The Woodlands Lacrosse Advances To Final 4
[Story - Doug Sarant, Photos - Tammy McCreary]
Ramsey McCreary and The Woodlands High School men's lacrosse team took down St Marks (Dallas) 9-6 at the THSLL (Texas High School Lacrosse League) North Super-Regional this past weekend in Allen to advance to the THSLL Final 4 that will be played in Katy this weekend. St Marks gave the Highlanders all they could handle as the game's outcome was always in doubt until with four minutes to play, James McDowell's unassisted goal gave The Woodlands their biggest lead of the afternoon and some much needed breathing room enabling the visitors from the South Division to cruise to victory.
Stickstar Lacrosse's Man of the Match and Notre Dame commit, McCreary led all scorers with three goals and an assist. Nassau Junior College commit and Stickstar's Heavy Lifter award winner, senior goaltender Gunnar Lockoski was on lockdown all afternoon stifling St Marks shooters. Luckoski had 14 saves and a whopping save percentage of 70% which is stellar at any level of lacrosse. One St Marks fan said it best regarding Luckoski's afternoon...."I gotta tell you, that goalie must work for a lumber yard because he was a sheet of plywood in there!"
The Woodlands had earned a bye through to the Elite 8 game as St Marks had to beat a very stubborn Lake Travis (Austin) team on Saturday to advance to play the Highlanders. Head Coach Keith Tintle was impressed with St Marks effort...."We knew we were going to get their best effort because they are always in the postseason conversation every year. Coach Lee (St Marks Head Coach Hayward Lee) always gets the best effort from his teams and they're always playing their best towards the end of every season which is easier said than done. Our hats are off to Hayward and all connected with the St Marks program."
The seventh Woodlands tally proved to be the game winning goal that saw McCreary feed senior captain, Brandon Baty who closed the deal. McCreary talked about the connection..."The previous possession I remembered that whenever I dodge down the left alley, the backside low defender always ball watches so the next time I got the ball I took my man down the left alley and skipped it low to Baty who was wide open on the back side."
For The Woodlands, Quinn Binney and James McDowell found the net twice. Jack Barron had a goal and two assists. Baty had a goal and an assist while Nick Rauchle chipped in with a goal. Diego Zimmerman earned the Hoover Award as he swallowed up six ground balls. Nate Drickamer and Tommy Long combined to win five face offs.
At the Final Four on Saturday in Katy, The Woodlands will play Episcopal School of Dallas at 4pm in the first semifinal while Dallas Jesuit will play Highland Park at 6pm in the other.
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