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The Woodlands High School lacrosse makes history

By: Doug Sarant
| Published 05/19/2015

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas - The Woodlands High School DI lacrosse program made history last week in Round Rock, Texas with its appearance in the Texas High School Lacrosse League State Championship game against Highland Park. In the 18 year history of the program, the lacrosse team had never played in the championship game. Most teams from the greater Houston area had not even appeared in the state Final Four tournament until last year's Woodlands appearance. The history books would have you going back to 2006 to find a team from Houston even playing for the state title.

In 2014, The Woodlands was led by several seniors, including two all-americans and a support group of players to include 10 that captured all-state recognition. 2015 was to be a rebuilding year for The Woodlands lacrosse program as the team had only four seniors returning to include Furman University recruit Gus Pinsoneault, Ryan Billig, Lucas Montes, and Riley Spradlin. The team was a young team with eight freshman on the roster and most players having played on the Division two roster the prior year.

The Highlanders finished with an 11-0 record in district play prior to winning the South Zone playoffs with an impressive 15-1 win over rival Kingwood. The win provided the team with a #1 seed for the South region, but left them playing the #3 seed and 2014 Texas state runner-up, Dallas Jesuit. The team was not given much of a chance by most coaches and others in the lacrosse community, but The Woodlands responded with a dominant performance and a 7-0 shutout of Dallas Jesuit in the super regional state playoffs. This was the first time Dallas Jesuit had ever been shut out and was the second year in a row that The Woodlands would be playing in the Final Four.

The road for the young Woodlands contingent would not get any easier as they would draw the defending state champion, Episcopal of Dallas for their semi-final game. ESD came into the game with only one loss and was nationally ranked in most lacrosse polls. In addition, Episcopal was loaded with talent and led by two of the most renowned recruits in Texas with one attending Syracuse and the other eventually heading to Duke University. Once again, the Highlanders responded with a dominant performance in the first half and had a 7-1 lead at the break. ESD mounted a comeback in the second half but came up short as The Woodlands won the battle 9-8 and would be playing for the state title for the first time in the program's history.

A state championship game appearance was not supposed to be in the cards with such a young team and it being a rebuilding year, but the effort of the players and the preparation of head coach Keith Tintle and defensive coordinator Al Christopher helped prepare the team each and every game.

Unfortunately, the Cinderella Story came to an end in the state championship game as The Woodlands went up against Texas lacrosse juggernaut, Highland Park who defeated the Highlanders soundly 10-4.

Throughout the playoffs, there were some outstanding plays and players for The Woodlands including goaltender AJ Thorpe who was named the defensive MVP of the State Championship tournament. There was Ben Perry, who had three goals against ESD to seal the win for the Highlanders, and Gus Pinsoneault who provided the senior leadership. However, most players, fans, parents and competitors will remember the overall team performance and the incredible defense that was played by the underclassmen that propelled the team into the State finals.

This will be a season to be remembered by all lacrosse families and friends, but should be one for the record books as The Woodlands mens lacrosse team played for the state championship for the first time in its program's history.

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