Boys’ result: No. 3 Gonzaga cherishes 4th straight WCAC championship

TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 5/15/13

Gonzaga (DC) coach Casey O’Neill was happy to admit it.

Yes, he said, Monday night’s 13-11 come-from-behind victory over Paul VI (VA) in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship game at the University of Maryland was one of his greatest coaching highlights.

“It was one of the most fun games to be a part of and (one of the best) that I have ever experienced as a coach,” he said. “Any championship game is going to be tough because with emotions, crowd and both teams playing their hardest, things will not always go as scripted.”

The Purple Eagles, ranked No. 3 by TopLaxRecruits.com, won their fourth straight WCAC crown. But, indeed, this game did not go as scripted.

Gonzaga was seemingly in charge with a four-goal lead, 10-6, in the third period when Paul VI (18-3) went on a 4-0 spurt to tie it with 7:32 to play on a goal by Chris Camarca.

But Jimmy Kuzma (two goals) scored 30 seconds later off a feed from Max Planning.(one goal, two assists) to make it 11-10 and Gonzaga got insurance tallies from Alex Corboy (four goals) and Joe Fitzpatrick (two goals, two assists).

“The feelings on this championship have not fully sunk in,” said O’Neill. “This group was very special, and the most rewarding thing is seeing the smiles on the young men’s faces.”

Logan Aunon led Paul VI with three goals while Camarca and Nicholas Carpenter each had two.

Gonzaga 13, Paul VI 11

Gonzaga
Mark Anstead 1a
Alex Corboy 4g
Joe Fitzpatrick 2g 2a
Jimmy Kuzma 2g
Timmy Monahan 1g
Patrick Myers 1g 1a
Daniel O’Berry 1g 1 a
Max Planning 1g 2a
Ridge Slater 1g
Timmy Farrell 5 saves

Paul VI
Logan Aunon 3g
Christopher Camarca 2g
Nicholas Carpenter 2g
Ryan Lamb 1g
Robert Murphy 1g, 1a
Ryan O’Connor 1g
Scott Primeau 1g