The Wisconsin Lacrosse Federation’s division 2 boys state championship game may have started yesterday afternoon, but the Sauk Prairie boys lacrosse team started its journey to Carroll University’s Schneider Stadium at the end of the 2016 season.
That’s when the Eagles lost yet again to Stoughton in a semifinal playoff game, making them 0-for-6 versus their Madison Area (MadLax) Conference – White rival dating back to May 2014.
Instead of stewing all offseason, the senior Eagles returned to practice just three days after that semifinal, having decided that the 2017 crown was theirs for the taking – if they worked for it.
“It was that mentality the whole year – they wanted to get here, and they wanted to win,” said Dylan Baier, Sauk Prairie assistant coach and the MadLax assistant coach of the year. “That was in the back of everybody’s mind this whole season. They had something to prove and they wanted it so bad.”
That vision became reality Saturday when the Eagles came from behind to defeat back-to-back-to-back champion Catholic Memorial, 9-6, in the division 2 title game at Carroll University’s Schneider Stadium in Waukesha.
It certainly didn’t come easily for Sauk Prairie (16-3), who was tied with Catholic Memorial (13-6) at three goals apiece heading into halftime. The Crusaders then started the third quarter with three unanswered goals – including the second and third goals from attackmen senior Danny Rossi and Jacob Gronowski, respectively – to go up 6-3.
But that’s where Catholic Memorial’s scoring would end, and the Eagles would six unanswered goals en route to the state title. Freshman Willy Hanson attackman scored the first of his two goals for the game before junior attackman Bryce Thistle went off for three of his five goals, including the tying and go-ahead scores where he absorbed checks that put him on his back as the ball hit the twine.
“Five goals is phenomenal – and we needed every one, too,” said coach Bennett West, who was named the Wisconsin coach of the year as well as coach of the year in the MadLax. “We could have gotten frustrated and given up a little bit. But with plays like that by Bryce, it kept us going and turned the momentum in our favor.”
Senior goalie Justin Johnson did his part by saving nine shots throughout the game. He said Sauk Prairie’s critics may have had their doubts about the Eagles’ chances of winning it all in 2017, but he and his senior classmates knew after that painful semifinal loss to Stoughton in 2016 what had to be done to go out on top.
“The seniors, as soon as we lost, we looked at each other and said, ‘We don’t like this,” Johnson said. “We gotta work harder in the offseason, and we all got into the gym.”
Unfortunately, one senior who couldn’t play in the game was captain Josh Holler, who tore an ACL in his knee during the semifinal game versus Stoughton. He still roamed the sideline to keep his teammates on their toes throughout the game, according to Johnson.
“He’s one of the reasons we got here, so when we walked on this field and he couldn’t do it, it breaks your heart,” Johnson said.
Catholic Memorial, of course, also dealt with some heartbreak of a different fashion at the end of the title game. Considering the Crusaders lost 13 seniors, hired a new coach, were predicted to finish below .500 and were advised to seek a less competitive conference, coach Mike Hoffman still considers 2017 a success.
“It’s an accomplishment, and these guys will appreciate it in a few days,” Hoffman said. “They won’t today, but in a few days, they’ll appreciate that we made it all the way back.”
