Hinsdale Central kicked off their 2018 boys lacrosse campaign with the annual Red vs. White scrimmages Saturday afternoon at Dickinson Field. The Devils, ranked #6 in the state preseason rankings, return 8 starters from a strong 2017 season and have their eyes set on a possible state finals run in 2018. Hinsdale Central High School will host both the boys and girls state championships on May 31-June 2, 2018 in the inaugural year of Illinois High School Athletic Association sponsorship of lacrosse.

HCHS returns their entire offensive attack unit for the 2018 campaign. Lead by senior Jack Crews, the leader in points, with 31 goals and 16 assists in 2017. Crews will be joined by University of Tampa (D2) commit Peter Madden (35 goals, 4 assists in 2017) and DePauw University (D3) commit Danny Karbowski (8 goals, 10 assists, team lead 44.44% shooting percentage in 2017). The trio of seniors will be expected to carry the scoring load in 2018 as the junior class attackmen, Drew Azinger and Keaton Donahue, adjust to varsity play.

The middie unit will be bolstered by returning senior starters Jack Nastas (13 goals, 9 assists in 2017) and Lucian Dipofi (4 goals, 5 assists, 56.35% face of winning percentage in 2017). They will get support from returning varsity contributors in Parker Bailey (Jr.), Ben Crain (Sr.) and Joe Northey (Sr.). Newcomers to the varsity unit, Charlie Kapp (Sr.), Jack McCarter (Sr.), Donny Martin (Sr.) and Tate Renner (Jr.) will be expected to add valuable depth. Sophomore Owen Hare will split time at face off, providing a one two punch with senior Lucian Dipofi.

Capi Pang (Jr.) and John Thompson (Sr.) will battle it out at the goalie position, as they did in 2017. Each started approximately half the games in goal for the Devils during 2017 and had identical save percentages. Experience in the goal will serve the Devils well during the 2018 campaign.

Once again, the Devils will field one of the best defenses in the state of Illinois. Lead by two time returning starter at LSM, senior Robbie Kress (78 ground balls in 2017) and two time returning starter at close defense and Dartmouth College (D1) commit Jack Cain (Jr.), the defense will be tough to penetrate. Joining Cain and Kress on the defensive end will be returning varsity members Conor Donlevy (Sr.) and Michael Loughlin (Sr.). Depth will come from Alex Zuaiter (Sr.), Grant Niestrom (So.) and varsity newcomers Matt D’Aprile (Jr.) and MJ Cook (Jr.).

The boys open the season on Wednesday, March 14th at home against Highland Park. An early season clash with always tough Naperville Central follows on Tuesday, March 20th at home before the squad heads to Casa Grande, Arizona for spring training. There they will face Oregon power house and defending state champion West Linn, Air Academy and Fairview High School from Colorado, and Minnesota state semi-finalist Bloomington-Jefferson.

Once home, the Devils will battle it out in the West Suburban Conference. The WSC is the only conference in the state with three top ten ranked teams in Glenbard West (#4), Hinsdale Central (#6) and Lyons Township (#8), with York just outside the top ten.

Visit www.hchsboyslax.com for more team info and to get the up to date scope on the season, stats, photos and schedules. Go Devils!