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Girls Lacrosse: O’Grady, Hinsdale Central advance in state tourney
Hinsdale Central's Amy O'Grady controls the ball, during the Red Devils' supersectional victory over Glenbrook South May 23. | Mike Ellis photo
Updated: July 6, 2012 8:48AM
Making a return trip to the state tournament was definitely a goal for the Hinsdale Central girls lacrosse team this season.
When the goal became a reality, junior Amy O’Grady was thrilled for her team.
“It was exciting,” O’Grady said of Hinsdale Central’s 13-12 win over Glenbrook South in the Hinsdale Central Supersectional on May 23. “At the beginning of the year, everyone talks about getting to State and getting to the semifinals, but I’m proud of the way we went at it all season. We really put everything into each game. We kept the vision in the back of our minds, and it all came together. The season has gone by so fast, and it’s a surreal feeling to make State again.”
Hinsdale Central (16-3), ranked No. 3 by laxpower.com, will face a difficult task in its pursuit of reaching the championship game for the second season in a row when it takes on No. 1 Loyola in Naperville on Wednesday. The winner will play either No. 2 New Trier or No. 4 Lake Forest in the championship game at Northwestern University on Friday.
Loyola beat Hinsdale Central 15-3 in last year’s state final.
The Red Devils beat Glenbrook South 12-8 on April 9, but the rematch on May 23 came down to the final seconds. Trailing 13-12, the Titans (15-7) were awarded a penalty shot with 10 seconds remaining in regulation. But they were unable to get a shot off due to a suffocating Hinsdale Central defense, which sealed the victory.
“Like anyone, I was nervous, but I have a lot of confidence in my teammates, whether it’s the beginning of the game or the end,” O’Grady said. “I was confident the defense would stop the shot. It was an exciting game. They put up a good fight. We didn’t overlook them, but early on we knew the game wasn’t going to be handed to us. It was an exciting game to play in.”
O’Grady (4 goals, assist, 3 draw controls), Jacquie Edwards (4 goals, 5 draw controls), Kate Christian (2 goals, assist), Chelsea Boyle (2 goals) and Anne Richter (goal, 2 draw controls) led the way for the Red Devils, who beat Stevenson 18-8 in the Oak Park-River Forest Sectional final.
