Photo by Brent RiversThe varsity lacrosse team made history on Tuesday night, securing the first ever 1A win in the GHSA state tournament against St. Pius.
From the beginning, the players were adrenaline-fueled for the opportunity to set some history. No Georgia 1A team had ever won a GHSA 1A-5A lacrosse playoff game, and the WolfPack started the game alive with anticipation and determination. Unfortunately, the contest was not going to be easy and the game did not start well. St. Pius scored first, but after trading goals Whitefield had pulled the contest even at 2-2. With five seconds left in the first period, Jonathan Wood (11th) fed a great ball from behind the cage to an open Mitchell Ryan (11th) who wound up and shot. And missed.
Spirits were down and then Wills McCutheon (10th) made possibly the greatest save in WolfPack history. He had gone behind the goal to retrieve a ground ball, but a St. Pius attack man retrieved it instead and passed the ball to setup the easy goal. Instead Wills found his way back in front of the net and dove to block the shot - to the shock and awe of everyone in the Golden Lions Stadium.
The incredible save reenergized the Pack and reminded players that this was a contest they could win despite the odds. The second period found the WolfPack more calm, but still beating themselves with mistakes in transition play and even easy, missed passes. At halftime Whitefield was down 3-5, but feeling hopeful. After having one of their worst half-games of the year, they still had a chance to win.
The second half started with the Golden Lions scoring first and at 3-6 it was looking a little bleak for the good guys. Whitefield gained a goal on St. Pius by the end of the third period 5-6, and there seemed to be a psychological shift in the game. St. Pius realized Whitefield was not going to quit, and the goals were getting increasingly more difficult against an increasingly confident WolfPack defense.
Finally, at 41 min and 41 sec in a 60 minute contest, Jonathan Wood (11th) broke through the suffocating crease defense to give the WolfPack its first lead of the game. The Golden Lions threatened after that, but the tide had turned and the players fed off of the excitement and energy of the great Whitefield crowd to hold the lead and finish the game, 10-8.
The tale of the offensive numbers was Jonathan with five goals and two assists, Mitchell with three goals and one assist, William Charles (12th) with three assists, and Carter Dixon (11th) with two goals.
The defense total was led again by Joseph Schwartz (10th) with two ground balls (GB) and four caused turnovers (CT), Thomas Joiner netted 4 GB, Carter had 1 GB and 2 CT, Carson Brown had three GB, Brenner McCutcheon had two GB, Jordan Saibu (11th) added one GB and one CT, William, Jonathan, Connor Callan (11th) and Michael McCarthy (10th), each snagged one GB.
The WofPack has won and is moving to the second round game versus Greater Atlanta Christian this coming Friday. Come out to Gwinnett and join the fans in cheering on Whitefield lacrosse! Go Pack!