Loyola Girls Lacrosse Wins 17th State Title, 21-3

Sixty-five seconds. That's all the time Loyola Academy needed to start their march toward a record-breaking state championship.

Junior Kathleen Devine opened the scoring in the Illinois girls lacrosse state finals at Hinsdale Central High School, launching what would become a historic 21-3 victory over York. The Ramblers built a stunning 10-0 lead in just over eight minutes, triggering a running clock for most of the game.

The win marked Loyola's 17th state title and head coach John Dwyer's 16th championship. It also gave Dwyer his 550th career win, cementing his legacy in Illinois high school lacrosse.

Four players scored at least three goals, with Devine and Jillian Rocchio leading the offensive explosion. The team's depth shined through as 10 different players found the net throughout the game.

The 21 goals set a new state championship record, surpassing Loyola's own previous mark of 18. The 18-goal margin of victory also shattered the previous record of 12.

This championship came exactly one year and one day after a heartbreaking 8-7 state finals loss to New Trier. The team used that disappointment as fuel, dedicating their entire offseason to ensuring history wouldn't repeat itself.

The Ripple Effect

Loyola didn't just win big on Saturday. They dominated Illinois competition all season, going 16-0 against in-state teams while posting a 17-4.5 average score across all 26 games.

The Ramblers' success came against one of the toughest schedules in the country. Their only four losses came to top-ranked teams from Ohio, Virginia, and two elite Washington D.C. programs.

Six Loyola players earned first-team All-State honors from the IGLCA, showcasing the program's depth and talent development. The junior-heavy roster suggests more championships could be on the horizon.

York's appearance in the finals marked their first-ever state championship game, a milestone achievement for the program despite the lopsided result. The Dukes finished with an impressive 21-4 record and gained invaluable experience competing at the highest level.

The championship capped off another dominant season for a program that has appeared in 26 state finals since 1997, winning 17 and finishing runner-up nine times. Since the IHSA took over lacrosse administration in 2018, Loyola has claimed four state titles in just eight seasons.

Five seniors celebrated their final game in Rambler uniforms, including goalie Mary Jane Bukta and Prairie Weber, who scored her first and only goal of the season in the championship victory.

The future looks bright for Illinois girls lacrosse, with programs like Loyola setting the standard and teams like York breaking through to compete at the highest level.