GL_031518

42 | March 15, 2018 | The glenview lantern sports
glenviewlantern.com
Glenbrook advances to state championship
Michal Dwojak, Sports Editor
The Glenbrook players
will only have one number
on their minds for the next
few weeks: one.
One is the number of
games left before the players
and coaching staff can
complete its season goal.
They have felt the pressure
all season, and after
their 1-0 win over Fenwick
March 5, they’re one win
away from repeating as
state champions.
“Our coaches told us
all season, ‘it’s hard to do,
win one, but it’s harder to
do it back-to-back,’” senior
Hannah Jensen said.
“We’ve been focused on
that. We want to have fun,
but winning is just another
prize of that.”
That focus has been set
on the players’ need to be
stellar all season, the team’s
semifinal game in Bensenville
against the Friars was
no exception.
The pressure had been
on them all season as defending
champs. Despite
losing two key members
from last year’s roster, the
current players wanted to
show that they could still
compete and be the best in
the state.
The two teams fought
for loose pucks and created
different opportunities on
the transition, but Glenbrook
found the sole way
of taking advantage as it
has all season.
The opportunity came
in the second period with
4 minutes, 39 seconds left
in the period when Jensen
found a breakaway opportunity.
The senior saw the
spot toward the end and
when she received the puck
from Nicole Knudson, the
goal flew into the net.
Jensen has been a major
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gallery and video
from the game, visit
GlenviewLantern.com.
contributor for the team
since she joined four years
ago, someone who would
fight for every possession.
It made sense that the senior
would help her team
reach the moment the program
had been working
years to achieve.
“In our early years, Hannah
was our go-to girl,”
coach Steve Hamelin said.
“So I’m excited about the
success that’s she had the
last couple years. She’s a
leader and she leads by example.”
Glenbrook played defense
the rest of the game.
The players knew it would
be a tough battle and didn’t
want to make a mistake
on the offensive end that
could lead to a mistake and
a Fenwick goal. The players
stayed focused, and
when Fenwick pulled its
goaltender, Glenbrook applied
pressure even though
it didn’t score another goal.
Freshman goaltender
Lauren Abraham continued
to impress as she has all
season. She pushed away
every type of pressure the
Friars presented her, making
all 14 saves in the shutout
performance.
When the clock finally
got down to zero, there was
only celebrating around
Abraham.
“I think we were all
pumped up,” Jensen said.
“The clock seemed like
hours and hours as it was
winding down, but I can’t
describe the feeling again.”
For the coach, it was relief
that a year’s worth of
Hannah Jensen (left) moves the puck against a Fenwick defender in the state semifinal March 5 in Bensenville.
Photos by Michal Dwojak/22nd Century Media
Freshman goaltender Lauren Abraham makes a stop on a shot; she had 14 saves during the game.
pressure had paid off.
“We knew it was going
to be a one-, two-goal
game,” Hamelin said. “I’m
really excited for this team
to go back. The pressure
has been on them all year.”
Every team showed up
every night against Glenbrook,
wanting to prove
themselves; so when it
came time for Glenbrook
to prove itself, the players
lived up to the hype.
“I’m more happy that the
girls know they can compete
every night,” Hamelin
said. “Glenbrook is a solid
program, and we’ve got
a great senior group and
incoming group. It’s great
for them to experience this
again and for the new ones
on the team.”
A final battle with New
Trier is the only thing
standing in the way from
Glenbrook achieving its
season goal. The two teams
will meet on the United
Center ice on March 24 and
fight for a state championship.
Even though Glenbrook
is defending its title, Hamerlin
knows that doesn’t
mean the win will be handed
to the team.
“We’ve got our work
cut out for us against New
Trier,” he said. “We’ve had
our battles with them, so I
think it should be an exciting
game.”
For the Glenbrook players,
it’s about achieving
that one goal that’s been in
front of them all season.
“We still wanted to prove
ourselves and show that
we’re a great team.”