The Mukwonago boys lacrosse team did all it could Thursday night to make one final push for a berth in the Wisconsin Lacrosse Federation State Championship Tournament. Even before the Indians’ 12-6 victory over host Wauwatosa, they ranked 19th in the Laxpower RPI standings — the top 20 teams are selected for the Championship Tournament.
Now they await their fate until the postseason brackets are released at noon Friday.
“I think it’s definitely going to help us out,” Mukwonago coach Travis Young said. “We lost a few [five] in a row, including a couple tough ones. But this is going to help us going into the playoffs, whether we’re in the invitational or gunning for the championship.”
Mukwonago (7-8, 2-6 Classic 8 Red) kept the Blazers at bay the entire game due in large part to senior attacker Hunter Kadrich’s white-hot start. He scored two of his four goals in the first three minutes of the game as the Indians jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first quarter. Wauwatosa (4-10, 0-6) wouldn’t come within four goals the rest of the game.
“I just kept my feet moving, and when I saw an opening dodge, I took it,” said Kadrich, who set a school record for points in a season in the game.
“He’s always been the quarterback for our team,” Young added. “He’s really led our attack and offense for our whole season. It’s going to be different without him next year.”
Wauwatosa held Kadrich scoreless after his fourth goal at the 8 minute, 1 second mark in the second quarter, but senior attacker Cole Warren picked up the slack. He scored three of his four goals in the second half to maintain Mukwonago’s offensive momentum.
“It’s kind of hard to stop his shot once he gets his hands free,” Young said. “He has a powerful shot and it’s pretty well-placed. He’s always a guy that I can rely on to put it into the back of the goal.”
For Wauwatosa, sophomore middie Elijah Graesser had two goals and an assist for the game.
All teams will find out their playoff slots Friday at noon when the brackets are released. In the new postseason format, the top 20 teams will play for the state title. Teams who do not qualify for the championship tournament will be invited to play in the Wisconsin Invitational. These teams also will be able to opt out of the invitational.
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