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Red Devils tuning up for stretch run
Hinsdale Central's Claire St. Cyr and Loyola's Molly O'Brien battle for the ball. | James C. Svehla~for Sun-Times Media
Updated: June 4, 2012 11:11AM
When Hinsdale Central made a surprising run to the state championship game last season, it was an experience no one on the team will ever forget.
That doesn’t mean the Red Devils’ 15-3 loss to Loyola in the final was easy to take.
“As happy as we were with how we played last season, it still leaves a bad taste in your mouth having to walk away with a loss,” Hinsdale Central junior midfielder Amy O’Grady said. “It’s something we want to change this year.”
Hinsdale Central (10-2) is ranked No. 3 by laxpower.com behind No. 1 Loyola (15-3) and No. 2 New Trier (14-1).
The Red Devils play New Trier May 3.
“It’s definitely been really exciting this season,” O’Grady said. “We’re improving so much with our attack and our defense. Now, it’s all coming together. The big picture is kind of emerging for us. We want to go back to State again. After losing to Loyola last year everyone has their eye on taking first this year and I think we can do it. It’s certainly not going to be easy, but I think it’s within our reach if we play the games of our lives.”
Hinsdale Central beat Lyons Township 21-14 Monday to improve to 3-0 in the West Suburban Conference.
“We’re rivals with LT kind of by default because of the rivalry between the schools historically, but I don’t think we go into the season saying we want to beat LT,” O’Grady said. “That’s probably more Loyola and New Trier, but LT puts up a good fight against us each year. We’ve had some problems where we only play half a game or only when we choose to, but this was really the first time we put it together and played well the whole game.”
Hinsdale Central beat Glenbard West 21-8 Friday, lost to No. 4 Lake Forest 13-12 in double overtime April 25 and beat Mother McAuley 20-10 April 23.
“I think we have great chemistry off the field and great skills on the field,” O’Grady said. “We’ve improved a lot from last year and we want to make it as far as we possibly can. It was a really cool experience at State last year. We kept fighting the whole way through. No one walked off the field with their heads down, because we left it all on the field and were happy with how we played. We want to go back again.”
O’Grady has 38 goals and 20 assists this season.
But she believes her leadership skills are more valuable to the team.
“I learn more by trying to teach others,” O’Grady said. “I’m always trying to help the younger players and teach them to have confidence and not be afraid or have barriers. Everyone feeling welcome and comfortable on the team is really important.”
