The boys’ lacrosse team (5-5 overall) had their last game of the season on May 4 against Hillsdale (2-15 overall). The Dons came out on top, winning the game 14-12.
The game started out with Hillsdale scoring a goal in the first seven seconds. The Dons didn’t let that bother them and continued on, ending the first quarter with a 4-3 lead.
“[The most challenging part] was probably just trying not to get chippy, start talking and keep[ing] our composure,” said senior midfielder Lucas Krause. “Our teamwork … started off a little slow but people started talking and we brought it up.”
In the second quarter, Hillsdale worked to take back the lead, leaving the score at 5-7 for a substantial part of the quarter.
“[The most stressful part was] for sure when we were down for five minutes and I was thinking in my head the things I would do to myself if we lost this game,” said senior attacker Max Lacasse.
Halftime was called after this and Aragon came back into the third quarter rested and spirited after the break. The score slowly climbed higher, each team scoring goals one after the other. The score eventually came to 10-9 by the start of the last quarter.
With four minutes left, an Aragon player was hit and fell to the ground, stopping the game for about five minutes.
“At the end of the game there, number 22, Harry Gurr, was … going toward the goal and got sandwiched between some big defensemen on the Hillsdale team,” said head coach Evan King. “Thankfully, he was okay, but he took a stick across his neck, a big hit because both teams were competing really hard in the last few minutes of the game.”
Hillsdale scored the last goal with two minutes left in the match, but the Dons still managed to beat their rivals 14-12. Securing this victory proved to be challenging.
“Faceoffs were the hardest part,” Lacasse said. “Defense stepped up when we needed them and so did offense. When we were down [and] when it mattered, we played [well.]”
Defense pulled through in various games this season, helping Aragon get the wins they have gotten over the past few months.
“We were anchored by our defense,” said assistant coach Malcom Davis. “Our defense kept us in games and kept us competitive. If we didn’t have the defense that we did, we would probably [have] gotten blown out.”
The win against Hillsdale was a high point for the team.
“This was an exciting [game], this is how you want to end the season and I’m really proud of the team,” King said. “Hillsdale came out and played really strongly and I feel we came out and responded how we needed to.”
“If we didn’t have the defense that we did, we would probably [have] gotten blown out”
The team finished their season with a record of five wins and five losses. Throughout the season, the seniors have played an important role in helping the team and the underclassmen.
“Certainly one of [our] strengths is having the size of the senior class,” King said. “They’ve been a strong group that’s really helped lead practices, games, everything. Losing their experience next year is going to be a huge blow. [They’re always] taking those younger guys under their wing, helping teach them, coach them, without me having to do it, which is always nice.”
Throughout the season, the team of about 40 Aragon students practiced almost every weekday to improve.
“For practices, we warm up, get changed into our gear, run a little bit and do some stretching,” said freshman defender Simon LaCarrubba. “We have shooting practice and stickhandling practice. Practices range from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sometimes, if Coach is being a little nice, he’ll give us a day off.”
After all the hard work and dedication the team has shown this year, the win against Hillsdale was a fitting end to the season.
