The REPORTER
A fast first half sent the Hamilton Southeastern boys lacrosse team to the Class 2A state championship.
The Royals scored seven consecutive goals during the game’s first two and a half quarters on their way to a 10-6 win over Carmel last Saturday in the 2A state finals, which took place at Westfield’s Riverview Health Stadium. It’s the third state title for Southeastern over the past four years, and the Royals’ fourth overall.
The defending state champion Greyhounds scored the first goal, with Ike Stitle finding the back of the net. Southeastern’s Max Kemp tied the game with under 90 seconds left in the first quarter.
That was just the start. Kyle Jenkins put in back-to-back goals in the second quarter, then Henry Wans added another goal with under a minute to go, giving HSE a 4-1 lead. The Royals kept up that pace in the third quarter, with Wans, Max Kemp and Dillon O’Rourke all scoring to put Southeastern up 7-1.
Carmel pushed back during the middle of the third, throwing in three goals to cut the lead to 7-4. Leo Prosser, Evan Coulter and Brock Rose all scored during that time. David Gould put in a goal for the Royals to finish the period and give Southeastern an 8-4 lead.
Gould scored again with 7:24 left in the fourth, which Prosser answered to keep the score 9-5. John Pauls added Southeastern’s 10th goal with 4:22 left, then Prosser scored again 10 seconds later. But the Royals would hang on for the win.
Jenkins, Wans, Kemp and Gould all scored two goals for Southeastern, with Prosser scoring three for the Greyhounds.