The Metea Valley/Waubonsie Valley co-op varsity girls lacrosse team hosted Naperville Central in a high-energy conference matchup that also doubled as Senior Night on Wednesday night. While the Mustangs put up a strong fight in front of one of their biggest home crowds of the season, they ultimately fell short in a close 8-7 loss.
The game carried added significance, as it marked one of the final home appearances for Metea’s senior players. For senior Milena Williamson, the atmosphere made the night unforgettable.
“I feel like we felt a lot of adrenaline. At least for me, I was nervous to take on a conference game,” Williamson said. “Also, Senior Night had the biggest crowd yet, so the thought of a crowd got us hype.”
From the start, the Mustangs matched Naperville Central’s energy. Both teams exchanged goals in a back-and-forth first half, with Metea holding strong on defense and capitalizing on scoring chances. At one point, the Mustangs even took the lead, showing grit and teamwork. However, things began to unravel late in the game.
“For three quarters, it was all fight,” Williamson said. “But, eventually, I think we got frustrated and didn’t work as a team when we needed [to] most. The outcome was not what I hoped for, but being able to play for one of the last times in my life was worth it.”
The loss brings Metea Valley’s season record to 6-6 overall and 1-2 in conference play. The team has remained competitive throughout the season, averaging 12.3 goals per game and scoring 147 total goals while allowing 123. Key contributors include #2 Ella Guzaski, who leads the team with 42 goals, and #4 Sophia Morgan, who has 13 assists.
Despite the tough loss, the Mustangs still have time to bounce back with several games remaining. The team continues to show strong chemistry, something Williamson says has been built through shared experiences.
“This season, the team means a lot,” she said. “We’ve been through many different challenges this year, and being able to stay together has been the best part. My favorite memory would be the time we made a candy salad and customized our pants. It was super fun!”
As the postseason nears, the team looks to regroup and finish strong. The Valley lacrosse team will be looking to end their season on a high note when they hit the road to play Nazareth Academy on May 12 at 4:30 p.m. If their performance Wednesday night is any indication, they’ll continue to play with heart and give every opponent a tough fight.
