One team was looking to win its first sectional title since 2009, while the other was going for its third sectional crown in four years.
In the end, the more experienced team, New Trier, outlasted the upset-minded Titans of Glenbrook South, 8-7, to win the Glenbrook South Sectional title Saturday, May 14, in Glenview.

“We’re not quite to where we want to be, but the fact we keep going back speaks to the work these guys put in,” New Trier coach David Rafferty-Flatter said.

The Trevians had faced Glenbrook South three times during the regular season, defeating them easily every time, including a 12-3 win in last week’s Central Suburban League tournament final.

“When you say the season is on the line, your seniors always step up,” Rafferty-Flatter said. “Will Kohr had had the better half of a fourth quarter than I’ve seen him have in a long time. He literally said ‘Coach, I’m really tired, but don’t take me out. This could be my last one.’ When you get that urgency out of your seniors, games are going to be tight.”

The Titans didn’t show any tentativeness, getting two shots on goal in the first 55 seconds and forcing turnovers on the Trevians’ first two possessions.

Richard Poma got the scoring going with 4:54 remaining in the first quarter, when he lofted a high-arcing shot that snuck past New Trier goalie Cole Maziel. The Trevians came right back, however, scoring less than a minute and a half later when Charlie Ryan put a ball away from the left of the goal.

Brendan Chang would score with 1:22 remaining in the first quarter to give the Titans a 2-1 lead after one. Glenbrook South goalie Brian Johnson turned the Trevian attack away twice in the final 33 seconds of the quarter to preserve the one-goal lead.

The Trevians (29-3-1) continued to ride their momentum into the second period, evening the score a little more than a minute in when Henry Yavitt put one past Johnson. New Trier would fire three shots on goal in the next 1:40, but failed to put it into the goal.

Poma gave the Titans the lead back when he knocked in a penalty shot with 4:06 remaining until halftime. Peter Dales added another goal for the Titans, while Yavitt put a shot into the goal with 44 seconds remaining in the half to cut the GBS lead to one.

Then the New Trier defense took over.

After halftime, New Trier came out looking like a different team. The Trevians’ defense forced five Glenbrook South turnovers in the third quarter, while allowing only three shots. In the meantime, the New Trier offense continued to pepper Johnson, getting eight shots on goal in the period. Johnson saved six of those shots, but allowed a third Yavitt goal and a Danilo Scekic penalty shot that gave the Trevians a 5-4 lead that would stand after three periods.

Everything looked to be going the Trevians’ way when Mason McQuet scored to give the Trevians a two-goal lead. Glenbrook South coach David Lieberman called a timeout to calm his team down.

“I told them to relax,” Lieberman said. “I talked about controlling the runs, there are highs and lows throughout a game, but I was riding those guys hard, I wanted to give them a breath.”

The Titans listened to their coach and scored two consecutive goals, one by Chang and one by Tucker Nienhaus, to tie the game at six.

But Kohr scored 41 seconds later and Ryan 1:14 after that to give New Trier the cushion it needed.

“The goal itself was cool, but I have to give credit to my teammates,” Ryan said. “Winning sectionals is exciting, but we’ve been looking forward to getting to state all year.”

The Titans were able to get a couple more good looks at the goal, including a penalty shot by Poma, but Maziel saved four shots down the stretch to keep the Trevians in front. Tommy Hagerty scored the Titans’ last goal with 2:47 remaining.

“I really thought I had it,” Poma said. “I thought I had it in the inside of the goal, but once I missed I knew I had to put it in the back of my mind and keep playing hard for the last two minutes.”

Maziel took over New Trier goalie duties April 11 when starter Piers Braunrot broke a finger in practice.

“After seeing the girls goalie go down last year, we decided to make sure our backup goalie was good to go in case Piers got injured,” Rafferty-Flatter said. “Piers is coaching him from the sidelines, always talking to him, showing that senior leadership.”

The Trevians will face Fremd in the state quarterfinals on Thursday, May 19, at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire. – See more at: http://www.wilmettebeacon.com/high-school/boys-water-polo-trevs-capture-second-straight-sectional-title#sthash.vXd7bQGX.dpuf