SPORTS

Panthers beat Chiefs in the Battle of the Bubble

A Panther player streaks down the field toward the goal. The Panthers continuously attacked the middle of the field and made quick passes in attempt to score. The tactic worked and the Panthers won 13-6 against McIntosh on Friday night. They play their final game of the regular season tonight against Fayette County away at 7:15 p.m.

Rilee Stapleton, Staff writer
April 26, 2016

The Panther lacrosse seniors stepped on to their home field for last time against crosstown rival McIntosh Chiefs last Friday night. After the senior night festivities, the game began, with the Panthers out to avenge last year’s loss. In a very physical match, the Panthers got what they wanted, beating the Chiefs 13-6.

“We were just out there as a team,” junior Evan Torres said. “We [were getting] the matchups we needed, and we took advantage of every mistake they made.”

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I think our guys remembered [last year’s loss] and played with a little edge.

— Coach Jeff Schmidlkofer

The Chiefs opened the scoring with a goal at 9:47 in the first quarter. The Panthers answered quickly when Torres scored a minute and a half later to even the score at 1-1.

However, they weren’t finished. The Panthers rattled off three more goals in next two minutes to gain a 4-1 advantage. Freshman Reid Harrison scored with 3:30 remaining in the quarter and the Panthers took a 5-1 lead to the second quarter.

“They just play,” coach Jeff Schmidlkofer said. “When we play within the system we’re pretty good.”

In the second, the Panthers found the goal once again, but the Chiefs responded quickly and cut the lead to 6-2. Neither team scored for six minutes, but Torres scored his third of the night right before the half and the Panthers took a 7-2 lead to the break.

“[McIntosh] got us last year in a [good] game,” Schmidlkofer said. “I think our guys remembered that and played with a little edge.”

The third quarter was slow and no one could put the ball in the net within the first nine minutes. Sophomore Avery Jenks scored with 3:34 left in the quarter, and the Panthers held an 8-2 advantage.

The Panthers struggled the rest of the quarter offensively and gave up two goals on the other end and the score sat at 8-4 going into the last quarter.

In the fourth, the Panthers scored 20 seconds into the quarter and tacked on two more goals in the seven minutes after, holding an 11-4 lead with four minutes to go. With just under three minutes to go, the Chiefs struck again, but the Panthers responded with two more goals to take a 13-5 lead into the final minute.

McIntosh scored once more, but it wouldn’t help as they fell to the Panthers 13-6.

“It’s such a great feeling to get that [win] for our seniors.” Torres said. “I’m so happy I could be a part of the team that gave that to them.”

The Panthers take their 15-game win streak into downtown Fayetteville to play Fayette County tonight at 7:15 p.m. The Panthers look to extend the school record for consecutive wins, while the Tigers challenge to pull off an upset in both team’s final game of the regular season.