Lacrosse teams aim for state titles
In their final season before becoming a fully sanctioned sport next spring under the direction of the Illinois High School Assocation, the high school girls and boys lacrosse teams of Illinois are nearly ready to crown their state champions.
In Wednesday's girls state semifinals, Loyola (22-1) earned a 17-3 victory over Hinsdale Central (14-6-1), and New Trier (19-4-1) claimed a 23-7 triumph over Montini (12-10). That puts the Ramblers and Trevians in Friday's 7 p.m. state championship match, which will be played at Northwestern University's Lakeside Field.
Defending champion Loyola has played in the title game each year since 2005, and has won three times - New Trier won the other two. The Ramblers are on a 14-game winning streak heading into the title game.
• The boys' series continues with semifinals Thursday. In the higher division, St. Charles East (16-1) travels to face five-time defending champion New Trier (12-1) for a 5:30 p.m. start, and Stevenson (18-2) pays a visit to Loyola (16-1) with game time at 4:30 p.m.
In the boys' lower division, there will be a pair of all-DuPage County semifinals: Wheaton North (13-5) at Waubonsie Valley (9-5) at 5 p.m., and Naperville Central (10-5) at Glenbard West (16-3).
The boys' lower division state championship will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Oak Park-River Forest High School, followed by the upper division championship at 4 p.m. at the same site.
Boys lacrosse postseason honors
All-state teams
First team
Attack: Chad Ellis (Saint Charles East), Tim Engel (Stevenson), Chris Sweitzer (New Trier)
Defense: Kevin Harris (Stevenson), Matt Harris (Stevenson), JP Harvey (New Trier)
Goalie: Max Huber (Stevenson)
LSM: Charlie Polan (New Trier)
Midfield: Ben Dvorak (Saint Charles East), Tucker Johansen (Lake Forest), Mick Parks (New Trier)
Second team
Attack: Luke Cowan (Loyola Academy), Jake Mann (Naperville Central), Alec Westerhoff (Lyons Township)
Defense: Matt Barry (Saint Viator), Dominic Imbordino (Saint Charles East), John Leemputte (Loyola Academy)
Goalie: Pat McGushin (Saint Charles East)
LSM: Pat Killeen (Saint Charles East)
Midfield: Will Forsyth (Loyola Academy), Matt Sammarco (Lyons Township), Peter Santulli (Hinsdale Central)
All-conference teams
Central Suburban
First team
Attack: Chris Sweitzer (New Trier), Brian Longee (Glenbrook North), Geoff Harty (Glenbrook South)
Defense: JP Harvey (New Trier), Kyle Fernitz (Glenbrook North), Patrick Ready (Deerfield)
Goalie: Matt Trygg (Glenbrook South)
LSM: Charlie Polan (New Trier)
Midfield: Mick Parks (New Trier), Joe Lankford (New Trier) Brian Schmidt (Glenbook South), Charlie Mayne (Evanston)
Second team
Attack: JR Rothing (Deerfield), John Higgins (New Trier), Nate Pastron (Highland Park)
Defense: Matt Chandler (Glenbrook North), Doug Glynn (Glenbrook South), Taylor McGinnis (New Trier)
Goalie: Harrison Smith (Highland Park)
LSM: Owen Rothe (Evanston)
Midfield: Kevin Jamieson (Evanston), Patrick Callahan (New Trier), Jack Sandstrom (Glenbrook North)
Catholic
First team
Attack: Luke Cowan (Loyola Academy), Brian Goss (St. Viator), Ryan Gallagher (Saint Rita)
Defense: Matt Barry (St. Viator), John Leemputee (Loyola Academy), Walker Dunne (St. Rita)
Goalie: Kevin Steger (Loyola Academy)
LSM: Evan Mulchrone (St. Ignatius)
Midfield: Mike Krzoska (St. Viator), Will Forsyth (Loyola Academy), Harry Clarke (Loyola Academy)
Second team
Attack: Jake Hutton (St. Ignatius), Brendan Dolan (Loyola Academy), Tim Tuscher (Benet Academy)
Defense: Will Phelan (Loyola Academy), Elliot Sykora (Loyola Academy), Liam Healy (Notre Dame)
Goalie: Gabe Lord (St. Ignatius)
LSM: Dylan Harris (Loyola Academy)
Midfield: Rob Neylon (Notre Dame), Conor Fitzell (Loyola Academy), Trent Teister (Loyola Academy)
Honorable mention
Attack: Tyler Nicholson (Notre Dame), Dan Conway (Loyola Academy), Jack Coleman (Marian Catholic)
Defense: Conner Murphy (St. Viator), David Cannon (Benet Academy), Tim Michaels (Marian Catholic)
Goalie: Vincent Flaska (Benet Academy)
LSM: Alex Summerfelt (St. Rita)
Midfield: Connor Ptacin (St. Viator), Ryan McNicholas (St. Ignatius), Jack O'Donnell (Loyola Academy)
DuPage Upstate A
First team
Attack: Chad Ellis (Saint Charles), Conor Stout-Shoger (Naperville North), Michael Beatty (Neuqua Valley)
Defense: Kevin Epp (Neuqua Valley), David Largey (WW South), Dominic Imbordino (Saint Charles)
Goalie: Pat McGushin (Saint Charles)
LSM: Pat Killeen (Saint Charles)
Midfield: Nate Link (Naperville North), Jack Meachum (Naperville North), Ben Dvorak (Saint Charles)
Second team
Attack: Brian Sullivan (Saint Charles), Michael Ward (WW South), Addison Hartzler (WW South)
Defense: Ben Burbridge (Naperville North), Austin Savage (Neuqua Valley), Trace Evans (Saint Charles)
Goalie: Max Freter (WW South)
LSM: Sam Prete (WW South)
Midfield: Peter Scavetta (Neuqua Valley), Seth Fuller (WW South), Taylor Coughlin (Saint Charles)
DuPage Upstate B
First team
Attack: Zach Wood (Waubonsie Valley), Jake Mann (Naperville Central), Ben Barry (Wheaton North)
Defense: Brad Cole (West Chicago), Kevin Major (Geneva), Jake Warren (Waubonsie Valley)
Goalie: Scott Brown (Waubonsie Valley)
LSM: Nick Rodgers (Waubonsie Valley)
Midfield: Nate Widman (Naperville Central), Pat Diorka (Waubonsie Valley), Blake Zumpano (West Chicago)
Second team
Attack: Rylie Dixon (Wheaton North), Tyler Zanoni (West Chicago), Lawrence Anderson (Waubonsie Valley)
Defense: Mike Zajac (Naperville Central), Joe Cella (Geneva), RJ Kobriger (West Chicago)
Goalie: Alex Meek (Wheaton North)
LSM: Tyler Martorano (Naperville Central)
Midfield: Brendan Dunlap (Wheaton North), Ryan Solon (Geneva), Pat Schultz (Waubonsie Valley)
Mid-Suburban
First team
Attack: Brian Matyas (Schaumburg), Nic Vostal (Barrington), Rico Prestia (Conant)
Defense: Quinn Regan (Barrington), Sam Korbel (Schaumburg), Jordan Liebforth (Palatine)
Goalie: Emmett O'Malley (Conant)
LSM: Ed Tilly (Barrington)
Midfield: Max Mohr (Barrington), Joe Divizio (Hoffman Estates), Danny Kitzinger (Conant)
Second team
Attack: Jake Pritscher (Conant), Steve Gliniewicz (Hoffman Estates), Nick Klein (Fremd)
Defense: John Pape (Hoffman Estates), Chris Tolomeo (Fremd), Brett Zetner (Barrington)
Goalie: Tylor Fitzgerald (Barrington)
LSM: Ryan Sullivan (Palatine)
Midfield: Luke Rossi (Barrington), Evan Chikeles (Hoffman Estates), Aaron Vera (Hoffman Estates)
North Suburban
First team
Attack: Tim Engel (Stevenson), Jack Huber (Stevenson), Ryan Laughlin (Lake Forest)
Defense: Matt Harris (Stevenson), Kevin Harris (Stevenson), Connor Shanks (Libertyville)
Goalie: Max Huber Stevenson
LSM: Ty Benson (Libertyville)
Midfield: Vince Manglardi (Stevenson), Tucker Johansen (Lake Forest), Charley Dever (Lake Zurich)
Second team
Attack: Ian Smith (Libertyville), Adam Cook (Stevenson), Jake Squillaci (Grayslake North)
Defense: Scott Kruyswyk (Stevenson), Grant Soucy (Lake Zurich), Tom Bennett (Mundelein)
Goalie: Jim Kiewicz (Libertyville)
LSM: Matt Stritof (Stevenson)
Midfield: Bryan Dickson (Libertyville), Garrett VanSchaick (Warren), Alex Janeck (Lake Forest)
Honorable mention
Attack: Miller Carroll (Libertyville), Brad Hauser (Warren), Nick Hermes (Grayslake Central)
Defense: Phil Sheridan (Lake Forest), Jon Glende (Warren), Matt Molitor (Libertyville)
Goalie: Markus Hofer (Lake Zurich)
LSM: Charles Cook (Lake Forest)
Midfield: Ryan Spitzer (Stevenson), John Luehrsen (Libertyville), Andrew Keller (Lake Forest)