The New Trier boys lacrosse team has ended an amazing season by winning state.
On Saturday, May 31, the Trevians took on Loyola in the state championship game at Hinsdale Central, defeating the Ramblers by a final score of 9-8. Loyola was ranked number one in Illinois and the Trevs were ranked number two, having lost to Loyola earlier in the year by a final score of 8-6. The Trevians were down almost the entire game until the last two minutes, when senior midfielder Matt Solberg scored to cut the deficit to 8-7 Loyola. The Trevs then won the draw and junior midfielder David Hammes scored to tie the game at eight with eleven seconds left in regulation, forcing the game to go into sudden death overtime. Two minutes into overtime, Solberg scored, clinching a 9-8 victory for New Trier.
This is the first time the Trevs have won the state championship in the past two years. In each of the last two state finals, New Trier lost to Loyola. The teams now have ten state titles each; next year there will be a battle to get number eleven.
The Trevians had a hard fought season this year with a very difficult schedule. They played rivals Loyola and Lake Forest and had three out- of-state trips to Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana where they played some of the top teams in the Midwest. The Trevs also got the opportunity to play Culver Academy, the number two team in the country. Although they lost 18-9, it was Culver’s closest game since their trip to Maryland earlier in the year. After a terrific season the Trevs end the year with a record of 18-7 and the title of state champion.