Never trailing for 49 minutes and 56 seconds in the championship game at Marin Academy, the Acalanes boys' lacrosse team gave up a goal with four seconds remaining to lose by a score of 5-4.
The Dons led 1-0 after the first period and 3-2 going into the fourth period. Trailing 4-3, Marin tied the game with 1:44 left in the game and then Jackson Sell scored the winning goal for Marin at 0:04.
Acalanes coach Brent Ringwood knew it was going to be a competitive game: "We had a good game plan and we scouted them well. We knew they were a talented and athletic team."
Marin Catholic came into the game averaging 11 goals per game, but the Dons defense frustrated them throughout the game led by senior goalie Parker Henderson, impressing Marin head coach Josh Freschette: "We got a lot of good locks on offense, but Henderson was just playing out of his head. He really did a great job."
Ringwood echoed those sentiments: "We have had some great goalies in my time at Acalanes but this was the greatest individual effort I have seen from somebody at that position. He made some incredible saves."
Along with Henderson, defenders Joey Galdden and Nick Schirmer had excellent games along with the defensive midfielders Jackson Welch, Will Schueler and Gabe Middleton.
The defense was well prepared for Marin, said Ringwood: "We had a good game plan and had scouted them well. We knew their personnel and what their strengths were and our defense knew what their sets were."
On offense, Jake Landry scored two goals and Colin Jeffries and Reed Watson each scored once.
Marin put up a very strong defense to match Acalanes. "We did not outshoot them so we did not get a lot of good looks at the game," said Ringwood. "They had a good game plan as well which took us out of our comfort zone and their goalie was very good as well. It was a very hard fought and exciting game."
Despite the loss, Ringwood was effusive in his praise of the team: "I was really proud of what the players put together. They put in the work and that is all you can ask for: to be there at the end with the opportunity to win. We overcame injuries and the players dug down and made it all work."
The Dons led 1-0 after the first period and 3-2 going into the fourth period. Trailing 4-3, Marin tied the game with 1:44 left in the game and then Jackson Sell scored the winning goal for Marin at 0:04.
Acalanes coach Brent Ringwood knew it was going to be a competitive game: "We had a good game plan and we scouted them well. We knew they were a talented and athletic team."
Marin Catholic came into the game averaging 11 goals per game, but the Dons defense frustrated them throughout the game led by senior goalie Parker Henderson, impressing Marin head coach Josh Freschette: "We got a lot of good locks on offense, but Henderson was just playing out of his head. He really did a great job."
Ringwood echoed those sentiments: "We have had some great goalies in my time at Acalanes but this was the greatest individual effort I have seen from somebody at that position. He made some incredible saves."
Along with Henderson, defenders Joey Galdden and Nick Schirmer had excellent games along with the defensive midfielders Jackson Welch, Will Schueler and Gabe Middleton.
The defense was well prepared for Marin, said Ringwood: "We had a good game plan and had scouted them well. We knew their personnel and what their strengths were and our defense knew what their sets were."
On offense, Jake Landry scored two goals and Colin Jeffries and Reed Watson each scored once.
Marin put up a very strong defense to match Acalanes. "We did not outshoot them so we did not get a lot of good looks at the game," said Ringwood. "They had a good game plan as well which took us out of our comfort zone and their goalie was very good as well. It was a very hard fought and exciting game."
Despite the loss, Ringwood was effusive in his praise of the team: "I was really proud of what the players put together. They put in the work and that is all you can ask for: to be there at the end with the opportunity to win. We overcame injuries and the players dug down and made it all work."
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA