ETHS Parents and players. Below you will find information on: Program News, Drill Of The Month, Parent Committee, Meet The Coaches, and Team Resources.
Program News:
With tryouts behind us, teams are set for now—but remember, we are one program. Effort and performance will continue to create opportunities for players to move up or down throughout the season. Stay focused and keep working hard!
Season Opener Recap
Varsity kicked off the season against a strong Lake Forest team, falling 0-10. Despite the score, there are plenty of positives. The defense held strong, and starting goalie Omar Pryor made some excellent saves against one of Illinois’ top teams. Offensively, we’re still ironing things out, but the foundation is there. This group has the potential to develop into a highly effective unit, and we’re excited to see it all come together.
Unfortunately, Varsity’s second game was canceled due to weather. Meanwhile, JV was leading 7-0 against Grayslake North before storms forced the game to be called early.
Spring Break Reminder
Spring break is here, but the work doesn’t stop! Players, keep your stick skills sharp and stay in shape—we hit the ground running when we return.
Upcoming Games
📅 Wednesday, April 2 – Varsity & JV vs. Chicago Latin (Home)
JV: 5:00 PM | Varsity: 6:30 PM – Lazier Field Memorial Stadium
📅 Thursday, April 3 – Fr/Soph vs. Stevenson (Season/Home Opener)
4:45 PM @ West Field Memorial Stadium
📅 Saturday, April 5 – Varsity & JV vs. DePaul Prep (Home)
JV 10:00 AM | Varsity: 12:00 PM – Lazier Field Memorial Stadium
Enjoy the break, stay ready, and we’ll see you back on the field soon!
Follow our new team Instagram @ethsblax for updates, highlights, and more!
Go Kits!
Drill of The Month:
Parent Committee:
Introducing the ETHS Boys’ Lacrosse Parent Committee
We’re excited to launch the new ETHS Boys’ Lacrosse Parent Committee, a group dedicated to fostering a positive and supportive culture for players, families, and coaches. This year, we’re focusing on two key initiatives:
Team Parents at Each Level – Helping with organization and logistics to support coaches, players, and families (no lacrosse experience needed!).
Varsity - Nina Allocco (Tommy / Ryan / Johnny) & Jenny Ball (Emmett)
JV - Molly Aceves (Diego) & Joyce Anderson (Hank)
🥨 Sign up to help with Team Snacks
⏰ Volunteer for the Game Clock
Freshmen - Looking for volunteers! Contact Coach Geron if you’d like to help
EYLA Community Lacrosse Day (April 26th) – Planning a special event during the boys’ games to celebrate and grow the lacrosse community. If you’d like to help out, contact Molly Aceves to get involved.
We’d love your ideas and support if you’d like to get involved in any other way. Reach out to learn more.
Molly Aceves - heffern4@aol.com
Nina Allocco - allocconina@gmail.com
Joyce Anderson - joycecanderson@gmail.com
Jenny Ball - jen.ball@comcast.net
Meet the Coaches:
Michael Strening - Assistant Fr/Soph Coach
My name is Michael Strening Jr, this is my first year teaching at ETHS. Prior to this I was teaching in CPS and Glenview. I was also the head JV Boys Lacrosse Coach at Loyola Academy for 10 years. I’m excited to be at ETHS. It’s truly a special place.
1. What inspired you to start coaching lacrosse?
They started the lacrosse program at Loyola Academy during my senior year, but I didn’t start playing lacrosse until my freshman year at the University of Kansas. I fell in love with the game playing club lacrosse. Two incidents informed my decision to start coaching. First incident: one of my teammates at KU had played for Evanston, and he would go into great detail telling me how bad the Loyola Academy lacrosse team was. I thought to myself, if I ever get a chance to help Loyola’s lacrosse program I’ll do it. Second incident: during my first summer home from college I went to play a men's league game with friends from Loyola Academy. They were a year younger than I am and so they were in Loyola Academy equipment. I was in my KU equipment. The gentleman leading the men’s league, who was the head coach at GBN, mocked my friends, commented on how awful Loyola Academy lacrosse was, and stated that they would not be allowed to play in the game. He told them to go home. He would not allow them on the field to play because of his perceived opinion of Loyola Lacrosse and my friends’ abilities. My friends went home. I decided at that moment that if an opportunity came up to coach lacrosse, and specifically at Loyola Academy, that I would take the position. The first spring after I graduated from college the head varsity coach at LA offered me the JV job and I took it. I fell in love with coaching immediately. It has been a while since I’ve coached lacrosse, but I am absolutely thrilled to be coaching lacrosse again, and to be doing it at school like ETHS
2. What's your favorite memory from playing or coaching?
I have 2 different types of memories from coaching. I have “Field Memories” and “Life Memories”. Favorite “Field Memory” #1: my players defeating Lake Forest my first year coaching after losing to them earlier in the season. What made the victory important was the fact that the LF players, in defeating us earlier in the season, had mocked my players for trying to use both hands, dodging to their weak hand, and openly supporting their teammates verbally when they made a mistake. To watch my players defeat LF by utilizing skills that were still in development the first time we played filled me with pride, because my players had worked hard at skill development and had formed real, and supportive friendships with each other. Also, as a corollary to this, when we lost to LF the game was close, when we defeated LF the game wasn’t close. “Field Memory” #2: watching many of my former JV players play in the State Championship year after year and then move on to play in college. Many of those players had stick skills that were in a state of extreme development as freshman. Favorite “Life Memories”: having my former players update me on their lives and their enduring life friendships with their former lacrosse teammates.
3. Favorite player/coach?
Mike Feuer, former Head Varsity Coach at Loyola Academy, the man who guided me into coaching and teaching.
4. Favorite book or movie? Why?
I don’t have a favorite book, but I have favorite authors: F. Scott Fitzgerald and James Baldwin. They're’ my favorites because their work encapsulates the enduring framework of the United States: the struggle around race, class, and immigration.
Anything else?
Hey, I’m also a professional musician and composer. If you enjoy solo piano music for relaxation I’d be honored if you checked out my music!
Team Resources:
Information:
Newsletter Archive 2024/25:
If you have any questions, comments, or updates please feel free to reach out! Your participation in this will only improve the quality of the newsletter and our program’s culture.
Coach Fournie | ETHS Boys Varsity Coach | Fournier@eths202.org
Austin Curtis | Assistant Varsity Coach | acurtis@truelacrosse.com