Boys lacrosse: St. Viator comes from behind to knock off Glenbard West in state semifinals
St. Viator senior Keaton Franzen is a special player, and he helped the Lions complete a special comeback Thursday night to send his team to the state lacrosse finals on Saturday.
The program’s all-time leader in goals, assists and points came up big in the fourth quarter with a pair of goals as St. Viator (23-2) erased a 4-1 deficit to stun Glenbard West 6-5. With the win the Lions move on to a state title game against Wheaton Academy, the team that defeated them in the finals in 2023.
The Hilltoppers led 3-1 at the half and took a 4-1 lead early in the second half before St. Viator mounted an impressive comeback. The Lions scored twice in the final 40 seconds of the third quarter to even the score at 4-4, with Henry Crane scoring his second goal of the game and Landon Vermazon tying the game with 17 seconds left in the third.
Franzen, a four-year starter who is the lobe player back from the 2023 state runners-up, gave the Lions a 5-4 lead just 50 seconds into the fourth quarter and then picked up a big insurance goal with 3:47 left to go.
That second score was huge as Chase Llyod scored his second goal for the Hillippers with 1:11 left to give Glenbard West a glimmer of hope. But St. Viator hung on from the there.
“We were never out of the game,” said Franzen, who will play next year at Massachusetts. “That was a really good defense, but even down three goals is nothing. You get one, you win a faceoff and you can be right back in the game. You never lose hope in these moments.”
Lions coach Geoff Harty knew it would be a tight contest.
“I told the kids at halftime that I expected Glenbard West to punch us in the mouth again, and they did score to make it 4-1,” Harty said. “We have great leadership and showed great poise tonight. I have so much respect for Glenbard West and their coaches.”
Wheaton Academy 15, St. Ignatius 9:
Tommy Sommer scored five goals as the Warriors return to the state finals for the first time since winning it all in 2023. Grant Adams added three scores for Wheaton Academy (14-8), which outscored the Wolfpack 7-3 in the second half.
The Warriors, third in the state last year, have reached the semifinals in five of the last six seasons.
“They are such an athletic team with a super nice goalie, and they’ve got a couple guys who can really sling the ball,” Wheaton Academy coach Cort Miller said of St. Ignatius. “I think St. Ignatius is making a name for itself in the world of lacrosse.”
But so are the Warriors. With Sommer and Adams clicking on offense and goalie Cason Ross recording 13 saves, Wheaton Academy kept the Wolfpack at bay in the second half after leading 8-6 at halftime.
“Tommy and Grant are kind of the fuel of our offense. They make the fun stuff happen,” added Miller, who credited coach Geof Weisenborn with building up the school’s program and creating a strong culture. “I would say Tommy had a great night, and by committee we did a good job at the faceoff X.”
Michael Lavelle and Jett Yaros each scored a pair of goals for the Warriors and Lavelle also recorded two assists.
Burk Pettiford led the Wolfpack in scoring with four goals and an assist, while goalie Teddy Flynn had eight saves in the game.