Oak Park and River Forest High School’s girls lacrosse team is off to an impressive start this season, with seven wins and just two losses at press time.

The team’s success has been driven by strong performances across the field. Senior captains Caroline Mann, Kelsey O’Brien, Patterson Grant, Hannah Simon and Harper Thompson are all leading by example. 

“I work…hard as a captain to show everyone on our team how much they are capable of doing, how important each role is and how much we can accomplish together,” said Simon.

On April 14, the Huskies beat their crosstown rivals, the Fenwick Friars, with a final score of 14-7. This game was dominated by Grant, who won the “Big Dog Award” for her outstanding performance on the field with her grit, positivity and determination.

Junior Tess Cronin said, “Beating Fenwick was great. Our team was able to work together, communicate and execute our game plan well.”

So far, the Huskies have shown their versatility in their playing style, from aggressive offense to coordinated defense. Their ability to adapt during games has been key to their early success. 

Head Coach and mathematics teacher James Borja said, “They truly want to work together and win together. Our defense and offense complement each other very well.”

Borja has about 20 years of experience coaching, eight of those being at OPRF, coaching the girls’ team. “Once the head coaching position opened up…I jumped at the opportunity,” he said.

This year, the team is in a unique position with 14 seniors who are in their final year on the team. “[It’s] been helpful [for] the fast start…we more or less start[ed] from where we left off last season,” said Borja.

However, the team is still focused on building up their freshman/sophomore and JV levels to ensure the talent and skill level stays on par for years to come.

Currently, the team is ranked 8th in the state, being “by far the most skilled team I have coached,” said Borja.

Among those skilled players are Simon, Thompson and O’Brien, who are all Division 1 lacrosse commits. They will attend San Diego State University, Wagner College and Akron University, respectively. 

 Simon said, “…we’re all passionate about what we are doing and the challenge in front of us, it makes us work to be our best.”

Grant agreed, saying, “I am very grateful to have such [an] amazing group of people who push me every day and help each other improve both as players and people.”

A huge factor in their success is the team’s camaraderie. All of the players share an extremely strong bond both on and off the field, translating to seamless communication and trust during games. 

 “We banter like siblings but continue to compete and challenge each other during practice so we can be the best versions of ourselves as players,” said Grant.

Whether it’s executing plays, supporting each other through tough moments or celebrating their victories, the team is a united front.

“Playing with these girls over the years has just solidified our amazing relationship. On and off the field, I feel like I can go to my teammates for anything,” said Cronin.

As the season progresses, the Huskies are keeping their eyes on the bigger picture: a long run in the playoffs. With a team full of experienced seniors, a dedicated coaching staff and a culture rooted in teamwork and accountability, they’re sure they will keep their momentum.

Borja said, “I just want the players to keep improving and challenging themselves.  If they do that, the wins and playoff success will be a byproduct of that…they want to play hard for each other.”

Simon agreed, hoping that “this year’s team can make it far in the playoffs and show off the amount of talent we have on the field.”