The ILN Contender Series highlights the top teams we believe have a serious chance to win the state title in 2025. Each installment will break down a team’s strengths, weaknesses, key players, and what it will take for them to be the last team standing at the end of the year.

Lake Forest captured the state title in 2024 carried by a dominant defense and Division 1 talent at every level of the field. What is their outlook heading into the 2025 season?

2024 Record: 22-3 (State Champions)

2024 Key Wins:

• 3/16 – Glenbard West – 10-9
• 5/4 – St. Viator – 9-3
• 5/7 – Wheaton Academy – 8-1
• 5/28 – Loyola – 7-1
• 6/1 – Glenbard West – 4/1 (State Championship)

Key Departures

• Graham Garrigan (Bucknell)
• Augie Silver (Quinnipiac)
• Oscar Kokke (DePauw)

Key Returners

• Lucas Kroner (Class of 2025 – Lafayette)
• Danny Van Camp (Class of 2025 – Yale)
• Emmet Lee (Class of 2027)
• Marty Hippel (Class of 2025)
• Jimmy Rappel (Class of 2025)

Season Outlook:

Lake Forest heads into 2025 looking to defend its state title. Lake Forest took down Glenbard West in the state final last season, riding the back of a dominant defense and goalie that held opponents to under 100 total goals on the season in 25 games, according to LaxNumbers.com. Lake Forest will look to continue limiting even the best offenses in the state and is a prime threat to repeat this season.

Scouting Report:

When preparing to play Lake Forest, the scout must begin with their defense. Last season, Lake Forest’s defense was historically difficult to score on, allowing under 100 goals in 25 games and more than two goals only twice in the playoffs, including a one-goal performance against Glenbard West in the state championship game. They accomplished their dominant defensive feats employing a 3-3 zone that was anchored by Yale commit Danny Van Camp, who gave the Scouts an imposing presence in the middle of the field. They forced outside shots that were usually no problem for Quinnipiac-bound Augie Silver. It will be interesting this season to see how Lake Forest accounts for the loss of Silver, but with Van Camp returning, expect them to look similar on defense and once again be very difficult to score on. In order to beat the Lake Forest defense, you will need to be able to move the ball and take advantage of what little space is there, and be able to get the ball on net. Offensively, Lake Forest plays a very similar style to Loyola in terms of pace and discipline, but they employ an offense that loves to set picks everywhere on the field both on and off the ball. They initiate a lot of offense behind the cage, where star 2027 Emmett Lee makes his living and will continue to do so this season. They also have midfielders who are unafraid of dodging and can beat their man in Lucas Kroner and Jimmy Rapell. Establishing possession is a must against Lake Forest, but with star LSM Marty Hippell in the faceoff circle, that is a tall task. LSMs taking faceoffs has become a bit of a staple of Lake Forest in recent years, and Hippell has proven he can hold his own against any faceoff man in the state. It will be interesting to see how Lake Forest adjusts to some of their key departures, but they have shown the ability to be flexible when need be, and with the talent they have returning, they are the preseason favorite to repeat until proven otherwise.

Why They Won’t Win:

Lake Forest’s highest priority will be finding a replacement for Augie Silver in net. Augie dominated opponents in 2024, allowing less than four goals per game across his starts. Lake Forest also graduated impactful talent at multiple positions on offense, including Graham Garrigan who was instrumental in the recent resurgance of Lake Forest to the top of the mountain. Garrigan was a four year varity player and played in three different state championship games and his leadership was invaluable and will be difficult to replace. Lake Forest will also need sophomore Emmet Lee to take another step from his freshman year and continue to establish himself as one of the premier offensive talents in the state.

Why They Will Win:

Despite graduating a star goaltender and a key leader on offense, Lake Forest still looks like the early season favorite to repeat. Coach David Hone has done a great job in his two years at the helm and will be returning star defender Danny Van Camp, in addition to Emmet Lee and Lucas Kroner on offense. Coach Hone should have Lake Forest prepared to defend their title in 2025.