The Oak Park and River Forest High School girls lacrosse team felt confident entering its sectional final at Hoffman Estates, May 30, against York. After all, the Huskies defeated the Dukes 10-9 on May 19.
Unfortunately, the rematch provided a different outcome as York eliminated OPRF with a 13-8 victory.
“If a couple of shots had gone a different way and we didn’t have a turnover here and there, it might have been a different game,” said OPRF coach James Borja. “It’s hard to beat a good team twice. We struggled with the draws, and our shooting could’ve been better.”
Patterson Grant, Kelsey O’Brien, and Violet Plotkin each scored twice for OPRF (15-8). The Huskies’ top goal-scorer, Hannah Simon, had four assists, but no goals.
Grant, O’Brien, Simon, and Harper Thompson made the West Suburban Conference All-Conference Team. Those four, along with Ella Callero, were named to the All-Sectional Team, and O’Brien, Simon, and Thompson made the Illinois Girls Lacrosse Coaches Association All-State Team.
“It was a good season,” Borja said. “There’s no doubt the effort was there.”
Fenwick/Trinity girls lacrosse
The Friars (8-10) were eliminated in a Hoffman Estates sectional quarterfinal by OPRF, May 26, 18-10.
Senior attacker Katy Berni, junior midfielder Kate Cox, and senior midfielder Sade Rucker were named to the All-Girls Catholic Athletic Red Team, with Rucker also making the All-Sectional Team. Rucker led Fenwick with 39 points (30 goals, 9 assists), Cox had a team-high 33 goals, and Berni had 21 goals and a team-high 12 assists.
Trinity (8-9) lost to Conant 12-7 in the first round of the Hoffman Estates sectional. Senior midfielder/defenders Sasha Goodman and Kate Olivo along with senior attacker Rian Smith made the All-GCAC Red Team, with Smith also being named to the All-Sectional Team.
Smith had a team-high 51 goals, Olivo 25 goals and a team-high 16 assists, and Goodman 8 goals and 14 assists.
OPRF girls soccer
Oak Park and River Forest’s Malie Cassel (7) shields the ball away from York’s Lizzy Buranakanchana (24) during the IHSA Class 3A Downers Grove South Sectional Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in Downers Grove, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal) 
Oak Park and River Forest’s Lola Zarate (18) tries to stay on her feet and control of the ball against York’s Cate Carter (2) during the IHSA Class 3A Downers Grove South Sectional Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in Downers Grove, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal) 
York’s Avery O’Brien (22) and Oak Park and River Forest’s Abby Cockerill (2) battle for control of the ball during the IHSA Class 3A Downers Grove South Sectional Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in Downers Grove, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal) 
York’s Maggie Quinn (18) tries to keep the ball away from Oak Park and River Forest’s Ana Sofia Mrotzek (10) during the IHSA Class 3A Downers Grove South Sectional Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in Downers Grove, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal) 
York’s Evie Messacar (11) and Oak Park and River Forest’s Genevieve Simkowski (13) try to gain control of the ball during the IHSA Class 3A Downers Grove South Sectional Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in Downers Grove, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal)
OPRF defeated York during the regular season, but in the Class 3A Downers Grove South sectional semifinal, May 27, the Dukes got revenge, ending the Huskies’ season with a 2-0 shutout.
“It was hard for us to get into a rhythm,” said OPRF coach Lauren Zallis. “York did a great job winning 50-50 balls. Their defending was lights-out and they made it difficult to play our style.”
Zallis thought OPRF (14-7-1) had a good season, thanks to the efforts of its 13 seniors.
“They left the program in a better place than they found it,” Zallis said. “That’s all you can ask for. I’m very proud of the team for pushing the program forward.”