Braves Win Thriller Over Guerin Catholic (B-LAX)
Brebeuf Jesuit – The Brebeuf – Guerin varsity lacrosse game lived up to being everything that it was anticipated to be. Guerin Catholic entered the contest with a record of 8-2 and ranked 5th in the state lacrosse standings. Brebeuf entered the game with a record of 5-4, having lost their last 2 games and ranked 10th in the state standings. To add to the hype of the game, both teams entered the game at the top of the Circle City Conference standings and for all intensive purposes, this game was for the conference championship.
The Braves jumped out early with 2 quick goals by junior attackmen, Aidan Itamura. Guerin ended up scoring a goal at the 5:50 mark of the 1st quarter to get on the board. The 1st quarter would end up setting the tone for how the rest of the game was going to be played, with the quarter ending in a 3-3 tie.
Will King scored the 1st goal in the 2nd quarter from a feed from defenseman, Charlie Kroot. Unfortunately, that would be the Braves only score for the quarter. Guerin dominated the 2nd quarter, scoring 3 goals and went into the half-time with a 6-4 lead.
For the 2nd game in a row, Brebeuf would come out of half-time on fire and dominate every aspect of play up and down the field. The 3rd quarter would be a defensive battle by both teams. The only score of the quarter would come from Brebeuf’s Itamura at the :27 second mark. By the end of the 3rd, Guerin would keep a hold on to the lead with a 6-5 advantage.
In the 4th quarter, Guerin scored the first goal at the 10:26 mark to extend their lead. However, the Braves would dig deep and take control of their destiny. James Foxworthy would lead the defensive charge in goal, coming up with 5 saves in the quarter, while the offense was able to find Erik Klem on the crease for 2 close-in, back to back goals, to tie the game up before regulation time ended, for a 7-7 tie.
In OT, Guerin controlled the initial face-off and would get multiple shot opportunities to win the game. To make things even worst for the Braves, at the 1:21 mark of OT, Brebeuf was assessed a penalty, giving Guerin a Man-Up opportunity to seal a win. However, as Foxy and the defense had done all 2nd half, they rose to the challenge, with Foxy coming up with 3 huge saves.
The game would come down to Brebeuf having an opportunity to win the game and finally having the ball in its offensive end for the first time in the entire overtime. Will King would have the ball in his stick at the midfield line after a quick time-out, to draw up a play. Being the senior leader that he is, Will would end up running past his defender and head straight towards the goal. In what seemed to be in slow motion, King took the 1 and only shot that the Braves would have and need for the OT, beating Guerin’s goalie stick side high. BRAVES WIN 8-7!