Lake Forest Girls' Lacrosse Coach Puts Onus on Players: 'At the End of the Day, it’s Their Team'

When girls’ lacrosse Coach Al Klingler decided to coach a little less and motivate a little more, the already very good Scouts became even better.

“I became the copilot and let them be in the driver’s seat,” Klingler said. “I wanted them to realize they had ownership in the game. I put it back on them. At the end of the day, it’s their team.”

Ranked fifth in the Illinois High School Women's Lacrosse Association state rankings, the Scouts take that ownership and attitude along with a 7-4 record into Illinois state tournament play at 4:30 p.m. Thursday (May 19) against Glenbrook
North at the Highland Park Sectional. A year ago, Lake Forest reached the state
quarterfinals before being eliminated.

“We all play for each other,” Scout senior goalie Caroline Curran said. “We can never do enough; we have to do more."

Curran, who hopes to play club lacrosse next year at the University of Missouri, has taken the responsibility of the driver’s seat very seriously. This is her first year as varsity goalie. She has been the sole reason for some of Lake Forest’s victories, according to Klingler.

“She’s stepped up big time. She realizes how important it is,” Klingler said. “She has improved every year I’ve known her. She has won games for us (by herself).”

Several Scouts point to their victory over Evanston earlier in the year and a close loss to Ohio state champion New Albany as major turning points of the season. Those games taught them valuable lessons for the state tournament.

“We didn’t realize until afterwards they (New Albany) were the state champs,” said senior co captain Laura Carstens, who is considering club lacrosse at Indiana University this fall.

“We learned to be good in both halves. We knew where the ball was all the time. We were ready to go,” Carstens added.

Playing an entire game and keeping an awareness of everyone around them was a common theme.

“Everyone kept each other up. Everyone came together as a team,” junior midfielder Hannah Gelderman said. “There was a lot of leadership by example,” she added, looking at Carstens. Sophomore midfielder and defender Isabelle Montagne also credit Carstens and other seniors for their leadership.

“The leadership of the seniors, especially our captains has been very important,” Montagne said. “They show us the way."

When the Scouts downed Evanston, 15-6, on May 9, the lesson was sweeter because it came with a victory. The players realized they played one of their best games of the season including a mastery of moving the ball toward their opponent’s goal. They said that part of their performance had been lacking.

“Our transition game was up,” Gelderman said of the victory over Evanston. “We moved it (the ball) up and they (the Wildkits) were ours. We need to apply that (to the upcoming state tournament).”

“We never let up,” added sophomore attacker about defeating the Wildkits.

Klinger attributed the win to broadening his players’ perspective during a game.

“They’re starting to see the whole field. They’re making the extra pass and win the draws,” Klingler said. “The games feel like we have the momentum we need to have to win.”

Klingler also believes defensive improvement, particularly from Gelderman and Montagne, has raised the Scouts’ level of play.

“She’s one of our stronger midfielders, she plays defense and takes draws,” Klingler said of Gelderman.