'We're just ecstatic.' Kentucky crowns state lacrosse champions
Lexington Catholic overcame an early four-goal hole and kept Henry Clay at bay long enough to walk away with a 13-11 victory in the finals of the Kentucky Lacrosse Association Commonwealth League tournament at Frederick Douglass High School on Saturday.
Catholic ended Henry Clay's three-year streak of championships with the win. It was the fifth time in the last six seasons and the third straight year that the two Lexington powers met for the title; Henry Clay defeated the Knights, 7-6, in overtime each of the last two seasons.
Carson Craig, a mid-fielder, was named MVP of the finals.
Lexington Catholic won a 9-2 decision at Henry Clay in rainy conditions last month. The Knights faced a 4-0 hole after the first quarter but outscored the Blue Devils 5-1 in the second to even things going into the second half. Catholic scored three straight goals to begin the third quarter and held Henry Clay scoreless for nearly 17 minutes of game time. The Blue Devils pulled to within one goal multiple times in the fourth quarter but never got closer; a dagger with 14.1 seconds left by star senior Spencer Kriss, Lexington Catholic's valedictorian, sealed the deal for the Knights.
"Championship games are always wild," Catholic Coach Matt Campbell said. " ... This senior class is something special and they pulled it out, and by no means is that an easy feat, coming back from two overtime losses in a row and to keep it in regulation? We're just ecstatic."
Campbell noted the heart Henry Clay showed after losing starting keeper Connor Haney to a knee injury in the first quarter. Haney, who was in a brace and on crutches for the remainder of the game, said his knee buckled and he would get a diagnosis later.
There are two high school boys' lacrosse leagues in Kentucky. Lexington Catholic is part of the Kentucky Lacrosse Association Commonwealth League, which is comprised of schools outside of the Louisville area.
The Kentucky State Lacrosse League is comprised of teams in and around Louisville. St. Xavier defeated Trinity, 12-4, for the state title on Friday.
Game highlights
This story was originally published May 19, 2018 at 10:44 PM with the headline "'We're just ecstatic.' Kentucky crowns state lacrosse champions."