So close.
The Chicago Hounds’ dreams of making it to the Major League Rugby championship game were dashed on June 21 at they lost to the two-time defending champion New England Free Jacks 21-20 in the Eastern Conference final at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, Mass.
The Hounds led 17-0 in the second half, but the Free Jacks made the biggest rally in MLR playoff history to pull off the win.
New England’s Kyle Ciquera scored a seven-point try in the 78th minute put his team ahead for the first time in the game. But the Hounds had a chance to win in on the final play of the game. However, Chris Hilsenbeck’s penalty kick was no good.
As an interesting side note, seconds before Hilsenbeck’s dramatic attempt, the ESPN2 feed went out, leaving rugby fans frustrated and MLR officials scrambling.
“Major League Rugby production experienced an unfortunate technical failure at the conclusion of the Eastern Conference Finals that resulted in the inability to broadcast the thrilling end on our national broadcast on ESPN,” MLR said in a statement.
“Major League Rugby expresses its most sincere apologies to our fans and we are committed ensuring such and error does not occur again.”
Tim Swiel scored a try in the 11th minute for the Hounds while Hilsenbeck converted. Hilsenbeck added a penalty goal in the 18th minute to put Chicago up 10-0 at halftime.
Noah Brown opened the second half with a try in the 43rd minute and Hilsenbeck converted. Hilsenbeck booted another penalty goal in the 61st minute.
Shorthanded Stars fall
The Chicago Stars had a hefty list of injured players who could not make it on the pitch at Portland on June 21 including star goalie Alyssa Naeher (upper extremity injury), backup goalie Mackenzie Wood (lower leg), Ludmila (concussion protocol) and Jameese Joseph (lower leg).
Heading into the match, Ludmilla led the team with four of the team’s 10 goals and Joseph was a tri-leader in assists with two.
While Chicago held Portland to no on-target shots in the first half, the shorthanded Stars fell 1-0 in an NWSL and their record slipped to 1-9-3.
The Stars and NSWL will take a long international break and Chicago will host Gotham at 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview in the next NWSL game.
Before that, the Stars will take part in the first Teal Rising Cup July 12 and 15 in Kansas City.
All-Staters
Several local baseball and softball players received all-state honors from the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association and Illinois Coaches Association.
In Class 4A baseball, Richards senior Sean Cody was named to the first team along with Brother Rice sophomore Brady Cunningham, junior Braydon McKendrick and senior Gavin Triezenberg; Nazareth seniors Jaden Fauske and Landon Thome; and Mount Carmel junior Jacob Matsie.
In Class 3A, sophomore Jimmy Benson and junior Mickey Lotus were first-teamers for state champ St. Laurence.
In Class 4A softball, Marist senior Gabi Novickas and Shepard senior Kailey Selvage were first-teamers. St. Laurence freshman Demi Lotus made the Class 3A first team.