Boys lacrosse: St. Viator scores early, often to cruise past Lake Zurich
St. Viator’s Wes Starr and Luca Scandroli make a fastbreak look routine.
On Friday night in the sectional final against Lake Zurich, the pair of attackers performed their duet before the audience at Morris Field could settle into their seats. After just seven seconds, the Lions found the back of the net, with Starr scoring off a pass from Scandroli.
“We practiced that a lot,” Scandroli said of the opening play. “I want to say, like, 50 times in the last two weeks.”
The quick score was just the start of an offensive onslaught for the Lions (20-3), who avenged last season’s sectional loss with a 20-6 triumph over the Bears (14-5).
“We’ve been a really strong team all year,” St. Viator coach Geoff Harty said. “So the focus was just doing what got us here, staying disciplined, and working harder than the other team.”
The Lions entered the contest winners of seven straight matchups, outscoring their opponents 130-20 over the span. Starr and Scandroli combined for the first four goals before Lake Zurich’s Coplan Oettinger notched one for the visitors to cut the deficit to three. St. Viator responded with four more goals to close the first quarter with an 8-1 advantage. Starr, an Ohio Wesleyan commit, completed a hat trick before the period ended.
“He’s been our guy all year,” Harty said of Starr. “Leading goal scorer as a junior, top three in points this year. He’s having a really strong season.”
St. Viator added 10 more goals in the second quarter to start a running clock in the final half.
Starr led the way for the home team with seven goals, followed by three from sophomore Brady Tyrrell. Junior Keaton Franzen totalled four assists for the team high as nine Lions recorded at least one point.
“I’d probably say this offense line has done a lot for the team,” Starr said. “But I’m gonna be honest here, I think our defense has stepped up for us when we can’t do things on offense. Our goalie, [senior Jack Hartman] is really good in net.”
For Scandroli, a team captain, the Lions’ biggest strength derives from their bond with one another.
“We’re a big family around here, “ he said. “We all hang out with each other, all care about each other. When we win, there’s no better feeling.”
Oettinger topped Lake Zurich with three goals and two assists. Crew Soldano, Dylan Hartke, and Jackson Groncki added a goal apiece for the Bears.
“One of the best seasons we’ve ever had,” Lake Zurich coach Mike Sutton said. “The class of 2025 is going to be remembered forever. I love these guys.”
St. Viator moves on to the supersectionals on Tuesday for a matchup against Lake Forest at Stevenson High School.