‘Best game in years’: New Trier lacrosse exercises playoff demons against Loyola

Beating your biggest rival, especially in the postseason, is a special feeling. But when you oust a program that’s sent you home four seasons in a row, a victory becomes catharsis.

New Trier boys lacrosse conquered its greatest foe Friday night, defeating Loyola Academy 6-4 in the sectional finale. The come-from-behind triumph gave the Trevians their first sectional title — and first postseason win over the Ramblers — since 2019.

“I’m so thankful to have a rivalry like this,” New Trier head coach Adam Dickson said. “We haven’t won this game in four years but every single year you know you have this matchup. You know you have to be better than them and that’s it’s going to be a special game.

“Tonight was the best game I’ve been a part of in years. This was a battle. I would have said that no matter the result. Both defenses played incredibly. That was a lot of fun.”

Game script

Loyola jumped out to an early 1-0 when sophomore Alex Mancini buried a goal 80 seconds into the game. But the Trevians answered moments later when junior Walker Chessen scored an early goal of his own.

The Ramblers got back in front with just over four minutes left in the quarter thanks to a goal from James Farrell. It took New Trier until late in the second period to get even. Senior Hans Huber knotted the score with just under five minutes left in the half.

New Trier’s lead was short lived as Loyola roared back less than a minute later. Farrell’s second goal put the Ramblers back on top with a 3-2 advantage that held into halftime.

Both team’s defenses shined in a third quarter that saw just one goal and few scoring opportunities for each side. But a Loyola attack that resulted in a shot that hit the post led to a crucial Trevians transition.

It was Huber who then stepped up once again, burying the game-tying goal on an assist from Finn Degroot.

New Trier’s defense squashed a couple of huge chances for the Ramblers late in the third as Loyola could not convert on two back-to-back Trevians’ penalties that ultimately gave Loyola a brief two-man advantage.

The pivotal fourth then became the game’s turning point. The Trevians opened the frame with an unassisted goal by Jake Carrasquillo 30 seconds in.

But the Ramblers showed they weren’t done yet. Two minutes later, Loyola’s senior leader Tommy Ghislandi found the back of the cage to level the score.

Pivot

It was the Trevians though who took over the contest from there. Huber once again delivered the moment New Trier needed, scoring a brilliant unassisted goal to put the Trevs in front for good. The senior’s third of the night turned out to be the game-winner for the Trevs.

“I wasn’t really thinking I was going to go to the cage but one of their defenders overplayed one side and I took a step to the middle and rolled and put one far pipe and it went in,” Huber said, adding that scoring the go-ahead score was a feeling of “pure adrenaline.”

Freshman standout midfielder Ben Sullivan then put the finishing touches on the Trevians’ conquest, scoring a goal with just under two minutes to go that ultimately proved to be the deathblow to the Ramblers.

“Scoring that goal was insane,” Sullivan said. “I couldn’t even process it. I’ve been playing my whole life for a moment like that and it finally happened. I knew I would score a goal in the clutch like that and against Loyola is as great as it gets.”

The Trevians outscored Loyola 3-1 in the decisive fourth, flipping the script on a game where they trailed on three separate occasions.

“I felt like we were getting good possessions early on, just maybe not the greatest shots,” Dickson said. “Their goalie was playing really well, so for us it was kind of a matter of time. … Stay with the system, stay with what you’re doing and just kind of trust yourself and that (the goals) are going to eventually go in.”

The two teams combined for 21 goals when they faced off earlier this season in April — a stark difference to the 10 tallies that occurred in the sectional final.

“We tried to take away everything on their transition,” Loyola head coach Rob Snyder said. “They scored five transition goals against us last game, so we tried to take that away (tonight).”

Snyder noted that the Ramblers struggled clearing the ball, particularly late in the final quarter, while also adding that the team’s inability to convert the several man advantages proved crucial.

“We just couldn’t score on offense,” Snyder said. “We had our opportunities. We had plenty of chances. … They fouled a bunch, but we didn’t take advantage.”

But despite the outcome, Snyder expressed his admiration for the team’s season.

“I’m really proud of these guys,” he said. “No one gave us a chance this year. Everyone thought it was going to be a huge rebuilding year. We lost a lot of guys and were extremely young.”

Loyola’s roster featured only eight seniors, Snyder noted, adding that the Ramblers will return nearly their full attack next campaign.

The Trevians’ quest for their first state title since 2019 now continues with a supersectional matchup on Tuesday, June 3, against Glenbard West in Hoffman Estates.

But for now, the group is enjoying every second of their postseason run.

“We haven’t been here in a while but we’ve earned it and enjoyed every step of the way,” Dickson said. “I told the guys before the game that it’s a privilege to play with this kind of pressure and this kind of environment, so we’re very lucky we get to go on and do it again.”

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