What makes Chatham Glenwood girls soccer so formidable? It's the defense

Chatham Glenwood senior Gigi Yurevich likes every aspect of being a goalkeeper.

Even getting muddy.

She first tried out the position during a youth soccer game and instantly fell in love with it.

“The goalie got hurt, so someone needed to step up,” Yurevich recalled. “She was completely down. I was like, ‘Huh, maybe that’s my spot.’ Then here I am, years later, senior year.”

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Directing the defense

Yurevich has been a four-year starter for the Titans. Last season, the NCAA Division II Maryville commit helped Glenwood record 12 shutouts with just five allowed goals to secure a spot on the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association’s all-sectional list.

She is a consummate vocal leader who also wields a big leg.

“She’s a great keeper, and we all talk to her out there,” junior defender Ali Matthews said, “so we know that if we need help she’s there to help.”

Yurevich remained engaged on the field during a game last week despite Springfield High not getting any shots off during the Central State Eight Conference meeting.

“Obviously I’m not having a lot of action during this time,” Yurevich said following Glenwood’s 6-0 win over SHS at Lee Field, “so I’ve got to keep engaged and keep my team going: talk to my defenders and make sure they’re in the right place and basically talk to everyone and make sure they’re doing what they should be doing because I have a view of the whole field.

“No one else has that view that I have, so I kind of have the role of keeping engaged and telling people, ‘Hey, you need to go over here.’”

Yurevich said she steadily improved through assistant coach Todd Trautvetter and particularly developed a booming leg during the COVID-19 lull as a sophomore.

“It just came with a lot of repetitions,” Yurevich said.

All-stater returns on the back line

Matthews is also stepping into that leadership role and learned some cues from her older sister, Kate, last season.

The returning IHSSCA all-state center back flourished in her varsity debut and chipped in seven goals and three assists after COVID-19 wiped out the previous season.

“She was one of the upperclassmen, so she helped me throughout it all and made it comfortable,” Matthews said of Kate. “Also, she knew when to get on me and when to lay off, so it was good.”

The Titans ultimately went 15-1 last season and lost to Troy Triad 2-0 in the Class 2A Urbana Supersectional.

Even with Yurevich and Matthews back, Glenwood lost three of its starters on the back line to graduation — Kate included.

“I am the only defender coming back, but we have great incoming people who can step up to the plate and are hard-working,” Matthews said. “Coming back after losing to Triad, we want it even more now and we’re looking forward to getting to state and we want to push hard every practice and every game.”

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Some of the defensive newcomers include sophomore Haden Vlcek, sophomore Ava Gorrie and senior Keeley Buennemeyer.

Vlcek scored a header on a corner kick during the first half against SHS. Glenwood coach Jay Lipe said Vlcek is a big weapon on set plays.

“We have a lot of skilled players, we’re just starting to get to know each other,” Lipe said. “We’ve got a good mix of upperclassmen and lowerclassmen, so we’re just trying to get better every day in practices and games.”

Glenwood is off to a groovy 5-0 start and has already outscored opponents 27-1. With such a prolific offense to boot, another deep postseason run is more than attainable.

“We all have fun together, but we know when to get on each other, want to work hard and when to put the pressure on,” Matthews said. “We’re also all best friends at the end of the day.”

Contact Bill Welt: bill.welt@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/BillWelt

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: IHSA girls soccer: Gigi Yurevich, Ali Matthews lead Glenwood defense