Lake Monsters Claim CHILL Winter Series Title with Dominant Finals Win

The Chicago Indoor Lacrosse League (CHILL) crowned a new champion this winter, as the Lake Monsters took home the CHILL Cup in convincing fashion. In a rematch of last summer’s final, the Monsters flipped the script and delivered a commanding 10–4 win over the Alley Rats to capture their first league title.

After finishing the regular season with a strong 6–2 record, the Lake Monsters entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed. In the semifinal, they faced a gritty Shamrocks squad and battled their way to a tough 6–4 victory — setting the stage for a heated rematch with the reigning summer champions.

The Alley Rats, who posted a 5–3 regular season record to earn the second seed, found themselves in another tight semifinal , barely edging past the Chicago Handshakes to earn a shot at back-to-back championships.

But this time around, the Lake Monsters were ready.

They came out fast in the championship game, building an early lead and never letting go. With a lead at halftime, the Monsters maintained pressure and kept the Alley Rats on their heels. Led by a lockdown defensive effort and timely scoring, the Monsters controlled the pace throughout the second half.

Defender Neil Orr earned Championship Game MVP honors, tallying two goals, one assist, and anchoring a defense that shut down one of the league’s most explosive offenses.

With the win, the Lake Monsters etched their name on the CHILL Cup and avenged last summer’s defeat in style. They now stand as the Winter 2025 CHILL Champions, and with summer on the horizon, there’s already buzz around a potential trilogy matchup between these two powerhouse squads.