Hinsdale Central's Ariana Tavoso, right, scores as New Trier's Lilly Wallace, left, and Kennedy Meier defend during the girls lacrosse IHSA championship game at Hinsdale Central High School Saturday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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.
Hinsdale Central's Emily Brankin steps between New Trier's Brooke Ross, left, and Ellie Bornhoeft and scores during the girls lacrosse IHSA championship game at Hinsdale Central High School Saturday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
New Trier players raise their first-place trophy during the girls lacrosse IHSA championship game at Hinsdale Central High School Saturday.
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Hinsdale Central players react to their overtime loss to New Trier during the girls lacrosse IHSA championship game Saturday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Hinsdale Central's Chloe Vande Lune draws contact from New Trier's Kennedy Meier, left, and Elly Bornhoeft during the girls lacrosse IHSA championship game at Hinsdale Central High School Saturday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
New Trier's Kennedy Meier celebrates a goal during the girls lacrosse IHSA championship game at Hinsdale Central High School Saturday. Hinsdale Central's Tessa Howe is the player to the left.
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New Trier's Grace Curry, left, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime, celebrates with her teammates during the girls lacrosse IHSA championship game at Hinsdale Central High School Saturday.
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New Trier's Anna Seftenberg, left, leads the way as the Trevians celebrate their victory over Hinsdale Central during the girls lacrosse IHSA championship game in Hinsdale Saturday.
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Lincolnway Central's Savannah Berner looks for an open teammate as she goes against the defense of Lake Forest's Fran Pezza, right, and goalie Juju Hunt during the girls lacrosse IHSA third-place game at Hinsdale Central High School Saturday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Lincolway Central's Erika Ho scores as Lake Forest's Lissy Blume, middle, and Caroline Keil defend during the girls lacrosse IHSA third-place game at Hinsdale Central High School Saturday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Lincolnway Central's Elyse DeFrank scores against Lake Forest during the girls lacrosse IHSA third-place game at Hinsdale Central High School Saturday.
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The ball is jarred loose from Lincolnway Central's Savannah Berner on a play defended by Lake Forest's Carly Kisselle, left, and Fran Pezza during the girls lacrosse IHSA third-place game at Hinsdale Central High School Saturday.
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Lincolnway Central's Erika Ho celebrates a first-half goal against Lake Forest during the girls lacrosse IHSA third-place game at Hinsdale Central High School Saturday.
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Lake Forest's Caroline Keil, left, and Lissy Blume sandwich Lincolnway Central's Kayley Palmer during the girls lacrosse IHSA third-place game at Hinsdale Central High School Saturday.
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Lincolnway Central's Kayley Palmer scores against Lake Forest goalie Juju Hunt during the girls lacrosse IHSA third-place game at Hinsdale Central High School Saturday.
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Lake Forest's Kate Kaptrosky scores against Lincolnway Central during the girls lacrosse IHSA third-place game at Hinsdale Central High School Saturday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com