WESTERN SPRINGS – One can’t come much closer to the state quarterfinals than Lyons Township’s girls water polo team – nor have a much brighter future.
An 8-7 loss against Mother McAuley in the LT sectional finals May 13 narrowly denied the Lions’ bid for a fourth state trip, but a great 2017 should be a preview of things to come.
“I’m really confident that everyone can keep building on their skills,” LT freshman goaltender Grace Wantuck said. “We’re only losing two of our players [seniors Anika Moore and Victoria Guevara], so we’ll be able to get stronger and better over the offseason.”
The Lions (27-6) overcame an early 3-0 deficit to pull into a 4-4 halftime tie against Mother McAuley. Fourth-quarter goals by Kaysie Stuba (three in the match) and Rhyan Komsthoeft (off a Hanna Good pass) put LT up 7-6 with 2:27 left, but McAuley scored twice in the next 34 seconds for the win.
“We had one of the most successful seasons we’ve had in a few years, probably in my eyes since that 2010 [state title] year,” LT coach Lauren Burel said. “Even though we’re not going to state, we were able to play with those top teams and be a contender.
“And we have a young group that really progressed far from the beginning to where we finished. The last time we played [McAuley] we lost 11-8.”
Moore, Guevara and Olivia Ohm all scored for the Lions, and Wantuck was sensational in goal, making five great saves in the second quarter to help LT rally.
“It’s the best feeling in the world every time you block the ball,” Wantuck said. “Once I started I was excited to be on varsity, but I knew I had a lot to work on. Over the season I got better at blocking and passing, and everything kind of grew to this.
“We’re all family here. [This season] was about the bonds we made much more than wins.”