By Sydney Case, Staff Writer
The River Hill boys varsity lacrosse team delivered one of the most intense games of the season with a stunning 10-9 comeback win over Wilde Lake, proving early on that this team has the grit and determination to make a serious run this year.
The game didn’t start in River Hill’s favor. By the second quarter, the Hawks found themselves trailing 2-7, a deficit that could have easily deflated the team’s energy. Instead of backing down, River Hill responded with relentless effort, slowly chipping away at the lead and shifting the momentum in front of a fired-up crowd.
Senior bench captain Connor McGeehan emphasized the team’s energy throughout the game. “The sideline was insane,” McGeehan said. “We never let our energy drop, no matter the score. Every goal we scored, we celebrated like it was the game-winner. That kept us going the whole time.”
Leading the offensive charge were seniors Carter Ridgeway and Tobyn Kelly, who combined for a standout performance and helped fuel the comeback. Ridgeway, who led the team in scoring that night, credited the team’s mindset for the turnaround. “Coach Gonsouland [Gons] always tells us to have grit and never give up,” Ridgeway said. “Being down like that could’ve broken us, but instead, it pushed us harder. That mindset is definitely what won us that game.”
Kelly echoed that statement, pointing to the importance of effort in every moment. “Every ground ball mattered,” Kelly said. “We treated every loose ball like it could decide the game, and I think that made the difference. We just kept fighting for everything.”
At the faceoff, Junior Logan Shatzer played a crucial role in regaining possession and giving River Hill the opportunities they needed to get back. “Every faceoff was huge,” Shatzer said. “I could hear my teammates cheering me on every time, and that gave me an extra boost to win it and give our offense a chance.”
Defensively, the Hawks dialed in as the game progressed, shutting down Wilde Lake’s attack and allowing the comeback to unfold. Senior long pole Ashton Barker highlighted the communication on that end of the field. “We were constantly talking on defense,” Barker said. “Everyone knew their role, and we stayed connected the whole time. And shoutout to junior Adam Hawthorne for faceguarding their best player, he made a huge impact.”
Junior long pole Alexander El Sawi also credited a turning point early in the game that sparked the team’s comeback. “At the beginning, being down like that was tough,” El Sawi said. “But in the huddle, our coach gave us a speech that really fired us up. It made everyone hungry to win, and from that point on, we just locked in.”
River Hill’s ability to overcome a five-goal deficit and finish with a one-goal victory speaks volumes about the team’s resilience and chemistry. If this game is any indication, the Hawks are setting themselves up for an exciting and successful season ahead.