Watching a once-commanding lead slip away in the final minutes of a game is like pulling teeth. Especially when that team is your arch rival. And especially when that team is 2-13.
Heading into the final two minutes of action against Vernon Hills in the Sectional semifinal, the varsity girls lacrosse team had watched a 7-4 differential shrivel into a one-point lead. With Vernon Hills in possession of the ball, it seemed as if the Cougars owned all of the momentum.
But the LHS defense, however, led by senior Katie Piazzi, refused to let VHHS take any easy shots from that point on. Senior Molly Toohey stole the ball with 1:15 remaining in regulation, which appeared to take the momentum back.
The tide turned again only 15 seconds later. A penalty on Toohey forced her to temporarily leave the net, and it appeared that Vernon Hills would be able to close the gap and send the game into overtime. On the penalty, Toohey was foced to leave the net and run to the goal from the sideline. This gave Vernon Hills several seconds to get a shot on goal, without Toohey being there.
Once again, Libertyville’s brutish defense saved the day. Vernon Hills missed an opportunity to make an empty-net goal, and the Cats came away with a win.
Few things have been easy for the Cats this year. Lacking varsity experience, and being demolished by injuries, the Cats still managed to scrape together a 6-6-1 record.
“This has been a roller coaster year,” coach Dana Brady said. “We had more new players than returning, so it’s been kind of a rebuilding year. It has been successful, though. Our setbacks were a lot of injuries. I’ve never been hit this hard by injuries. But it’s given an opportunity to a great sophomore player, Ginger Yen.”
Libertyville’s focus coming in to the game was mainly on the offensive end. They knew that making good transition passes, as well as passing to avoid fatigue, would be crucial if they were to come away with a victory against Vernon Hills.
36 seconds into the game, Libertyville sophomore Olivia Mayer netted a goal for Libertyville. This was her first of three Thursday night.
For the next nine minutes, Libertyville held Vernon Hills scoreless. In that time, the Cougars took only one shot, and it missed badly.
At the 15:09 mark of the first half, Vernon Hills scored their first goal, tying the game at one apiece.
After more scoring from each team, it appeared as if the Cats would take a solid two-goal lead into half time. A shot that squeaked by Toohey with 18 seconds remaining, though, cut the Cats lead in half, and Vernon Hills trailed by only one at the break.
Each offense found its groove early on in the second half. Vernon Hills tied the game at the 23:28 mark. But then Libertyville went on a 3-0 run, and the Cougars offense went dormant.
Senior Gina Filippo ignited the run with a goal at the 22:10 mark. She followed up her first goal with a second seven minutes later. What appeared to be a bad pass by Filippo over the head of a teammate somehow found its way into the back of the net.
The third goal, this one scored by Mayer, was equally bizarre. A pass from behind the net bounced off of her stick, sending defensive players scrambling to get the loose ball. The ball, rolling around on the ground, managed to sneak past Vernon Hills’s goalie, giving Libertyville a comfortable three-point edge.
Realizing the dire straits they were in, Vernon Hills picked up their play at both ends of the field.
On the defensive end, the Cougars shut down the Cats offense. The Cats did not score in the remaining 13 minutes of the game.
Offensively, the Cougars scored back-to-back goals, cutting the LHS lead down to one.
After a missed opportunity for an empty net goal with one minute remaining, the Cougars were not able to score the tying goal, and Libertyville took the win.
“In this particular game, I would have to say defense was the most crucial element. Vernon Hills improved dramatically since our first game against them, and their offense was quick and aggressive,” Toohey said. “We did a good job crashing and sliding on defense, and switching the field. At the same time, our plays on offense were strong and affective.”
On Monday, May 26, the Cats defeated Palatine 10-6 and will play in the State Semifinals on Wednesday, June 1 at Hinsdale Central at 5:00 p.m.