Wildcats Girls Lacrosse Team Off To Final Four

As the daughter of Warren High School girls volleyball coach Julie Filippo one might expect Gina Filippo to concentrate on that indoor sport. And the senior did her part on a very successful Libertyville volleyball squad last fall.

However, she's not playing volleyball in college. Rather, she's found another sport to concentrate on.

Filippo is off to Augustana College next year to play lacrosse. And now on her lacrosse resume could be listed the tale of how her Libertyville squad made it to the Final Four in the state.

Filippo had a hat trick in the 13-8 win on May 23 over Lake Zurich.

"She just never stops,'' said Libertyville lacrosse coach Dana Brady. "She won't tell you when she needs a break. She just never gets hurt. She's one of those rare kids who can pick up a sport so fast. She's just a natural athlete."

The IHSA may not recognize this growing sport yet but the IHSWLA is going ahead with its state tourney this week. And Libertyville will be there come Wednesday night.

Libertyville (12-6-1) has a tested goalie in Molly Toohey. Also some talented players like Hope Nishimoto, Meghann Stelzer, Katie Piazzi and Olivia Mayer but it was not widely expected that this team would reach the Final Four in the state.

Coach Brady played on the first Libertyville lacrosse team back in 1997.  She's naturally delighted to see the program come so far.

"We've grown and we take it seriously,'' Brady said.

She made it clear that so many deserve credit here from the school to the club teams and lower level coaches.

The march to the state tournament began on May 19. The Wildcats nipped neighbor Vernon Hills 7-6.

"That was a tough game,'' Brady said. "The girls didn't pull together right away."

Mayer had the hat trick in this win. Filippo added two goals. Toohey made 12 saves in goal.

In the win over Lake Zurich, Nishimoto joined Filippo with a hat trick.

The 10-6 win over Palatine on May 25 clinched the trip to Hinsdale. Brady applauded the work of Piazzi on defense.

"Palatine had a lot of ball movement,'' Brady said. "We had to quickly adjust around the eight meter mark. Katie pulled the girls together and told them how to fix it. The girls had so much fun in this game."

Mayer joined sophomore Ginger Yen in scoring three goals each.

"We pulled Ginger up from JV,'' Brady said. "And my players were so accepting of her. That was super."

The Final Four consists of Libertyville, St. Ignatius (14-4), Loyola Academy (19-2) and Hinsdale Central (14-6).