Evanston Falls to Loyola in Third-Place Game
Evanston High School's field hockey team finished its season with a 16-8 record after a 2-0 loss to Loyola Academy at the state tournament.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Hockey
Evanston High School's field hockey team lost 2-0 to Loyola Academy in the third-place game of the Illinois High School Field Hockey Association state tournament, a day after a 3-0 semifinal loss to New Trier. The team finished the 2026 season 16-8 overall and reached the Final Four for the second time in program history.
Why it matters
The Final Four appearance matched the team's 2023 fourth-place postseason showing and marks a second trip to the state semifinals in program history. The results give Evanston a benchmark for the program's recent postseason standing within the state.
Evanston's defense allowed one goal on nine of ten corner attempts in the loss to Loyola, while the team did not record a shot on goal until the fourth quarter. New Trier has beaten Evanston three times this season, all by shutout, and the source does not detail the cause of the team's offensive struggles.
The players
Evanston High School
A public high school in Evanston, Illinois, whose field hockey program reached the state Final Four for the second time in its history this season.
Loyola Academy
A Catholic college-preparatory high school in Wilmette, Illinois, that defeated Evanston 2-0 in the third-place game.
New Trier High School
A public high school in Winnetka, Illinois, that defeated Evanston 3-0 in the semifinals and has beaten the Wildkits three times this season.
The details
Against New Trier, Georgia Burne scored the only goal of the first half before Natalie Paul and Burne added second-half goals to complete a 3-0 win. Evanston's defense held Loyola to one goal on corner restarts, with Evie Holstine credited with four blocked shots and a steal.
Timeline
2023: Evanston reached the Final Four for the first time in program history.
Thursday, October 29, 2026: Evanston lost 3-0 to New Trier in the semifinals.
Saturday, October 31, 2026: Evanston lost 2-0 to Loyola Academy in the third-place game.
Season Trajectory
Evanston's 2026 Final Four run matches its 2023 fourth-place finish, placing the program among the state's recent postseason contenders. The team's three losses to New Trier this season, all by shutout, show that the rival program remains the benchmark for Evanston's competitive ceiling in the North Shore conference.
Evanston's season ends at 16-8, with the program's postseason record now including two Final Four appearances in its history. Fans tracking the Wildkits' future should note that the source provides no details on the 2027 schedule or roster.
The takeaway
Evanston's Final Four run is the program's second in history and matches its 2023 result, showing consistent state-level competitiveness. Readers following high school field hockey can track the program's next season for signs of whether the team can close the gap with New Trier.
Further reading
For more on the sport, see Hockey coverage across Evanston and the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Evanston RoundTable.
