Glenbrook North girls water polo coach Robin Walker said there are times when it can look like the Spartans have a player advantage even when it’s 7-on-7. The illusion is a result of the two-way play of versatile senior Patti Grod.
She scored a season-high five goals and added four steals in Glenbrook North’s 10-7 win over Maine East in the Glenbrook South Sectional first-round game on Tuesday, May 10.
“When we play our best this season, Patti is playing two positions, she’s playing against two people, it’s like having two kids in the water,” Walker said.
Grod brought her team-leading goal total to 70 as the eighth-seeded Spartans (6-18) advanced to play top-seeded New Trier in the sectional quarterfinal at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 12.
In addition to Grod’s performance, the victory in Northbrook over the ninth-seeded Blue Demons (8-20) will be remembered for the outstanding play of Glenbrook North junior goalkeeper Shari Markowitz. She had 12 saves, including a couple of fourth-quarter, point-blank stops on shots from Maine East junior Rachel Koshy (four goals).
While Markowitz was the last line of defense, Grod was often playing in front of her, which is somewhat amazing since she also was causing trouble for Maine East goalie Annie Turbak at the other end of the pool.
“(Grod) is doing the dirty work, she’s always back on defense helping Shari,” Walker said. “She’s the last one on defense and then has to sprint down and play offense. To get five goals means she’s playing hard at both ends of the pool.”
Walker described Grod’s position as utility, and he gives the third-year varsity player license to roam.
“I don’t have a set position, I play whatever and try to make it work,” Grod said. “During a game, I start as a driver and try to get back on defense and up on offense. Sometimes I jump in and play the hole (in front of goal). I play any position all over the place.”
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Grod said Walker gives her advice about where to play, but then allows her the freedom to make her own positional decisions.
“(Walker) gives out pointers when he’s watching the game, but he leaves it up to me to decide what to play at that given moment,” Grod said. “But his pointers help lead to the right decision.”
Coaches and teammates say Grod can play the utility role because of her high water polo IQ and her strong swimming ability.
Grod was a member of the Spartans swim team and plans to join the swim team at Augustana College in Rock Island in the fall. She also hopes to play club water polo at the school.
“One of the reasons I took the time to be on the swim team (in high school) was to stay in shape for polo,” Grod said. “The coaches told us that in water polo, if you play the entire game, it can be the equivalent of 20 laps. If you’re faster than the defense, you can get breakaways and you can switch from offense to defense faster. So, swimming is a really big factor.”
Another major asset is Grod’s cannon of a shot, which she demonstrated on multiple occasions against Maine East. Grod said her arm was fairly weak as a freshman. However, she has improved thanks to added strength and extensive shooting practice.
“In practice, she’s definitely one of the harder shots to block,” Markowitz said. “It’s definitely a challenge for me and she uses it to contribute a lot to the team.”
Dan Shalin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press