Lyons title defense starts

Updated: May 9, 2011 6:58PM

Defending its state championship will hardly be a cakewalk for Lyons when the playoffs begin this week.

Lyons went 35-0 last season to become the first public school to win a state title. But Lyons knows what it must feel like to be the Chicago Blackhawks, who tried to defend their Stanley Cup title with many relatively new faces.

“We are a completely different team this year. People don’t understand that. They think we are just as good as last year,” said senior defender Katie Calvert, a former part-time player turned starter this season.

Lyons opens the playoffs as the top seed in the Lyons Sectional. Lyons (21-5-1) hosts eighth-seeded Riverside-Brookfield or ninth-seeded Argo at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 11. With a win, Lyons would play in the sectional semifinals at 4:30 p.m. Friday with the sectional title slated for noon Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader with the boys.

“I think we would all be nervous if we could win the sectional,” Calvert said. “We would definitely be nervous if we can get to the [state] quarterfinal.”

Lyons will seek its third consecutive sectional title in school history.

The winner of the Lyons Sectional would play the Barrington Sectional champion in the state quarterfinals at 5:45 p.m. May 19 at Stevenson. The No. 2 seed in the Lyons Sectional is Schaumburg (16-7).

Lyons defeated Oak Park-River Forest 13-3 in the West Suburban Conference tournament final Saturday in Western Springs. OPRF (13-16) had two goals from Abby Vogt and eight saves from Zoe Erickson. Lyons opened the tournament with a 16-1 win over York in the semfinals.

At Illpolo.com, Lyons ranked No. 1 in the preseason but has dropped to No. 8 to end the regular season.

Most of Lyons’ scoring has come from juniors Kirby Kaptur and Lizzy Kosin for new coach Derrick Brace.

“We have a lot of new changes, a new coach and a new team,” Calvert said. “We have a tight group of girls. This year went by so fast.”

BOYS: Lyons won the conference championship Saturday with a 14-7 victory over OPRF.

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