Seniors save the day and their night

SCHODACK — In its 5-year program history, the Maple Hill boys’ lacrosse team has never won a Senior Night contest, let alone achieved a non-losing record. But that all changed Monday when the team rallied back in the fourth quarter to edge Lee (Mass.) 11-10.

Down 9-5 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Wildcats (8-5, 5-4 Wasaren League) scored four quick goals to tie the game at nine, not a third of the way through the final period of play. “It’s our last home game, so we just wanted to make it memorable,” said senior goaltender Kyler Randall.

The leading Section II goalie in saves (199) along with the Maple Hill defense weathered a potential game-altering situation in the final 30 seconds after they were forced to play a man down due to a slashing penalty.

“I’m sure it was enjoyable to watch from the sidelines. From a coaching, standpoint it was a little stressful,” said coach Kyle Randall. “It was a lot of fun and a great way to send our seniors out.”

All of the team’s final five goals were scored by seniors. First, Cole Cioffi scored to make it a 2 goal game 9-7 with 10:01 remaining. Then, Nick Morris added a two more which tied that game at 9 with 8:01 to play.  To finish, Ben Sherwood netted a pair of his own and put the Wildcats up 11-9 as the clock indicated 6:21 remaining.

Lee’s Tag Ross turned the game into a nail-biter with 2:31 remaining, cutting Maple Hill’s lead to just one (11-10). But the Wildcats would prevail.

🎥 @MH_Athletics lacrosse celebrating after the nail-biting win pic.twitter.com/qR3yz3y1zC

— Dylan Rossiter (@ByDylanRossiter) May 8, 2017

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“I tell these guys all the time; You’re a good team, and when you start playing and working together you can do anything,” the coach went on to say. “Boy, that was a good game! I’m just glad we came out on top.”

With three games remaining in the regular season Maple Hill is guaranteed to finish at or above .500, ending the program’s history of losing seasons.

STATS:
Lee High School (MA)
Name Goals Assists Saves
Tighler Andrews 0 0 12
Robert Caratenuto 1 0 0
Caleb Kollmer 2 1 0
Connor Parkinson 2 3 0
Tag Ross 3 0 0
Brady Whalen 0 1 0
Homer Winston 1 0 0
Maple Hill
Name Goals Assists Saves
Chase Cioffi 0 1 0
Cole Cioffi 3 0 0
Nick Morris 3 1 0
Kyler Randall 0 0 19
Seth Roberts 2 2 0
Ben Sherwood 2 1 0

-Dylan Rossiter – @ByDylanRossiter – [email protected]