Pain? It’s just part of the game

A lacrosse goalie is going to feel some pain.

It’s just the way it is.

But the pain is something Naperville Central goalie Sarah Osier deals with quite nicely.

“Getting hit in goal, the pain doesn’t bother me,” she said. “Some girls have some really fast shots out there. You get used to it after awhile. You get some nasty bruises. I’ll have girls come up to me after games and hug me and say they are sorry. It’s part of the game. We have more padding with helmets, a chest protector, thigh pads and shin guards, but you would be surprised where that ball finds you. Your arms get bruised up.”

Playing in cold weather only amplifies the sting.

“It hurts so much more when you get hit on cold days,” Osier noted. “I try and wear extra layers.”

Osier has been playing the sport for four years and loves the fact she decided to take up the sport at the urging of a teacher.

“It’s definitely the sport for me,” she said. “It gets my mind off everything else. It’s a safe-haven for me. I really like it.”

Osier has stepped up to the challenge for Naperville Central this season.

“I get a lot of shots,” she said. “Sometimes there are 5 shots in a row. There are people everywhere.”

Communication with her defensive players is something Osier has worked on this season.

“You let each other know where the ball is so you know you are not alone out there,” she said. “I’m told every day in practice to keep my eye on the ball. Muscle memory will get you there.”

Osier will continue her lacrosse career at Augustana next season—the school’s inaugural lacrosse season.

“Playing in college is motivation to keep getting better so I can continue with this,” she says.

Osier, who lauded the work of coach Adam Washington, had a 56.6 save percentage through late last week. She feels anything over 50 percent is good.

“If you are up around 58 or 60, that’s amazing,” she says.

Finding the back of the net: One of the state’s most prolific goal scorers this season has been Glenbard West senior attack Christina Letmanski. She had 37 goals through late last week.

“I have gotten a lot faster,” Letmanski said. “Before, I would lose the ball and it would be a caused turnover which would be bad.”

Letmanski, who noted her passing has improved as well, played extensively over the summer with both the Lakeshore and Cool Sticks club programs.

“It was a definite help,” she said. “It got me out there.”

Letmanski deflects self-praise when asked about her goal-scoring abilities.

“It’s my teammates,” she said. “I have teammate Taylorr Stern, who feeds me the ball all the time. She gets all of my assists. This is all thanks to her.”

Letmanski also is headed to Augustana next year.

St. Charles update: The St. Charles co-op team was 3-3 through late last week, with one of those victories coming against Fremd (14-3 under stormy conditions).

Senior captain Meghan Brady (midfield) was leading the team in scoring with 19 goals and 2 assists. Katie Bogle (also one of the team captains), a senior attack, had 10 goals and 13 assists, while junior attack Samantha Link had 12 goals and 3 assists. Sophomore attack Emma MacNeille had 8 goals.

St. Charles coach Peter Bogle has been particularly impressed with the team’s transition from defense to offense. Clears have also been very strong. Overall communication and team defense have taken steps forward in recent weeks.

“Every week the girls are getting more comfortable in what each other is doing in front of their goalies,” Peter Bogle noted.

The play of senior captains Katie Bogle, Brady and Emily Thornton on defense has been especially important in the early going of the season.

“Our three senior captains always play hard and have delivered strong performances,” Peter Bogle said. “Katie and Meghan have played well on offense and Emily Thornton anchors a relatively young defense as only one of two returning varsity players this year. The leadership these three girls bring to the field is great and will pay off as the season continues.”

Brady wowed spectators with a behind-the-back goal in a recent contest against Neuqua Valley.

Hinsdale Central update: The Red Devils were 5-4 through their first 9 games of the season. One of those victories was against Montini recently.

“It was a great, close game with two talented teams,” Hinsdale Central coach Lindsey Finocchiaro said.

Attack Maggie Langhamer was leading the team in scoring with 26 goals and 8 assists, while midfielder Dylan Voneiff had 24 goals and 6 assists.

Finocchiaro said speed quickness and endurance have been key strong points for the squad, while shot selection has improved in recent games.

Alex Olsen and Alyson Beans are excelling on defense.

“Both have done a tremendous job on the defensive end for us,” Finocchiaro said. “Alex is playing smart defense and leading the unit to play more team defense instead of playing individually. Alyson has been doing a great job in the net, stopping point-blank shots, leading with her voice and keeping us in tight game.”

Montini update: Montini was leading Marian Catholic only 8-7 at halftime. And then the flood gates opened. The Broncos put up 10 unanswered goals in the second half and scored an 18-7 victory.

The Broncos have a number of players who rank high in the state statistical categories. Sophomore midfielder Erin Steiner was third in the state in goals with 39 through late last week. Steiner also had 8 assists. Sophomore midfield Sarah Lugo had 36 goals (4th in the state) and 6 assists, while sophomore midfielder Fran Meyer was leading the state in ground ball controls with 51. She also had 27 goals and 6 assists.

Benet Academy update: Benet scored a key 9-8 victory over Lyons Township recently.

“It was a hard fight the whole way,” Benet coach Kendall Vail said.

Twin junior sisters Nicole and Taylor Valentine were leading the team in scoring through last week. Each had 25 goals and 24 assists.

Vail has been especially pleased with the play in the midfield of late.

“Our team strength, thanks in part to juniors Maya McKeown and Kim Simmons, falls in our midfield,” Vail said. “We move the ball quickly, ‘too quickly’ according to one ref after our game against Eagles.”

Seniors Colleen Toner and Emily Stent excel on defense in the caused turnover and interception departments, while senior Daiva Siliunus and junior Morgan Birck are strong on the draw.

“They come up with the ball a majority of the time,” Vail said.