In round one of the CCS playoffs, the M-A boys lacrosse team faced off against the Serra Padres. The game was tightly contested, but the Bears pulled out an 11-8 victory and are moving onto the next round of the playoffs.
The game started off close with goals from junior Peter Koren and senior Tyler Atkinson. With four minutes left in the first quarter, the Bears were up 2-1.
Koren scored his second goal of the game with just 12 seconds left in the first quarter, quickly followed by junior Jack Kryger winning the ensuing face-off and converting a brilliant solo goal as the buzzer sounded, giving M-A a 4-1 lead into the second quarter.
The second quarter went back and forth as both teams started to leave it all on the field. The Bears’ defense and goalkeeper had some big stops and saves to keep the Bears in the lead. However their efforts weren’t enough as the Padres cut the lead down to just one goal with 2:50 left.
Koren completed his hat trick with 40 seconds left in the half, giving the Bears a comfortable 5-3 lead at halftime.
The second half started with the Bears winning the face-off. Both teams stayed persistent on the attack and on defense for the first five minutes of the second half. The Padres first found the back of the net, but the Bears responded with a goal from sophomore Colin Kryger with seven minutes left in the third quarter, making the score 6-4.
Junior Mikey Sanford scored a goal after making a miraculous catch and slotting it past the Padres goalkeeper, increasing M-A’s lead back to three goals. The Padres scored a goal as the clock expired in the third quarter making it 7-5 going into the fourth.
The Bears won the first face-off of the fourth quarter which was shortly followed by a goal from Colin Kyrger. He scored another goal two minutes later, putting the Bears up by four goals.
The Bears were then put under pressure as Serra pushed to find a way to cut the Bears lead down. Sophomore goalkeeper Oliver Yuk came up with a massive save with just eight minutes left in the game. The Padres’ attack persisted and paid off as they scored a goal making the game 9-6 with the Bears in the lead.
A Padres defender got a two minute penalty after a hard hit, allowing the Bears to go up one man. M-A capitalized on this with a goal from junior Calvin Annison.
With three and a half minutes left, the Bears had the game back in their hands as Koren scored his fourth goal of the game, making it 11-6.
The Padres had one last push for a comeback, scoring a goal that cut the Bears lead down to 4. However, despite another Serra goal with under a minute left, it was not enough to make a comeback. The game ended with an 11-8 Bears victory.
The Bears will prepare to face the Saint Ignatius Wildcats tomorrow in the next round of the CCS playoffs.
