Based off of the teams’ first match on April 19, a 1-1 draw, it was a safe bet that the Glenbrook South and New Trier sectional semifinal match Tuesday was going to be a tough one.

Everyone in the stadium got more than they expected, as the two teams battled to a scoreless draw through regulation, forcing two 10-minute overtime periods to determine who would move on to the Maine South Sectional final Friday.

In extra time, the Trevians pulled out a 1-0 win on a Bina Saipi goal with 6:24 remaining in the first overtime period on Tuesday, May 24, in Park Ridge.

“They always bring their best game against us,” Saipi said about Glenbrook South. “They’re physical, know how we play and try to match our energy and beat it.”

Both teams had chances to take control of the match in the first half, but each time one tried, the other would weather the storm.

Glenbrook South (20-3-2) came out with a purpose in the second half, controlling the half’s first 10 minutes, coming close to scoring several times in the first 10 minutes of the half. That included a shot off of Titans star Olivia Peters’ foot that went just left of the goal 4:17 into the half. Less than five minutes later, Glenbrook South almost got on the board when New Trier nearly put in an own goal, but saw the ball go wide of the goal.

“I was close a few times, but those half chances you have to take them,” said Peters, who also had another shot go just wide left. “Unfortunately this game didn’t go our way but you win some, you lose some and this was a tough loss — but the team and effort we put on the field, I couldn’t be more happy.”

Kelly Maday created New Trier’s first chance in the second half at the 27 minute mark when her shot went off of Glenbrook South’s goalie, followed by a Maday shot off the rebound that went just high.

Glenbrook South started goalie Maude Tarbox but switched to Libbie Vanderveen in the second half as part of a rotation that Titans coach Seong Ha likes to employ.

“We switched goalies based on the wind and our need,” Ha said. “In the second overtime, I wanted Maude’s slightly longer punt to see if it could jump-start us. In regulation, we switched based on the wind, but combined they’ve given up 13 goals in 25 matches, so we felt comfortable with both.”

For about a 10-minute stretch in the half, New Trier’s Celia Frei put on a free kick clinic, sending three toward the goal, two of which were on goal. Vanderveen saved all three, but the Trevians looked close to getting the go-ahead goal.

Both teams had great chances in the last two minutes to get on the scoreboard.

New Trier earned a corner kick with 1:44 remaining, only to see Vanderveen come out and punch the ball out of harm’s way. With under a minute and a half remaining, Glenbrook South’s Gabby Baldo drove into the box and lofted a shot at Trevians goalie Dani Kaufman that hit the crossbar but dropped straight down without going into the goal.

With neither team being able to generate much of anything to start the overtime period, the Trevians caught a break when Tarbox came out of the box to clear the ball, but cleared it right to New Trier. Saipi lofted the ball over Tarbox’s head and watch as the ball bounced into the goal.

“Celia played me in the middle of the field and I saw Kelly make a run towards the goal so I tried to play her through, but it was a little too heavy and the goalie came out to clear it, she cleared it right out to my feet,” Saipi said. “I realized the goalie was out of the 18 so I just chipped it and hoped that it went into the net.”

Glenbrook South had a solid chance to even the score with 3:10 remaining, but Kaufman made a diving save on Makayla Stadler’s shot to nullify that chance.

The Trevians move on to face Evanston Friday evening. The Wildkits defeated Loyola Academy on Tuesday, also by a 1-0 score in overtime.

New Trier and Evanston split in the regular season. The Trevians will be looking for their third consecutive sectional title.

Glenbrook South ends its season as the second-best defense in school history and third-best offense in school history.

“I’m humbled that they’ve played this hard, for a game this big, against an opponent that daunting,” Ha said. “We stood toe-to-toe with New Trier and couldn’t ask for anything more.”

“This season’s been amazing,” Peters said. “A big goal was to win the regional title, which we did, and to get 20 wins for our soccer team, that’s amazing. This team has pushed through ever since our first 3-0 loss, we came back working tremendously defensively, all the way up.”

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