White and red flooded the field as McLean boys varsity lacrosse prepared to honor their seniors. Red, black and white balloons marked their entrance and proud families filled the stands.
“Tonight is a district tournament game, and while we want to take care of that, we also want to honor these guys that have been here for a while, some of them all four years,” assistant coach Chris Cutler said.
But this was no ordinary senior night. The celebration coincided with the game just after a close loss to their eternal rival Langley. This game against Marshall was expected to be a bit easier than the tough matchup the week before, providing them an ability to regain their momentum.
Following a beautiful ceremony for McLean seniors, the Highlanders prepared for the matchup. The Highlanders took no time at all to gain momentum, and after a long build up, sophomore attacker Christian McNiell buried the ball into the net to give McLean a 1-0 lead.
They didn’t just stop there though, as junior attacker Max Mullen sunk one in the back of the net after another long buildup making the score 2-0. Not too long after that, senior defender Isaac Bell snatched the ball and passed it to senior attacker Bryce Kojac for a third Highlander goal.
The Highlanders continued to play stellar defense, not allowing a single goal so far, and taking as many chances as they could to push up and get shots themselves. After a timeout by the Statesmen with a minute left in the first quarter, the Highlanders capitalized with multiple close shots, but nothing fell causing the first quarter to end at 3-0 McLean.
The Highlanders came out firing in the second, with goals from Kojac and Isaac Bell among others bringing their total to 7 with 5 minutes left in the period. Mullen hit a behind the back rocket into the back of the net, marking an impressive run from the Highlanders.
A delayed penalty on Kojac did not change the Highlanders dominance, and sophomore midfielder Galder Maull put one in from the crease. Another Highlander interception with 30 seconds left in the quarter led to a goal by junior midfielder Landon Moore, smashing the post on its way into the back of the net. The half ended 10-0, with McLean dominating.
The Highlanders continued to dominate on offense with Kojac netting two goals in the first two minutes of the half. McLean was creating numerous shots and preventing any from Marshall, and another goal by Moore put the score at 13-0 with two minutes left in the 3rd.
Both teams were very passive to start the fourth quarter, with the first goal coming with not more than five minutes left in the game by Maul, his second of the game.
“The team looked good, the defense looked good,” McNeill said. “If we keep working as a team and playing through the offense, creating more chances, good things will come.”
After a huge hit from sophomore defenseman Jake Bell with only seconds left in the game leaving a Statesman down on the turf, the players were instructed to return to their benches and the game was called, with the final score being 14-0 for the highlanders.
For some, this win was just one more stellar seasonal performance, but for others, this win meant much more to them.
“It feels good to win but it’s sad that this is the last home game,” senior goalkeeper Hugh Hancock said. “Hopefully we can get some more in the playoffs.”
The team plays three more games before the playoffs start, and most of the players feel as though they have what it takes.
“I think we’re ready,” McNeill said. “We just have to work hard in practice, take it day by day, attack our opponents and go to work.”
