha. “I said from the beginning that they needed to build a new identity, their identity, to gain respect from others, especially their opponents.

“Certainly, they did not let me down. From the players and my assistant coaches, I think we achieved a lot and GBS girls soccer should still compete well for many years to come.”

In his fifth season as head coach, Ha was unable to repeat the team’s trip to the Final Four, but he knew the difficulties of journeying into such a tough sectional.

“Sure it’s disappointing not winning at least a regional championship, but going into this (Glenbrook South) sectional, there is so much parity and I mentioned to others it was like walking into a mine field,” Ha said. “Great coaching with great players in this sectional makes it a very difficult route.”

Glenbrook South set three school records and went undefeated in conference play (8-0-2) for the first time in school history.

The Titans recorded a 12-game shutout streak and finished the season with 19 total. GBS allowed only 10 goals and just eight during regulation.

Three big reasons for GBS’s success on defense were the play of goalies Jessica Campobasso, Kelsey Byers and Kelly McConnell.

“We had three tremendous goalkeepers under a very difficult situation as they have overall solid goalkeeping abilities and it was difficult for me to separate them as a starter,” said Ha. “So I just rotated them all season long with halves, but more importantly, they handled it with professionalism, maturity, and class.”

Ha also won his third CSL South championship.

“I thought we overachieved on many of our expectations,” Ha said. “One game doesn’t make a season and that is certainly the case with these girls. I had the pleasure to coach an amazing set of young ladies that worked so hard during practices and games. More importantly, they are wonderful people off the field in which I’m going to miss a lot of that time we spent together as a team.”

On the attack, Nina Kodros led the way with 20 goals and four assists and finished fifth on the all-time list with 32 goals and 12 assists.

The future DePaul striker could have climbed even higher, but she played on the backline last season.

“Nina would have more goals and assists, if she didn’t spend her junior year playing defense,” said Ha. “She is a very special player and young lady. She is constantly causing havoc on other teams and their defense, she frees up other attackers on our team because of the attention she draws.”

In the season-ending defeat, Kodros scored the lone goal for her team in the 53rd minute to tie the game. During the penalty kick shootout, Byers stopped the first two Bison shots, but the Titans could not convert their opportunity.

Buffalo Grove netted its final three kicks while GBS only converted 1-of-4.

Ha believes that the tough ending will stick in his returning players’ minds and will serve as motivation.

“I told the girls after we lost to Buffalo Grove at the Palatine Regional not to forget this feeling and to use it to drive them for next season,” said Ha. “Though cliché, these non-seniors will take it to heart to continue to work hard and further their soccer development.”

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(Journal Online) The Lady Titans are at the beginning of the longest week of their soccer season.

Glenbrook South has a game everyday this week including against top ranked New Trier.

If the Titans can maintain the momentum they built in Saturday’s 7-0 blowout of Metea Valley they’ll be in the clear, says coach Seong Ha.

“This is a great stepping stone of where our program is and shows we can play with the Evanstons and New Triers,” Ha said.

Saturday’s game was even more important because it included a commemorative ceremony for late alum and Titan soccer player Will Hicks.

Hicks died in November at the age of 26 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

A crowd of 250 students, teachers, parents and alumni were present to support the Hicks’ and Titan soccer program.

“It was absolutely incredible,” said Hicks’ sister Jacqui. “The coaches, the teachers, the school and the girls soccer team have been so good to us.”

The Hicks were presented a $1,000 scholarship in the name of Will made available through Glenbrook South.

The first recipient will be in the 2011-12 academic year. The criteria and qualifications are still being determined, Jacqui said. The money raised through T-shirt sales will be donated to the American Brain Tumor Association.

Nina Kodros set the tone of the game with two goals for a 2-0 halftime lead. The Hicks’ then gave a speech at halftime, which inspired the girls even more, Ha said.

Jessica Campobasso kept the net clear with two saves and switched off to teammate Kelsey Byers who didn’t have to save any shots.

The Titans host the Waukegan Bulldogs Tuesday at 4:45 p.m. then travel to New Trier on Wednesday (7 p.m.), Niles West on Thursday (7 p.m.) and GBN on Friday (6:30 p.m.).

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(Pioneer Press) A classic blue-collar team, Glenbrook South would trade in its uniforms for overalls and steel-toe boots.

Unlike in past years, the Titans don’t have a superstar, like Jessica Campobasso or Jannelle Flaws, attracting the spotlight. But they still are getting the job done.

“It’s more of a collective deal,” said Glenbrook South head coach Seong Ha, whose team stands at 8-4-2 overall and 1-0 in the CSL South. “We’re not a flashy team, and we don’t have the big guns like the last two years. But they are diligent workers at practice.”

Some of the best examples of teamwork come from the players who don’t start. No matter when they enter a match, Cassie Wojick, Lauren Sroubek, Arie Tousi and Alli Mack all contribute to the Titans success.

“We don’t miss a beat when they’re in,” Ha said. “That’s nice to see. As the season goes on, the need for them to play becomes greater because of injuries or red cards or to keep things fresh. I am very grateful for the work they do. They push our starters to do their best. They just quietly go about their business.”

One shortcoming has been the Titans’ struggles on offense. Nina Kodros leads GBS with seven goals in 14 matches.

But Ha’s defense makes Glenbrook South a dangerous team, as it showed during its deep run to the Pepsi Showdown semifinals.

Glenbrook South also finished 2-0-2 at last week’s Glenbrook Cup, which was won by co-host Glenbrook North. The Titans allowed only one goal in four matches, coming during a 1-1 tie against Deerfield. It was the first goal allowed by the Titans since April 5 in a loss to Lake Zurich.

“That’s our strength,” Ha said of the back row. “Offensively, the girls understand they need to work within each other and keep things simple. The little things count.”

Brain Tumor Fundraiser: During the Titans’ nonconference game with Metea Valley on Saturday, the team will host a fundraiser to establish a scholarship in the name of Will Hicks. The Glenbrook South graduate and former Titans soccer player died in November at age 26 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

The team will conduct a ceremony at halftime of the noon game. T-shirts will be sold, donations collected, and a check will be presented to the American Brain Tumor Association. The players will be wearing commemorative game jerseys.

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Glenbrook North battled their way through the 2nd annual Glenbrook Cup to take the championship title in a 1-0 victory over Crystal Lake last Saturday.

Glenbrook South, host of the girls soccer tournament, was on its way to see their crosstown rival in the title game, but a 1-1 tie against Deerfield dropped them to the consolation bracket.

“The bigger picture is that we’re getting better,” said Glenbrook South coach Seong Ha. “The girls have improved offensively and are seeing good chances. They couldn’t see that two weeks ago.”

The offensive effort the Titans put forth has been consistent, but their defensive effort is unmatched. The Titans ended the tourney with two shutouts totaling nine of their 14 games so far this year.

After tying Deerfield, the Titans went on to beat Lake Forest 3-0, tie Buffalo Grove at zero and defeat Niles North in the consolation, 1-0.

Despite the zero score, the Buffalo Grove game was a high point for the Titans, Ha said.

“It was a very gritty effort,” he said. “We’d have the dominant play for 10 minutes and then they’ll have a spurt right back at us.”

Forward Kathryn Ficho stepped up in the tourney scoring two of the team’s total five offensive points. Other goals game from Sarah Snow, Nina Kodros, and Rori McPhilliamy.

The Titans (8-4-2) host Maine South Thursday at 7 p.m.

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