Girls lacrosse: New Trier takes state lacrosse title in OT
So close.
The Hinsdale Central girls lacrosse team scored a game-tying goal with 3:43 to go in Saturday's state championship game against New Trier, off the stick of junior attacker Reese Napier. That tally essentially pushed the game to overtime.
Entering the extra period, it looked like the Red Devils just might return to the winner's circle for the first time since 2018, and at home, no less.
But the Trevians had just a little more Saturday, prevailing 12-11 thanks to the game- and title-winning goal with 1:22 left in OT by senior attacker Grace Curry.
The Red Devils, which had leads of 6-2 and 9-4, finished 20-5 on the season.
"The girls fought hard, and I'm proud of them," Hinsdale Central coach Matt McNiff said. "To make it to that game with how the sport has grown ... Lake Forest is a heck of team. York is a heck of a team. Teams are getting better. Other schools are reaching out to ask how to get better. They want to increase their numbers.
"The fact we got to that game, after all we had been through, it was remarkable."
Senior midfielder Annette Ciupek led Hinsdale Central with 4 goals, while junior attacker Emily Brankin added 3. Napier, who had a pair of assists, scored 1 goal, as did junior midfielder Ariana Tavoso, sophomore attacker Parker Matthews and senior defender Ella Beargie.
But injuries played a role Saturday. The Red Devils were without junior midfielder Angie Conley, a Notre Dame recruit, and senior midfielder Lanie Randle.
"It was tough for all of us, a tough fight and we couldn't pull it off at the end," McNiff said, "but I think they realized that we had a great season."
In the third-place game, Lake Forest defeated Lincoln-Way Central 18-17.