Lacrosse: Royals boys return to 2A title game

By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – The Hamilton Southeastern boys lacrosse team will once again play for a state championship on its own turf.
The Royals advanced to the title game of the Indiana High School Lacrosse Association’s Class 2A state tournament with an 11-6 semi-final win over Carmel on Wednesday at the Greyhounds’ Murray Stadium. Southeastern used an early surge to take control of the game, then its defense played tough and tenacious throughout the contest.
This year’s semi-final was a re-match of last year’s state championship game, which the Royals won 10-6. In this year’s game, the Greyhounds scored first, with Charlie Mock finding the back of the net at the 7:23 mark of the first quarter.
Southeastern answered when Louden Sundling scored with 5:40 left in the period, then took the lead after Connor Ruhnow put in a goal just 31 seconds later. Ruhnow struck again in the second quarter, scoring his second goal at the 9:39 mark to give the Royals a 3-1 lead.
Carmel’s Will Spraetz cut the lead to 3-2 by scoring with 5:08 left in the period, but HSE’s Garrett Smith answered that with a goal 42 seconds later. Ruhnow then put in his third goal of the game with 2:24 left, and the Royals held a 5-2 lead at halftime.
Southeastern coach Scott Beesley said his team “played really balanced” on offense.
“(No.) 23 Shane Gastineau had a great game as a junior and we really rely on 17, Louden Sundling and 4, Garrett Smith to really create a lot,” said Beesley.
The coach credited his team’s defense as well, saying that because his team “shared the ball and because we really facilitated and slowed the pace of the game down,” that helped the Royals’ defense to play tenacious.
“I think we have the best defense in the state and I haven’t been shy of saying that throughout the season,” said Beesley. “Nolan Kneis, in my opinion, is the player of the year, No. 24. He’s a specimen. He’s 195 pounds, 6-3, he’s just a monster. And we have great teammates playing around him.”
Among them were junior Colin Krekeler, the Southeastern goalkeeper. Beesley said Krekeler made “some great saves” and “was getting pieces of balls and deflecting them off.” Krekeler finished the game with 11 saves.
Freshman Dillon O’Rourke got the game ball; Beesley said he was “all over the field” on defense.
The Greyhounds got the first goal of the second half, when Spraetz scored at the 7:10 mark. Southeastern got its first second-half goal with 4:17 left when Blaine Wertz found the back of the net. Wertz and Sundling are star football players for the Royals, and they have brought some of that football mentality to the team. Beesley gave credit to Southeastern football coach Michael Kelly after the game.
“He came in the last two years and really changed the culture,” said Beesley. “They’re gamers. They’re contributors in every sport that they play. It’s great to have them on our side.”
Mock got Carmel back within two with a goal at the 3:57 mark, just 20 seconds after Wertz scored. Smith put in another Royals goal with 55 seconds left, keeping HSE up 7-4 going into the fourth quarter.
Gastineau scored less than a minute into the fourth, giving the Royals their largest lead at 8-4. Jake Klein quickly cut the advantage back to three by scoring just nine seconds later. Wertz and Spraetz traded goals midway through the quarter, then Gastineau and Wertz finished the game with back-to-back Southeastern scores.
Gastineau and Wertz both finished with three goals. Sundling had three assists for the Royals, with Smith getting two and Aidan Hoener making one.
Spraetz had three goals for Carmel, with Leo Prosser and Brannick Arbuckle each getting one assist.
“They’re a good team, we’re a good team,” said Greyhounds coach Jack Meachum. “They outplayed us tonight. Hats off to them for the performance they had.”
Carmel finished its season 16-3.
“We had a good year and we had a lot of high points, and we had a lot of big wins, had some big out of state opponents that we beat,” said Meachum. “We came short tonight, but that doesn’t take away from the year.”
Southeastern hosts Cathedral at 7 p.m. Saturday for the 2A boys state championship.
GUERIN CATHOLIC IN 1A BOYS, 2A GIRLS FINALS
Guerin Catholic’s lacrosse program will have two teams in both girls and boys state championship games on Saturday.
The Golden Eagles girls team will play Carmel at 1:30 p.m. in the 2A girls state final, an all-county match-up at Heritage Christian.
In its Saturday semi-final, Guerin Catholic beat Bishop Chatard 12-7. Clare Alic scored four goals, followed by two each from Ella Bellflower, Mariah Ross and Alexandra Soucie. Caitlin Carter and Gabriella Deer each added one goal. Alic and Soucie both dished out one assist.
The three-time defending state champion Greyhounds advanced with a 15-3 victory Monday over Evansville Memorial. Hollis Rang put in three goals for Carmel, with Breckin Hare and Sophie Mock both scoring two. Anna Dumke, Avery Gohel, Reese Keetle, Grace Miller, Riley Putnam, Olivia Slowey, Elizabeth Tomalia and Tori Tomalia all had one goal.
Rang also handed out three assists, followed by Pey Henney and Tori Tomalia with two each. Sophia Hanna, Megan Houser and Mock each had one assist.
“We came out strong and worked hard throughout the game, even in the heat,” said Carmel coach Josh Miller. “Heat was obviously a challenge for both teams. I was pleased. I think the girls worked really hard and made the most of our opportunities and we cleared the ball well. I thought we did a nice job on the transition game.”
Guerin Catholic’s boys team advanced to the 1A state title game with a 15-6 win over Evansville Memorial on Tuesday.
Andrew Jachimowicz put in five goals for the Golden Eagles, with Cooper Navarro, Luke Truffer and Peyton Butts all scoring three. Evan Bair had one goal. Navarro dished out five assists, followed by two for Truffer and one each from Jachimowicz, Nathan Zurawski and Butts.
“I think the boys did their job, but we know there’s another level of inside of them that they have to find,” said GC coach Charlie Barry.
The Golden Eagles play South Bend St. Joseph for the 1A title at 4 p.m. Saturday at Hamilton Southeastern, prior to the 2A boys game.
Westfield’s girls team dropped a 13-12 1A semi-final game to Heritage Christian last Thursday. Lauren Dean led the Shamrocks with four goals and two assists.