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Carmel Catholic savors conference crown

They wanted to raise a banner this season at Carmel Catholic as the school's first girls lacrosse team to win the East Suburban Catholic Conference title. That was their goal, as they wrote down before the season started.

But the Corsairs were coming off a 5-12-1 overall record in 2014 and a 1-5 mark in conference play.

Wishful thinking for the ESCC title? Maybe.

Mission accomplished? Yep.

The Corsairs stand at 12-2 overall heading into today's regular-season finale at Highland Park and claimed the ESCC title with a 6-0 record, including an 8-6 win over Marian Catholic on April 14. Marian Catholic was the ESCC champion for each of the past two seasons, the first two girls lacrosse seasons in the ESCC.

"Once we beat Marian Catholic, we knew that we could do it, that we have a good team," and could win the conference title, said junior captain Grace Quinn, who this week was named the ESCC player of the year. "The key to winning that game (against Marian) was maintaining a positive attitude, even if we fell behind. On the bus ride down (to the game), we were all super focused, and coach's pregame speech really got us going."

However, the Corsairs came out flat, Quinn admitted.

So senior captain Mara Daley stepped up and spoke to the team.

"We came out in the second half and were full force, full speed, playing as a team," said Quinn, who added that she "was not surprised" with the upset victory. "I knew we had the capability of doing it."

Carmel wrapped up its ESCC run last Saturday with a 16-5 win over St. Viator, as Quinn scored 6 goals. The Corsairs scored 72 goals in conference play, second-most among the seven teams, and Carmel surrendered only 42 goals, fewest in the ESCC.

"Raising the banner brings so much emotion to everyone," said Quinn, who lives in Island Lake.

Quinn has been playing lacrosse since she was in the fifth grade. She's in her third season on Carmel's varsity and leads the team in scoring (55 goals). Quinn's older sister, Kayla, was a senior during Carmel's inaugural varsity season of girls lacrosse, when Grace was a freshman. Kayla now attends Loras College in Iowa.

"We have been playing more as a team this year as opposed to just as individuals," Quinn said. "We are more positive as a whole and there's better chemistry."

Carmel's turnaround started with snow on the ground and bone-chilling temperatures outside. The team started early-morning workouts in early-January for the first time, and had about 15 attend the first session. The next day, there were 30.

Carmel coach Jim Lasky has been spouting a positive approach all season - and it's been heard loud and clear by his club. He was named the conference coach of the year.

"He wants to get us better, and having a coach like that really helps," Quinn said.

Carmel's first ESCC win this season was March 24, when the Corsairs routed Nazareth 13-3. The Corsairs slipped past Marist 10-9 on April 13, and then battled powerhouse Marian Catholic the next day. Carmel also defeated Fenwick (12-11) and Benet (13-8).

"These girls are sisters (who) do everything together - and it shows on the field," Lasky said. "They believe and have strong confidence in themselves. When you are kicked to the ground and still getting trampled, it's nice to dust yourself off and keep fighting. Last year we lost games by over 20 goals. That's never good for your confidence."

Now it's Carmel that is smiling, rallying behind its slogan for the season: One Team, One Dream.

"This has been a special season for our program," Quinn said.

Such that, home games now draw student fans.

"People are starting to care about us," said Quinn, who joyed recalling the overtime game against Fenwick, when a crew of student fans were cheering behind the Carmel bench. "Their positivity and their energy helped us win the game.

"It's just amazing to see how much the program has developed and come along."

Senior Niki Lacoco also serves as a team captain, while sophomore defender Anna Hoffman might be this season's breakout player. Hoffman leads the Corsairs in interceptions in only her second season playing the sport.

"She is going to be an amazing player one day," Quinn said. "The difference in her play from last year to this year is amazing."

The team features six sophomores, seven juniors and 11 seniors.

"We're doing really well. It's been a lot of fun," said sophomore Jilly Johnson, who lives in Round Lake and is in her first lacrosse season. She also played varsity basketball for the Corsairs this winter.

Johnson scored her first goal of the season on April 1 in a road game at Warren and says she was "so happy" that she scored. She fired in 3 goals against St. Viator last Saturday.

Quinn tied the game against Marian in the final minutes, off a perfect pass from senior captain Kelsey Reed. It was one of her easiest goals of the season, but also her most important/meaningful tally of the season.

So far.

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