Jacobs claims NILAX state crown
The Jacobs boys lacrosse club team has developed quite a rivalry with neighbor Cary-Grove.
The teams split the regular-season series with Cary-Grove winning the first game 5-4 and Jacobs taking the second contest by an 8-7 count.
A year ago, Cary-Grove also defeated Jacobs, 10-5, for the Northern Illinois Lacrosse Association (NILAX) championship.
But with all the chips on the line a year later, it was the Golden Eagles walking away with the championship after an 8-3 triumph Saturday at Aurora University.
Jacobs was playing in its third-straight NILAX championship game. The Golden Eagles have been in existence as a boys lacrosse program for 4 years.
“It was amazing,” Jacobs junior attacker Alex Cresenti said. “We’ve been there three times in three years and then to have a rematch with Cary-Grove, that’s unbelievable. I have no idea how to explain it. I’m so happy.”
The two teams were scoreless for much of the first quarter until Jacobs scored with 10 seconds left in the frame. Jacobs, clinging to a 2-1 advantage, gave itself some breathing room with a goal five seconds before halftime. Cary-Grove never got closer than 2 goals the rest of the way.
“It was relentless pressure,” Jacobs coach John Bigler said. “We never thought we had it. The kids really just fought on every single play. We pressured on offense and on defense and in transition. It was a relentless effort.”
Cresenti and Brenton Cosden each scored 2 goals for the Golden Eagles. Matt Ehrhardt, David VanVlierbergen, Sahand Tsay and Kevin Eikeland each had a goal to round out a balanced scoring effort. Ryan Cooper picked up the win in goal.
Jacobs finished the season 15-2 overall.
“We came out so fired up and so ready to play,” Cresenti stated. “We were so into the game and so intense. We played our hearts out. We were ready for it. We played our game and had a good game.”
Cresenti led the Golden Eagles with 63 goals and 18 assists this season. Shane Kathe finished with 22 goals and 43 assists. Cresenti, Kevin Eikeland, Ryan Steele and Jeremy Gottardo were all-NILAX selections.
“It was good to finally get one,” Bigler said.
Jacobs’ junior-varsity squad won the NILAX JV title and finished the season with a 16-1-2 mark. The JV team is coached by Matt Smith.
Bigler noted teams in the league are ones that have not yet signed emerging sport agreements. When that occurs, teams would move into the Illinois High School Lacrosse Association (IHSLA). The sport of boys lacrosse is close to becoming an IHSA-sanctioned sport. Bigler said all Fox Valley Conference members except the two Woodstock schools have boys lacrosse club teams.