Hockaday, ESD Repeat in SPC Lacrosse

By Mike Waters / Contributor

Star players shine on the big stage, which held true as seniors Mae Flanagan and Sunnie Wang led host Hockaday to a 15-6 victory over Episcopal School of Dallas to win its fourth straight SPC girls lacrosse championship on Saturday.

Flanagan and Wang notched four goals apiece as the Daisies claimed their eighth overall conference title.

After ESD opened with a 3-1 advantage, the Daisies (14-1) scored 11 unanswered goals that began when Wang found the net with 5:20 left in the opening period. Meanwhile, the stifling Hockaday defense held ESD scoreless until the 5:24 mark in the third stanza.

“We started out slowly,” said Hockaday head coach Molly Hutchinson. “We were able to withstand that slow start, grind it out, and our defense really jump-started our offense.”

Following a first quarter than ended in a 3-3 deadlock, Wang’s goal three minutes into the second period gave Hockaday a lead it never relinquished.

Flanagan and Wang added goals sandwiched around scores by Sophia Fagelman and Charlotte Schultz. Fagelman then added another goal with just eight ticks left before halftime as Hockaday outscored the Eagles 6-0 in the second period.

“Team chemistry,” said Flanagan, a Stanford signee, of the team’s erasing the early deficit.  “That is the what this team is all about.”

Aynalie Charon registered a pair of goals sandwiched around another Flanagan tally, as the Daisies finished off their offensive outburst with a trio of scores three minutes into the second half to make the score 12-3.

Wang had two assists to go with her scoring output, while Flanagan came up with three draw controls.  Charron finished with three goals, sophomore Brooke Eckert had three assists, and goalkeeper Alex Baron totaled nine saves. Lily Gum chipped in with a goal and one assist as well as two draw controls for the Daisies.

“Incredible feeling winning this championship again,” Wang said. “So very happy for all the seniors. We have all worked so hard and it paid off.”

The Eagles (11-6) were led by Beau McKnight with three goals, while Delaney Noland, Ava Njogren, and Ryder Sands each added a goal. Njogren scored five goals during a 15-10 win over Houston St. John’s in the semifinals to help ESD advance to the title contest.

Now the Daisies will turn their attention to earning a fifth consecutive crown in the Texas Girls High School Lacrosse League playoffs, which will culminate with the state tournament on May 10-11 in Austin.

“We’ve got the four-peat SPC championship,” said Flanagan. “Now we go after a state five-peat.”

Boys: ESD 14, St. Mark’s 7

The host Eagles claimed their 10th consecutive — and 11th overall — SPC boys lacrosse championship by rolling past rival St. Mark’s.

ESD (13-1-0) came out red-hot, as sophomore Hudson Young scored the game’s first three goals early in the first period, and the Eagles never trailed.

“We are kind of used to this,” said junior midfielder Josh Logan, a Virginia commit. “But winning the championship never gets old.”

ESD head coach Jay Sothoron appreciated the offensive balance from his team in the title game and the semifinal contest the previous day.

“Obviously, Hudson got us going,” said Sothoron. “In the playoffs, you need multiple guys to step up. And we had that in the title game and in the semifinal.”

Wayte McKnight and Finley Lear recorded three goals apiece for ESD. Noble Provost scored twice, while Michael Goglia and Logan added one goal each. 

Young, who finished with a game-leading four goals, said the Eagles wanted to set the tone early. “We wanted to get off to a good start,” he said. “And I just took advantage of my opportunities.”

The six different players who scored were all underclassmen in front of senior goalkeeper Connor Kowalewski.

“Connor has been so solid for us all season,” said Sothoron, whose team has just five seniors. “And he has provided tremendous leadership.”

The Eagles held a commanding 13-4 fourth-quarter lead before the Lions (8-5) knocked in three straight goals courtesy of Matthew Hofmann, Chance Weston, and Mac Saye. McKnight sealed the championship by scoring with just over a minute remaining.

ESD defeated St. Mark’s 13-4 on March 13 during this regular season. The two teams have clashed in seven of the last nine SPC finals, with ESD emerging victorious each time. St. Mark’s has won seven SPC boys lacrosse titles, the last coming in 2012.

The Eagles will seek their second straight crown, and seventh overall, at the Texas High School Lacrosse League state tournament in May. The playoffs begin in just over two weeks.