Senior Max Strong was among numerous Riverside Brookfield High School lacrosse players who had waited years for this moment. In their St. Rita Sectional opener, May 21, the Bulldogs were on the verge on beating Brother Rice for the first postseason victory ever in four seasons as a varsity program.
They relished the 19-0 victory.
“I think that’s the greatest margin RB has ever won by, so we were pretty ecstatic,” said Strong, among several four-year and multi-year varsity players. “The first playoff win in RB history. That’s what our goal has been and we accomplished that by a pretty big margin. Instead of being super-focused on winning, you get to have more fun. It gets you more fun with your friends.”
The Bulldogs (11-7) lost their sectional semifinal to Downers Grove co-op 18-1, May 26, but achieved their best season, considering the playoff victory and comparison to the 2024 11-6 record with a more competitive opponents.
“That (sectional victory) was great. That was our major goal for the season,” RBHS coach Joe Urbanski said. “Our goal every year is to get double-digit wins and win a playoff game. The guys were super pumped up and super excited.”
An all-state linebacker in football, Strong hopes to play football and lacrosse at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.
This also was a great sendoff for Joe Urbanski, who took over as head coach when the seniors were freshmen. Urbanski has taken a job at Minooka High School.
“I just hope that (our players) understand that when we play our best lacrosse we can run with just about anybody,” Urbanski said.
“We were trying to have a good last dance but I think we left the program definitely in a better way than when I started,” Strong said. “Now it seems like we have an idea and set plan and are able to execute enough to win a playoff game.”
LTHS boys lacrosse
Senior Colin Kultgen scored a remarkable shot as time expired Friday to lift the Lions past St. Ignatius 4-3 in the St. Rita Regional final. The Lions played Neuqua Valley in the Lockport Super-Sectional Tuesday for a berth to the state semifinals Friday at Hinsdale Central.
Kultgen was defended running right of the goal and then falling yet his scoop shot from the 4-yard line somehow found the goal. Senior Tommy Rokicki, whose crease movement helped to re-position the goalie, scored off Kultgen’s pass with 1:34 left to tie the game at 3. Kultgen, who scored the Lions’ first two goals, also had the game-winner as they edged Downers Grove co-op 3-2 in overtime in Thursday’s semifinals. The Lions scored the last four goals to rally past Mt. Carmel 9-6 in the quarterfinals May 26.
Girls lacrosse
The LTHS girls reached the Marist Sectional semifinals before losing to the host RedHawks 14-7 May 28. Hinsdale Central defeated Marist for the sectional title. The RBHS girls lost to Jones 14-4 in their sectional opener May 21.
“I would consider our season a resounding success. There was so much improvement team-wide and I think the players feel really good about what we were able to accomplish too,” first-year RBHS coach Elise Husemann said. “We ended the season with two wins that were both hard fought for and all-in-all, we played every game with the same high energy and motivation.”
Key Bulldogs included Kaitlyn Cline (38 ground balls), Tali Schultz (23 goals) and Ele Caballero, whose all-field play consistently caused turnovers and knockdowns.
LTHS girls soccer
The Lions already were inspired entering the 3A Downers Grove Sectional semifinals by having to play top-seeded rival Hinsdale Central. Having junior Carolina Capizzi and senior Grace Lanspeary only motivated the No. 5-seeded Lions more. Capizzi, the team’s No. 2 scorer behind senior Caroline Mortonson, hadn’t played since May 9.
“Having (Capizzi) back helped us a ton,” said Lanspeary, a starting outside defender. “She really helped our defense and gets back every time and does great. She helps us up top, too.”
Capizzi even scored the game’s first goal with an assist from Mortonson but the Red Devils rallied with two second-half goals to defeat the Lions 2-1. No. 3 York beat Hinsdale Central (19-6) for the sectional title Friday.
“We played awfully hard and pretty well for almost the entire game. They were very good and got the better of us the last 15 minutes of the game,” LTHS coach Bill Lanspeary said. “Wish we could have had that last 15 minutes back and change a couple of things but very proud of the team for giving it everything they had.”
The Lions (10-10-1) won five of their last seven games after a 2-6-1 start. They came from behind to beat No. 4 Fenwick 3-1 for their 12th straight regional title but the first in that streak by beating a higher seed. When LTHS lost to Hinsdale Central 2-0 April 29, the Lions’ record was 3-7-1.
“I think the first game we were kind of nervous because it’s our biggest rivalry of the year. The second time we knew what we were getting into. We adjusted our positioning,” Grace Lanspeary said.
Mortonson, who will play at Miami (Ohio), had a team-high 15 goals and 12 assists and was named all-state for the third straight year. Mortonson, all-sectional Capizzi (8 goals, 9 assists), goalie Anna Bigenwald and midfielder Avery Lusk were all-conference. With an inexperienced varsity lineup, the Lions lost to five sectional champions and seven regional champions.
“This team stepped up to the challenge of our schedule, never got down on themselves or each other, and really stuck together to become the best team we could be,” Bill Lanspeary said.
Grace Lanspeary, the daughter of Coach Lanspeary, is among just a handful of seniors. Learning to play with each other, and even overcoming a lice incident, helped the team bond and progress.
“It is very emotional for me,” Grace Lanspeary said. “Since I’ve been young, I’ve watched this team and (my father) coach for years and wanted to play on the team.
“The last 2½ years I’ve had him as a coach and I’m grateful and grateful to have played my last years with him. Very sad and happy and all of the above about it, but it’s sad to see it end.”