By Madeleine Nichols
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 5/17/15
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. – Austin Lane said the lacrosse rivalry between his Hill Academy and Culver Military Academy has grown into something special.
“This rivalry [against Culver] was big even before I came to this school,” said Lane. “It has just grown every year and they have beaten us the past couple of years in the finals so this year is probably the biggest the rivalry has ever been.”
Lane’s name will forever be etched in the annuls of this rivalry after scoring the game-winner today with 2:48 left in overtime to lift Hill past Culver, 12-11, in the North American Lacrosse Invitational title game at Brother Rice High.
Hill, ranked No. 4 in the Epoch Lacrosse Rankings, closed its season at 13-1. Culver is 16-5 with one game left Friday at No. 1 Haverford School (4 p.m.).
Today’s game was sent into overtime when senior Clarke Petterson tied it, 11-11, with under a minute to play.
What was Lane thinking about in overtime? “We were only thinking that we were going to win. That’s it.”
Lane said he knew Culver would play its best game. In the first meeting last month between the two teams, Hill won, 13-6.
“We just had to play smart and play fast,” said Lane, who is headed to UMass Lowell. “They are a great team and we just have to match their speed and just be hard on the ball.”
Dalton Fallows led the balanced Hill offense with two goals and an assist and Kyle Marr scored twice.
Dawson McKenzie led Culver with four goals and an assist and Jackson reid had two goals and three assists while Ethan Walker notched two goals and Wheaton Jackoboice had a goal and three assists.
Goals by Colin Courtney and Reid had given Culver the 11-10 lead in the final period before Petterson tied it.
“It’s been a great season,” said Lane. “We’ve played some pretty tough competition and it has just all been leading up to this final game. It’s been a great experience with the boys and we’ve really become a family because of how hard this year has been.
“Really my whole high school career has been building up to this game so really the last four years of playing lacrosse.”
Hill: 5-1-3-2-1 – 12
Culver: 3-2-3-3-0 – 11
Hill Academy
Jake Fox 1g
Clarke Petterson 1g
Kyle Marr 2g
Mathew Vangalen 1g
Justin Inacio 1a
Jeff Teat 1g, 1a
Riley Curtis 1g, 1a
Andrew Kew 1g
Dalton Follows 2g, 1a
Austin Lane 1g, 1a
Clarke Petterson 1g
Culver Military Academy
Ethan Walker 2g
Wheaton Jackoboice 1g, 3a
Dawson McKenzie 4g, 1a
Anthony George 1a
Jackson Reid 2g, 3a
Jake Stevens 1g
Alex Johnson 1a
Colin Courtney 1g
Hill: Shots on Goal – 33
Culver: Shots on Goal – 38