Top-seeded New Trier takes on Evanston at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, in the state field hockey semifinals at Glenbrook North.
The Trevians have won 18 state titles, including six of the past seven, and enter as the defending champion, the Evanston Roundtable reported. New Trier advanced to the Illinois High School Field Hockey Association (IHSFHA) Final Four after defeating Oak Park-River Forest, according to a New Trier Athletics post on Instagram.
The Trevians blanked Evanston twice during the regular season, 4-0 and 5-0, according to the Roundtable.
Evanston reached the Final Four for only the second time in school history despite those regular-season losses. The Wildkits edged Glenbrook North 2-1 in the Antioch Sectional championship to earn the trip. First-half goals by Lulu Carnahan and Amelie Kaulas provided the margin. Kaulas scored the game-winner with no time left on the first-half clock.
Junior goalie Maya Samaris made eight saves.
Coach Annie Lesch's squad carries a 16-6 record and an eight-game winning streak into Thursday's matchup. The Wildkits have set a single-season record for victories. Lesch said the team is peaking after a schedule that included games against New Trier, Loyola Academy and Glenbrook North in the opening week.
"I think we're getting better every single day," Lesch told the Roundtable.
Sophomores Carnahan, Phoebe Lesch and Siena Jenio have also made major contributions this fall.
In the other semifinal Thursday at Glenbrook North, Loyola Academy faces Lake Forest. As we reported Oct. 27, Loyola won its sectional title to reach the Final Four. The third-place and championship games are Saturday, Oct. 31, at Glenbrook North.
