Glenbrook North edges out New Trier

Updated: September 7, 2011 9:44AM

The law of averages doesn’t always apply to soccer.

Exhibit A was Tuesday night in Northfield. New Trier dominated Glenbrook North for much of the game, except one for crucial stretch where Spartans’ star forward Michael Simon found a seam on the right sideline and pushed in a 14-footer.

The score gave the Spartans the 1-0 victory in the Central Suburban crossover. “New Trier really controlled most of the possession time, but it doesn’t really matter,” Simon said. “It only takes one shot.”

Just moments earlier, New Trier star sophomore forward Jeff Farina smashed a header that grazed the top of the post. “That was a panic moment,” Simon said.

It was that kind of night for the Trevians. New Trier (2-3-1) had eight shots on goal. They had four in the opening 12 minutes of the game. Glenbrook North’s defense was tight as a drum, and Spartans’ keeper Mitch Shapiro repelled six of them. “It’s asking too much, there’s too much parity that one goal is going to hold up in a game,” New Trier coach Craig Fairbairn said.

“It’s a cruel game.”

Shapiro said he had his own motivation for the Spartans (3-1-1). “I’d been making some questionable decisions the past couple of games, so I really wanted to step up my game tonight,” Shapiro said. “That shot by [Farina], it’s why the post is the keeper’s best friend.”

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