GLEN ELLYN -- There was a sense of urgency for Glenbard West on Tuesday when it faced off against Oak Park and River Forest, and not just for the usual reasons.

To be sure, the match mattered to both teams. Each came into the game 2-3-x in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division, and both preferred to finish in third in the competitive league and gather momentum for the upcoming playoffs.

But there was another objective as well, and it involved the Hilltoppers senior class and their successes in the classroom.

The game was moved up from a 6:30 p.m. start to 5 p.m. to ensure the Class of 2024 members on the Glenbard West roster would be on time for a school event.

It was an academic awards celebration for the upperclassmen, and they showed they can take care of business on the field and off.

Glenbard West defeated the visiting Huskies 4-0 in an inspired performance that featured a clean-sheet for senior goalkeeper Ava Callaway.

Callaway indicated that she was looking forward to the after-match school function.

“It’s related to the Honor Roll, I think, and whether teachers have given you any awards,” she said. “A lot of the seniors will be there.”

Callaway, a 2022 Chicagoland Soccer All-State keeper, is committed to Taylor University in Indiana, where she’ll compete in goal for the Trojans and major in data science.

She added that it’s a little bit sad that her time on the Glenbard West team, and in high school in general, will soon be coming to an end.

“It’s bittersweet,” said Callaway. “I’ve had a wonderful time playing for this team, and I think we’ve done some great things. But it’s not over yet, and I’m just excited about finishing out the season strong.’

The senior still recalls when she first took up goalkeeping in a park district league.

“I would volunteer to be in goal,” she said, “and I loved it. It was really fun getting to dive around and stop the ball.”

It was great for the Hilltoppers as well. Callaway has been a standout all four years.

She added that it’s been a different feeling this season compared to past campaigns.

“I remember that, during my freshman and sophomore seasons, it was extremely intimidating to be on the field,” she said. “I had high expectations to live up to.

“Now I feel like we all are a lot more confident in our abilities.”

The elation on the Glenbard West side was the opposite of what Oak Park and River Forest coach Lauren Zallis felt.

The first-year coach focused on the aspects of the match that can make her team better.

“They (Glenbard West) exposed some pretty obvious kinks in the chain tonight,” said the coach. “Especially on set pieces, and a lot of that is being super-focused, being on your mark and knowing that you have to be aggressive.

“I think that there are some spots where we need improvement, but every time you feel something was the wrong thing or something didn’t go right, that’s an opportunity for you.

“Everything that you didn’t accomplish in a game, all of your weak spots, that’s something to learn from.”

Zallis highlighted an outstanding performance from junior Addison Bliss.

“She always stays composed,” said the coach. “You’re not going to see many points from her as far as goals or assists, but she really brings intensity and grit.

“I thought she had a great game today, both on the offensive side of the ball and also defensively.”

Both teams started the match on a fast pace. The eager Glenbard West side almost scored three minutes in.

Senior Audrey Sawyer sent a cross into the middle and teammate Hana Allen took a try, but the ball hit the crossbar and bounded away.

Minutes later, Oak Park and River Forest (6-10-0) had a couple of speedy forays into Hilltoppers territory.

First Huskies junior Abby Cockerill found teammate Maise Champaneri in front of the net with a nifty pass, then sophomore midfielder Ana Sofia Mrotzek had a chance.

But each time, the stellar play of Glenbard West backliner Hannah Roberts kept the visitors from getting a shot on goal.

The Hilltoppers struck for their first goal in the 21st minute.

Sawyer sent a corner kick to the front of the net where it was headed in from six yards by Roberts.

“In the beginning of the season they (the coaching staff) didn’t want me in the box, because I’m a defender,” said Roberts, a junior who earned Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors for her efforts on both ends of the field Tuesday.

“They were moving me back, but recently in practice I’ve been asking the coaches if I can go into the box and try it out.

“I just got lucky today (with the corner kick) and got my head on it.”

The home team kept after it and upped the lead to 2-0 in the 35th minute.

Roberts’ throw-in to the brink of the Huskies goal, found classmate Aniela Rossi who finished from two yards.

“It was a beautiful throw from Hannah,” said Rossi, “and I just did what we normally do, backing up and flicking it over (my opponent). It just went right in.”

Rossi added that the Hilltoppers had a specific plan heading into the second half.

“Work the ball out wide,” she said, “and get (our wing players) to just run through the defense.”

It worked, quickly. Glenbard West added to its advantage just 36 seconds after the break.

Ella Bennett chased down a wayward ball in the left corner, settled, turned, and sent a flare to teammate Lauren Escalante in the middle of the pitch.

Escalante struck a perfect shot from 24 yards away to make it 3-0.

The Hilltoppers kept the pressure on and finished off their offensive barrage in the 48th minute.

It came on another set piece. Escalante sent a corner kick to Sawyer, who finished from point-blank range with a splash into the upper right corner of the net.

Glenbard West followed with the strong defensive play thereafter. Oak Park and River Forest had a few chances to spoil the shutout, but none came to fruition.

The best opportunity came late in the game when Huskies senior Kiera Kleidon took possession of a long ball with nothing but green between herself and Callaway.

Out of nowhere, Glenbard West junior defender Nessa Danielewicz recovered and poked the ball out of harm’s way.

“We’re feeling great right now,” said Rossi after the victory, which saw her team improve to 8-7-2 overall. “Now we’ve got to keep it going.”

Roberts agreed, saying that “we’ve been working in practice on connecting passes and finding each other’s feet.”

“We’ve also been trying some new strategies too, like instead of playing the ball long, just keeping it simple. I think that all of us working together really benefits us.

“We knew that the weather was going to turn out to be nice tonight, and it’s always good to see our fans come out. We play for each other, and also for the people who are watching us.”

The win was the third in a row for Glenbard West. The Hilltoppers have turned things around with a 4-1-1 mark in their last six matches.

After the victory, Escalante gave props to her senior teammates.

Callaway, Sawyer, Ellie Beaudoin, Kylie Clifford and Claire Russell are finishing their careers as a Hilltopper.

“They’ve done a really good job of leading by example,” said Escalante. “They’re really just continuing on with where we left off the previous year.

“There’s a lot of fight in them, and they want the team to grow. In the beginning of the season, it was tough to instill that into the younger players, but the seniors are making that happen.”

Glenbard West coach Adam Szyszko couldn’t help but be impressed by the ferocious effort of his team, especially since it came against such a worthy adversary.

“We scored a couple of gritty goals early,” said Szyszko, “and we were able to continue the momentum. 

“Oak Park is a very good side, and they caused us a lot of problems. Even in the last few minutes, they were still attacking. They’re a good team and they’re going to create problems for a lot of people.”

Starting lineups

Oak Park and River Forest
GK: Jackie Bollinger
D: Kiera Kleidon
D: Giovanna Aguilar-Ripley
D: Annie Whitmore
D: Maise Champaneri
M: Lola Zarate
M: Abby Cockerill
M: Evie Derhammer
M: Ana Sofia Mrotzek
M: Addison Bliss
F: Malie Cassel

Glenbard West
GK: Ava Callaway
D: Ellie Beaudoin
D: Audrey Sawyer
D: Julia Tracy
D: Hannah Robers
M: Lauren Escalante
M: Hana Allen
M: Lily Hubbuch
F: Jen Gritis
F: Ella Bennett
F: Kylie Clifford

Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Hannah Roberts, jr., D, Glenbard West

Scoring summary

First half
GW: Roberts (Sawyer), 21’
GW: Rossi (Roberts), 35’

Second half
GW: Escalante (Bennett), 41’
GW: Sawyer (Escalante), 48’