By Michael Wojtychiw

The sport of girls lacrosse isn’t that old in the Chicago Public League.

In fact, it has only been a championship sport since 2018. In seven of those eight years a championship was held, Lane Tech came out on top as champion.

Then, in 2022, Payton did two things that nobody had done in CPL history: not only did it hand the Champions their first-ever loss to a CPL program, it also became the first program other than Lane to win the championship.

The two teams would meet again in 2023 with Lane taking back the title, and possibly not shocking to anybody, the two schools were back on the field at Rockne Stadium Thursday playing for the city championship yet once again.

The Grizzles came out on top yet again, taking down the Champions 9-7, and had some extra motivation this season.

“Their Instagram post didn’t sit well with us,” Payton’s Gabi Conforti said. “They said we weren’t a rivalry. And we really wanted to change that and show them what they are.”

“We had a few additions in our senior class this year,” Payton coach Sarah Kotnik said. “Some of them came in and picked up the sport for the first time and absolutely crushed it. Everybody is a team player and they all work together.

“We have some superstars who make sure everybody feels like a superstar. It’s a team aspect.”

However, it didn’t seem like it would be the Grizzlies’ night at first.

The Champions (10-8) got off to a fast 3-0 start, just five minutes into the game, scoring on three of their first five possessions of the game. Katherine Walling, Olivia Ruby and Gigi Winston provided the early firepower for Lane.

But that’s when the Grizzlies (8-6) would slowly make their comeback.

Anabel Seiler’s free-position goal was the only other tally for either team in the first quarter, but her tally cut the lead to 3-1.

The second quarter was all Payton.

Asha Lulla cut it to 3-2. Conforti tied it at three just 10 seconds later, with 7 minutes, 37 seconds left in the first half. Natalia Ryszka gave the Grizzlies a 4-3 lead with 5:45 remaining before Lane’s Gwen Ryan ended her squad’s over 14-minute scoring drought with 4:21 left in the first half.

Goals by Conforti and Ryszka made it 6-4 at halftime.

A big reason for the Grizzlies’ success throughout the entire game was the draw. The Grizzlies won 14-of-20 draws Thursday evening.

“Our group is solid and work well together,” the coach said. “They know where the ball is going to go, so the people on the outside are able to set up in an advantage type of way. They know where to go once the ball goes up. They’re sneaky with it.”

Conforti, a senior who transferred to Payton from Lincoln Park before her junior season, led the Grizzlies with four goals, two each in the second and fourth quarters.

“It really came down to setting picks and making cute,” she said. “I love to drive, that’s really my thing, but it came down to settling down, looking for those open shots.”

The Grizzlies’ win was a big change from their loss to Lane earlier this season.

On April 15, Lane defeated Payton 14-7, something that stuck in the Payton players’ minds.

“We really wanted to make up for that game,” Conforti said. “That game (in April) didn’t show how well we could play.”

If things continue as they have, who knows…maybe there IS a girls lacrosse rivalry brewing in the city.

Photos by Hannah Henderson/OSA

Photos by Zara Linneman, Whitney Young senior