(For Day 1 coverage, go here.)
Trailing Lassiter by three goals with two minutes left in the Division II championship, Roswell Hornets sophomore Blake O’Neal refused to let his team lose. He scored three goals in less than 90 seconds, including the tying goal with less than a minute left, which forced sudden-death overtime.
Hornets senior Ben Weir quickly scored on their first possession in overtime, and the Hornets beat Lassiter 13-12 on Saturday at Denmark High in Alpharetta. By doing so, the Hornets became the boys first program in GHSA history to win three consecutive state titles.
The Hornets (19-3), ranked No. 2, who won Class 5A-6A the previous two years, beat the top-ranked Trojans in a rematch from March 26, which the Trojans won 10-7.
O’Neal, who was in eighth grade when the Hornets’ string of championships began in 2023, scored a game-high five goals. Weir and junior Jackson Hardwick each scored three goals.
“I just knew we needed a quick one,” O’Neal said. “The shots just happened to go, so I was grateful they did...I felt like the game was ours a whole way. We just needed a little bit of motivation at the end there.”
The game was close throughout, with Roswell leading 3-1 after the first quarter, and 6-4 at halftime. It appeared the Hornets had taken control in the second half, building a 9-5 lead with 6:23 left in the third quarter, but the Trojans went on a 7-0 run using six different goal-scorers, taking a 12-9 lead with 3:17 left, setting the stage for O’Neal’s flurry of last-minute goals.
Hornets coach Bryan Wallace said they were ready for any test, including losing a lead that required a furious rally.
“Squandering a four-goal lead is a little tough,” said Wallace, “but we knew we had the ability to come back within under two minutes and tie it up, and then take the lead when it all mattered...We’ve played the best schedule over the last two years, so we’re not afraid of anybody, any time, any place, and tonight happened to be the time and the place.”
On making history as the first three-peat boys team, Wallace said, “I so proud of this program, and these kids, and how much they’re willing to work, knowing that there’s a huge target on their back. To go back to back, then to go win three in a row is just outstanding.”
The Trojans (18-3) were trying to win their third title, and first since 2017. They were led by senior Landen Sommers’ three goals.
Division I boys
Credit: Adam Krohn
Credit: Adam Krohn
Marist War Eagles 11, Allatoona Buccaneers 5: The War Eagles are champions for the first time in school history after rallying from a 5-2 deficit early in the third quarter to close on a 9-0 run.
Five of those goals came from sophomore Jake McLaren, including four in a row in the third quarter, which brought the score to 9-5. Leading up to the War Eagles rally, the defense, led by sophomore goalkeeper Mills Chambless, kept them within striking distance.
“I think the first half we didn’t really play our our best,” McLaren said. “Then in the second half, we came out and still didn’t play good. Then we got that first goal, and our whole mindset changed. It started from our defense, holding it down, and (the Buccaneers) have a really good offense, and Mills, he played it lights out. We just got the ball on offense, held it, possessed, and we did our job.”
Junor Bobby Peters had two goals for Marist, the last goal before halftime, making it 4-2, and another with 5:29 left in the third quarter, which tied the game at five.
The War Eagles, who entered Saturday ranked No. 2, finish 18-3.
“We’ve been a program for 21 years, and we’ve been kind of knocking at the door for the past three years,” War Eagles coach Zach Bazemore said. “We’ve finally punched our way through, and I’m proud of these guys. All season long, we’ve been process-driven, and I think it paid off today. We just had to stay true to ourselves.”
The No. 4 Buccaneers (17-5) fell short of their bid for a second championship, the first coming in 2016. They had leads of 4-1, 4-2 at halftime, and took a 5-2 lead one minute into the second half on junior Jack Rogers’ goal, but wouldn’t score again. Senior Reece Shaw had two first-half goals to lead the team.
Division I Girls
Credit: Adam Krohn
Credit: Adam Krohn
Cambridge Bears 17, Blessed Trinity Titans 5: The Bears (19-2), ranked No. 1 in Division I, won their second consecutive title and second overall, capping a dominating season that includes a win over Milton, ranked No. 3 nationally. The Bears, who won 5A-6A last year, are ranked No. 6 nationally.
“It’s just not easy (to repeat as champions),” said Pam Masinko, Bears coach since 2007. “You’ve got a target on your back the whole time, and it’s a whole different mentality and it’s hard. But our girls are super talented... This is definitely one of the best seasons Cambridge has had in our history.”
The game was defined by Bears scoring runs of 7-0 and 8-0. The first run came after the Titans opened the game’s scoring on junior Maggie Sullivan’s goal with 8:50 left in the first. The Titans scored with 2:05 left in the half on sophomore Libby Vola’s goal to make it 7-2, but Bears senior Kylie Stitcher responded with one of her team-high five goals to give them an 8-2 lead heading into halftime.
The Bears led 14-2 after three quarters, ushering in a running clock. The game was a rematch from March 13, which Cambridge won 18-8.
Other multiple-goal scorers for the Bears were senior Jenna Lundstedt (three), junior Kasey Dwyer (three), junior Logan Collen (two) and sophomore Mia Johnson (two).
“We’ve had a love for each other throughout this whole season,” Stitcher said. “We’ve all had each other’s backs, and you can really tell that whenever we came out in this field, we love each other so much, and that’s what helped us to succeed. We had a lot of pressure on us this year, but we took that in stride. Throughout the season, we just got better and better, and we kept knocking down opponents until we got to this point.”
The Titans, ranked No. 2 in Division I, finish 13-7. The were trying to win their fourth title in five years (2021-23) and seventh in their past nine (2016-18).
Division II girls
Credit: Adam Krohn
Credit: Adam Krohn
Milton Eagles 17, Creekview Grizzlies 5: The Eagles won their seventh straight title, and 18th in the 20 years since the GHSA began acknowledging lacrosse champions.
The Eagles (20-2), No. 1 overall in the state and No. 3 in the nation, led 7-4 at halftime. They went on a 10-0 run in the second half, with the Grizzlies tacking on their final goal in the waning seconds of the game to bring the score to its final margin.
The game was a rematch from Feb. 27, which the Eagles won 20-5.
The Eagles were led by junior Kylie Waters and sophomore Lillian Katula, who scored three goals each. Seniors Anna Mellinger, McKenna Merkel, Ella Pauley and Peyton Baker had had two goals apiece.
With winning state titles being the standard at Milton, the Eagles like to keep things loose during championship week.
“It’s a tradition for us, and it’s really a good time,” said Waters, a Clemson commit. “We have breakfast in the morning, then a traditional practice where we have a theme and dress up. This year it was wigs. So it was just like a really fun time. And the game is just the best part because you’re playing with your team for the last time.”
Eagles coach Tim Godby, who has guided the program for the duration of its championship era so far, was seen sporting a hot-pink wig following the trophy presentation.
“I don’t know if you would call it strict standards, but all throughout the year in practice we have a policy. We wear our team colors every day, no jewelry. So at the end of the year, for our last practice, the players want to change up the game and, this year it was neon and wigs, just to have some fun and celebrate a great season.”
As for the 18th championship, Godby said, “The consistency we’ve been able to have, and to do it through the program (free of transfers), has been a great accomplishment.”
The Grizzlies, ranked No. 3 in Division II, finish 15-8. They were led by senior Rilynn Price’s four goals.
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