New Trier midfielder Aidan O’Neill has been friends with fellow seniors Kevin Farina, Ian Vichnick and Liam Myers since they were in elementary school.

But they hadn’t played high school soccer together until this season, when Farina’s recruiting of O’Neill finally paid off.

“I’d played academy for five or six years,” O’Neill said. “Kevin did a lot of talking with me. Playing high school is something I’ve always wanted to do, and my senior year was just the right time in my career.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to win a state championship and be a part of this program.”

O’Neill did both this season. The Northwestern recruit led the Trevians in scoring, and he recorded an assist in their 3-1 victory against Lyons in the Class 3A state championship game in Hoffman Estates on Nov. 4.

It’s the third state title in program history for New Trier, which also won in 2006 and 2008. It came in the Trevians’ first appearance at state since 2009, when they lost to eventual champion Lyons in the semifinals.

“The brotherhood is just incredible,” O’Neill said. “Having hundreds of alumni who have played on NTHS before fly in for this game and watch our playoff run on livestream and send us messages of good luck and playing in front of all your friends and family, there’s nothing like it.”

The Trevians fielded a talented cast of players. Those include Vichnick, a midfielder who has committed to Carleton, and Myers, a defender who has committed to Bowdoin. Myers and Farina, a defender, are co-captains.

But O’Neill, who had team highs with 20 goals and nine assists, was the leading man.

“He’s definitely a playmaker,” junior midfielder Cole Driscoll said. “He’s a leader on the field and off the field. He leads by example but also by talking, so he’s a big part of making sure we’re always staying focused and locked in throughout the game.”

The Trevians (23-1-2) were locked in during both games at state. They avenged their only loss of the season by knocking off Glenbrook North 2-0 in the semifinals on Nov. 3 and then quickly took control against Lyons (20-7-2), which had ended Naperville North’s 25-game unbeaten streak.

Vichnick got things started by taking a pass from junior midfielder Gabe Yoder and launching a 30-yard shot inside the right post at the 27:37 mark of the first half.

“The buildup was great. The start was awesome,” Vichnick said. “We moved it around, and it was coming, whether it was from me or anyone else up top. It was a promising start and great way to start the game.”

The Trevians struck again four minutes later on a counterattack. O’Neill led a three-on-three break with sophomore forward Calyx Hoover to his left and Driscoll on his right.

After dribbling for more than 40 yards, O’Neill saw Hoover may have been in an offsides position, so he slotted a pass to Driscoll, who buried a 17-yard shot for a 2-0 lead.

“When they ran that throw-in play, they put a lot of numbers forward, so we knew if we were to win the first ball and be able to dig out the second ball, that we could go,” O’Neill said. “I got on the ball and turned, and it was a three-on-three.

“Calyx was on for a little bit, but I wanted to drag further to drag the center back toward me. Then Cole started screaming my name, and I slipped it to him, and he put the ball in the back of the net.”

Driscoll didn’t hesitate when he received the ball, taking one touch before shooting.

“It was special,” Driscoll said. “I knew I was open, and I knew he would obviously get the ball to me because he’s just got really great distribution. Then I just put my head down, and I hit it.”

The play was typical for O’Neill, who has shown a mastery of creating for others and also taking advantage of his own scoring opportunities.

“I just try to get on the ball as much as possible and try and just make plays from my position,” O’Neill said. “Our team obviously does a great job of finding me or using me as a distraction to find another player.”

Farina, who is the youngest of four brothers to play for New Trier, refused to be distracted after intercepting a pass in his end. He raced nearly 70 yards up the middle of the field, blowing by several defenders like the forward he once was, before slotting a shot under Lyons goalkeeper Tyler Balon to make it 3-0 with 27:02 left in the second half.

“My whole life, I was a striker,” Farina said. “I moved to center back my junior year of high school, but before that I was a striker.

“My first touch was big when I intercepted the pass. No one was stepping, so I kept going forward, and then I wanted to score really bad. I was never passing that ball. I was taking it all the way.”

Farina always thought the Trevians could go all the way this season, especially after O’Neill decided to join the team.

“I’ve been playing with Kevin and Ian and Liam for a while,” O’Neill said. “We were on the same team six or seven years ago, but actually being on their team this year has been really fun.”

The ending was the best part.

“I couldn’t have imagined it any better,” O’Neill said. “The memories that I’ve made this season I will keep with me for the rest of my life.

“Beating Evanston two times in one year, beating GBN in the semifinals, all those memories and moments with these guys, I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. I’m truly grateful for the experience.”

Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.