Girls lacrosse: Glenbard West falls to Downers Grove North

Glenbard West girls lacrosse coach Laura Finfrock is striving hard to make her team play two equally energized halves.

When that starts happening, look out. The Hilltoppers could be really dangerous come IHSA playoff time.

Finfrock's charges lost to Downers Grove North 16-9 on Thursday, but the score doesn't reveal the effort put forth in the second half, when the Hilltoppers climbed to within 13-8 with 7:39 to go.

"We came out with fire in the second half," Finfrock said. "We're definitely trying to make ourselves a full-game team, but from last year to this year we're still getting that fire in the second half, which is good. But we really need to start racking up the goals."

Senior midfielder Nicole Lekatsos did her part, scoring four times, including a dazzling tally that pulled Glenbard West to within 13-8. She won her own draw, came down the Downers North half of the field and blasted it past the outstretched arms of Trojans senior goalie Lina Zochowski.

"It's difficult," Lekatsos said of that feat. "You have to measure their pressure and how you pull - it's a whole physics thing. To maneuver behind or in front of you and then actually make the possession is difficult, plus running down the field with the defense following you."

Hard to believe, but that wasn't the prettiest goal Lekatsos scored this night. With 16:04 to go in the game, she took a ball on along pass at midfield, drove all the way down the Trojans' end, faked out two defenders and deposited the ball into the net. That made the score 11-6 Downers North, but Lekatsos and the Hilltoppers were making Finfrock's point.

Playing well in the second half is great, but it's a lot better - especially in the win column - to equal that in the first half.

Ah, the first half. Downers North ultra-quick attack Katie Kramnic made her presence known early and often, scoring three of her team's first four goals - all in the first 4:58 of the game. In fact she equaled Lekatsos' feat of winning the draw and scoring with 23:13 left in the first half.

Nevertheless, Glenbard West provided a stiff defensive challenge, Kramnic said.

"Off the draws it was a little bit tough every now and then for us to get the ball, and once they got the ball, they just ran down the field," Kramnic said. "We had a tough time crashing, but we're working on it."

The stat sheet was basically even, which is another thing that bodes well for the Hilltoppers (1-7, 0-2 West Suburban Silver). Downers North outshot Glenbard West 27-26, but the Hilltoppers held the advantage in draws at 14-13.

"Getting the draw is really important," said senior Frankie Campo, who scored twice. "Nicole and Tessa (Erickson) and Jen (Doran) and Sarah (Blatt), they all shine, they work to get those draws for us."

Good thing, too, because the schedule doesn't get any easier. Glenbard West will travel to Hinsdale Central today, and host Palatine Saturday and Lyons Twp. on Tuesday.

"We're not lacking in every area," Finfrock said. "We've got one area that we just need to shine up, and we're going to be a great team."