By Joey Gelman

After falling in the city championship last season to Whitney Young, a rematch against the Dolphins in the 2024 title game was all that the Lane Tech Champions wanted heading into the year.

“We’ve had them in the back of our minds…. I’ve had them in the back of my mind for a year now…. We wanted to come out of the gates wanting it more,” said Ben Sanders, starting goalie for Lane Tech.

And started out fast they did, as Lane Tech jumped to an early 2-0 lead thanks to early first-quarter goals by Nico Valentino and Zachary Newman to start the championship game, culminating in a 7-2 victory to bring the title back to Lane.

“We had a great game plan against them earlier this year and we wanted to make sure we didn’t take them for granted,” Valentino said. “We knew what they were going to bring against us offensively and defensively.”

The first quarter ended with a 3-1 score, as Young’s Braedan Prentice brought the Dolphins back into the game midway through the quarter, before Lane’s William Morgan had one of the more impressive goals of the night, a wrap around behind the back goal to take a two-score lead into the second quarter.

While Lane Tech surrendered a goal to Young in the second quarter (Miles Baarsma – 5:26), it was the last goal the Champions would allow as their offense kept the pressure on throughout the rest of the game, while their defense did not let up a goal in the second half.  

William Morgan, Newman and Valentino led the offense behind their stout defense to the title. 

Valentino, a senior heading off to play at Centre College, had a career day in the most important game of the season. The senior totaled four of the seven goals his team scored to capture the championship.

“I was just having fun out there, my teammates were helping me, setting good picks, moving the ball, we were playing as a team today and it was awesome,” Valentino said.

“It’s expected of him… he’s going to college to play lacrosse for a reason” Sanders added.

And first-year head coach Quinn Cashion could not praise his senior star anymore as well.

“Nico had a special day, he really did, he had a great day… 4 goals… oof…. One of them just absolutely blew my mind,” he said. “He’s just a joy to watch every day and a joy to lead this group. He’s been on this team four years and to just watch that guy have a performance in that moment that he really deserved. It was awesome. He deserved that moment, and I’m glad he showed up in it.”

Newman added a second goal in the fourth quarter for good measure.

It was not just the offense that starred for Lane Tech, as it was Sanders in goal that set the tone. Sanders, who only started playing lacrosse as a sophomore, began his career as an attacker on junior varsity. However, when a spot opened up on varsity last season, the only open spot was at goalie, and he took a chance.

Having now grown into this role, Sanders shined in the biggest spotlight during the championship, keeping his team with a comfortable lead through his shutout performance in the second half.

“Last year I was disappointed in how I played,” Sanders said. “ I went back to the lab, got a lot of work in over the year and it showed up on the field… There’s no better feeling, can’t end any better than this, city champs.”

Cashion could also not let up with the praises for his goaltender. 

“Ben played phenomenal today… he played the game like he knew he was saving every ball, he had zero doubt he wasn’t going to save every shot,” he said. “He’s grown into a leader… watching him have this performance and grow into himself all year has been amazing.”

Lane’s success in 2024 could not have been accomplished without the veteran leadership on the team. While this season is the first for Cashion as a head coach, the team he took over was comprised of 17 seniors that were pivotal in Lane’s title run.

“Having 17 guys that knew what it felt like to lose this championship and now what it took to be here, they wanted this more than anything this year,” Cashion said. “They are a joy to coach, I couldn’t have wished for it any more for these 17 seniors, they’re a really great group.”

And while the season continues with the IHSA State Playoffs, Valentino is proud of the legacy he and his fellow seniors have left at the program.

“Leaving it better than we found it, that is all we wanted to do and it is awesome to be able to do that.”

Photos by Hannah Henderson/OSA