York Defeats New Trier 3-2
Matthew Lizak scored the biggest goal of his career on Sunday, October 6, as York shocked previously undefeated New Trier Green 3-2 at the North Shore Ice Arena in Northbrook for the Dukes’ first win of the season.
“I just (shot) it six inches of the ground and found the back of the net,” said Lizak, a senior in his first season on the school’s top varsity team. “It was amazing; the team came out to play. We were ready and focused, just gave it our all. Hopefully, this game will be a building block for the rest of the season.”
York certainly needed the W after opening Scholastic Hockey League play with five losses, including four at home.
“I thought we came out really hard, with more energy than any other game (this season),” said York goalie Jack Brown, who faced 28 shots. “We weren’t going to give up and this (win is a) big jump for us, a big confidence-boost that, yes, we can beat the top teams.”
York hasn’t defeated New Trier Green since 2021 and of course the Dukes have not forgotten their back-to-back losses to the Trevians at the United Center in the 2023 and 2024 state championship finals.
The Trevians fall to 6-1.
“The boys needed this one,” York head coach Matt Boeing said. “We’ve played good in games this season … today we played great. This was the first time this season when I saw the team come out ready to play.”
New Trier struck first, when Keegan Rowean scored off a centering pass from Connor Hirschtritt with 5:13 remaining in the first period.
It was 1-0 Trevians after the first and it wasn’t until late in the second period when the Dukes answered. Andrew Papadopoulos scored from the left side past Wyatt Schmidt, assisted by Gavin Brown and Jack Ciannella.
“We were able to respond,” Boeing said. “The kids today just believed in themselves, from the start of the warmup through the end of the game.”
Brown stopped a slew of Trevian shots throughout, including a Rowean shot late in the second from pointblank range.
“This win is huge for the kids,” Boeing said.
Right defenseman Kai Ouyang gave the Trevians a 2-1 lead with 15:02 remaining in regulation time. His wrist shot from the right side, just inside the faceoff circle found the upper left corner, past Brown.
“That was a really nice play, nice goal,” by Ouyang, said New Trier head coach Adam Cheris. “He had a ton of space (to skate in from the blue line) and just wired it (into the goal). He is a very talented player.”
Luke Composono tied the game, 2-2 with 8:36 remaining, assisted by Drew Gami.
Lizak scored the game-winner with 7:35 left in the third.
“That was a pretty intense,” final minutes to secure the victory, Lizak said.
Brown said that the final moments before the Dukes’ bench flooded the ice to celebrate were “really nerve-racking.” He added, “I was really locked in,” after Lizak’s goal.
The Trevians nearly tied the game about 20 seconds after Lizak’s goal when a shot from the left eluded Brown, but simply clanked off the right goal post. Brown after the game admitted, “I didn’t see that shot.”
Brown did catch a prime scoring chance from a Jack Hirschtritt shot in the slot with about six minutes left to play.
“York never stopped working. That’s what they do. We know that’s their identity; we expected that, but let them beat us. They just wanted it more than we did, for sure,” Cheris said. “We had a few chances to extend the lead but didn’t – and that always comes back to haunt you.
“This is a wakeup call, the kick in the rear that we need to understand that, if we don’t show up, we’re not winning.”
York cannot celebrate too much as the Dukes play host to Loyola Gold on Monday, October 7, in Addison. The Trevians are next in action Thursday, October 10, against Carmel in Vernon Hills.