Trevians Claim Third Straight Field Hockey State Title

New Trier field hockey players secured their third consecutive state title on Saturday, Oct. 31, with a 2-0 victory over Lake Forest. The match took place at Glenbrook North High School. This win marks the 19th state championship for the Trevians, seven of which have occurred over the last eight seasons.

The Trevians entered the season ranked No. 5 nationally by Max Field Hockey. They finished the campaign with a 25-1 record. Their only defeat came against Oak Knoll Academy in New Jersey, a nationally ranked program. The team recorded 19 shutouts in a 26-game schedule, allowing just 11 goals total. In the final 12 contests, opponents scored only twice.

Coach Brittany Romano has led the program since replacing Stephanie Nykaza in 2024. Romano designed a difficult schedule featuring top state and national teams to prepare the squad for the state tournament. She stated that the team's motto was "Prove It," a directive to show they deserved their national ranking rather than relying on past results. Romano noted that the senior class consists of ten close friends who have played together for years.

Senior Kayla Chudgar, who committed to the University of Pennsylvania, scored both goals in the final. She opened the scoring in the second quarter with a shot from a short corner. Chudgar added the second goal in the fourth quarter by shooting a loose ball into the net. Romano credited Chudgar and the other nine seniors for their sustained effort throughout the year. She described the group as fun-loving and hard-working, noting that their joy was a key component of the team's success.

Senior middle defender Libby McCalla, a recruit for Villanova, emphasized the defensive structure that limited opponent scoring. McCalla said the defense relied on communication and conservative positioning. She noted that the team made smart passes and took calculated risks without overcommitting. The Trevians also defeated Glenbrook North twice during the season, having beaten the 2023 state champions in regular play.

Seven senior players will continue their careers in college field hockey. In addition to Chudgar and McCalla, Caroline Dellin will attend Indiana University and Grace Borgman will attend Brown University. The team returns starting goalie Lina Alberts and center Claire Halasz, a University of Michigan commit, for the next season. Romano said replacing the departed seniors will be challenging, but the younger players learned valuable lessons about work ethic from the class of 2026.

The Trevians will begin preparations for their next season with the returning core group. The program maintains its status as one of the strongest in the state with a deep roster and established coaching strategy.