On Saturday, April 12th, the Jesuit Men’s Lacrosse team participated in the Fritz Hayes Classic at Lakeridge High School. The annual tournament consists of the OHSLA final four teams from the previous season. This year the Jesuit Crusaders matched up with the Lakeridge Pacers, a team they have not lost to since 2021. The last time the two teams met was in the 2024 OHSLA State Championship game, where the Crusaders beat a tough Pacers team 12-7.
The first faceoff started with a false start on the Pacers, giving Jesuit the first possession of the game. Jesuit’s attack wasted no time getting themselves on the scoreboard, as Brady Bayne scored a minute into the game.
But Jesuit’s early lead would not last that long, as Lakeridge’s Jacen Wilber scored the following possession. The Crusaders stayed composed, however, as Dimitri Lampros assisted Deuce Bechtold for a goal and Ryan Jack followed with a goal of his own. Jesuit found themselves up 3-1 with only a couple seconds left in the first period, but that was all Lakeridge needed. In a quick attack up the field, the Pacers fired a shot and buried a buzzer-beater to cut Jesuit’s lead to only one goal.
After an electric first period, the second and much of the third slowed down, with neither team able to find the back of the net.
Both Jesuit and Lakridge were locked in a 15-minute defensive battle, with each team’s goalie and defense refusing to let up a point. Lakeridge’s Wilber ended the pointless drought, scoring his second goal of the day and tying up the score.
Shortly after, with two minutes left in the third, Lakeridge scored another goal, taking momentum from the Crusaders and a 4-3 lead.
Heading into the final period of the game, Jesuit was down, still searching for a response after conceding three goals in a row. As time winded down, each team was deliberate with the ball in their sticks, taking their time on offense.
After exchanging possessions for most of the fourth, Jesuit finally responded to Lakeridge. Bechtold dodged behind the crease and came up the alley before ripping a shot to tie the game, 4-4. The rest of the fourth was similar to the second and the third, a defensive standoff. At the end of regulation time, Jesuit and Lakeridge were tied at 4-4, heading into a sudden-death overtime.
Unfortunately, the extra period did not go in favor of the Crusaders. With about 30 seconds left in overtime, Lakeridge’s Kellen Aird zipped a shot at Jesuit’s goal and called game. Following the unexpected loss, which ended Jesuit’s impressive 22-game unbeaten streak, players opted not to speak with the media.
