After lightning strikes, LexCath storms to victory in boys’ lacrosse championship
Lexington Catholic’s wake-up call came in the form of a lightning delay late in the first quarter of its Commonwealth Lacrosse League state championship game against Covington Catholic on Saturday at Great Crossing High School.
The Knights ceded the game’s first goal in under two minutes and were tied 2-2 with 4:15 left in the first quarter when officials spotted lighting in the arriving rainstorm.
Whatever was said in the field house during the 45-minute delay, it might not be able to adequately explain how LexCath went on to an 11-4 win over the Colonels that included a five-goal second quarter and some dynamic saves from title game MVP Ben Pund, the Knights’ keeper.
“Thank God for the lightning strike, I guess,” Lexington Catholic Coach Dan Dunn joked. “We had been in games like this before, with big moments and a lot of tough teams. I think that was the difference. We tried to make our schedule as hard as possible, so this game was as easy as possible.”
Though No. 8 Covington Catholic (21-1) came into the championship undefeated, No. 4 LexCath (14-5) held the higher LaxNumbers.com ranking, perhaps partially owing to a tougher schedule that included some of the top teams from the Louisville-centered Kentucky Scholastic Lacrosse League that included its state champion, No. 1 St. Xavier as well has No. 2 South Oldham.
High school lacrosse in Kentucky is not sanctioned by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association yet, so there are two leagues in the state. Each league’s teams can play each other but they hold separate “state” championships.
“When it comes down to it, we just got it done. We just played hard,” said Ben Pund, a junior whose younger brother Jack starts as a defender in front of him. “After sitting there (during the delay), we all stretched and focused in and came back out ready to go.”
The Knights got four first-half goals from Tate Tinker and big save after big save from Pund all game long. Tinker had no quibble with Pund as the game’s most valuable player.
“He played a hell of a game. He deserved it 100 percent,” Tinker said. “There were so many shots that should have gone in, and he just played lights out.”
A little over midway through the second period, Kyle Smith and Tinker scored in quick succession to give LexCath a 4-2 lead. A minute later, Ryan Stachon centered himself in front of goal for 5-2. Then Quinn Stewart let loose up the right side from 10 yards out for a 6-2 lead at the 2:47 mark. Tinker finished the blitz with his fourth goal for a 7-2 lead 11.6 seconds left until halftime.
Last year, LexCath’s team got overwhelmed in the early going against Henry Clay in the championship game, falling into an 11-1 hole in the 12-8 loss. Their coach and the returning players used that as a lesson and fuel, something Dunn reminded them of during the delay.
“I said, ‘The first eight minutes of this game? That’s from last year’s championship. Now it’s time to start this year’s championship game.’” Dunn said. “They were all nervous and freaking out from last year’s championship game and I said, ‘That’s remnants of that. Now it’s time to start this year’s championship game.’”
Pund said the team was also playing for their former teammate, the late David Cervoni, who was one of two LexCath students who died in a car accident last May.
“We just put in the drive and the effort needed. It’s all for David Cervoni,” Pund said.
Covington Catholic twice cut into the lead in the second half with a goal each quarter, but each time it did, LexCath answered and then some. Stewart knifed through the defense to make it 8-4 after a CovCath goal in the third. A Pund save sparked a fast break capped by Benji Reynolds’ close-range shot to make it 9-4 late in the fourth quarter. Stachon and Alex Castle followed moments later to extend the lead to the final margin.
LexCath’s season began with back-to-back losses to Henry Clay and South Oldham. Though the Knights went 14-3 after that point, Dunn said the team really didn’t start playing proper lacrosse until the postseason.
“They weren’t very good at lacrosse, but they knew how to fight. And over time, you keep fighting, you get better,” Dunn said. “We started to figure it out right around the playoffs time started, so, perfect time for us to figure out how to play.”
