The women’s lacrosse team claimed their 6th consecutive state championship on Thursday, May 21, 2026 after defeating the Grant Generals 11-9. The Crusaders were looking for a repeat outcome of last season, where they defeated the Generals in the 2025 OGLA state championship.
“We were very excited because we knew everything we’ve worked for this season was determined by how we played in this game. We were also very grateful to get the chance to compete because there were only two teams left and we knew how many people would love to get the chance to play for a state championship,” junior Peyton Bechtold said.
The game started out with a quick goal from junior Izzy Tamerlano, scooping the ball up off a faulty pass and dumping it in the goal.
Shortly after, the Generals would tie it with a doorstep goal from Lucca Suib.
With 5 minutes left in the first, junior Meg Flanagan would score off of a quick pass from senior Vivi Vogt.
Not even a minute later, junior Hazel Mackey would put another goal up for the Crusaders, making it 3-1 with 4 minutes left in the first quarter.
To start off the second quarter, Meg Flanagan would put up another quick goal for the Crusaders. This would be immediately followed by a goal from Izzy Tamerlano.
The Generals were still fighting however, with Lucca Suib scoring again for the Generals, making it 5-2 at the start of the second. This was quickly followed by a goal from Grant’s Isla Hoffelt.
Izzy Tamerlano would answer back for the Crusaders, scoring her third of the night off of an assist from Hazel Mackey. Tamerlano would then score again before Grant’s Nico Zadoff would keep them in the fight with one of her own, making it 7-4 heading into halftime with the Crusaders leading.
To start the second half, Jesuit sophomore Elle Kafoury would score for the Crusaders off of a quick fast-break goal to keep the momentum on their side.
Isla Hoffelt would answer back after a stellar shot for the Generals, making the score 8-5 with 7 minutes left in the third.
Izzy Tamerlano would answer back yet again before Grant’s Lucca Suib would get a hat-trick of her own after scoring off of a quick cut.
Isla Hoffelt would help bring the Generals back in the game, taking things into her own hands and closing the deficit to only two, with the score being 7-9 late in the third.
Hazel Mackey would close out the third quarter for the Crusaders with a snipe to extend the Crusaders lead.
The Generals would come in the fourth quarter hot with a quick goal from Isla Hoffelt, cutting down the Crusaders lead to 10-8.
The Generals couldn’t find an answer for Jesuit’s Izzy Tamerlano who would answer back with a quick unassisted goal, helping extend the lead early in the 4th.
Grant’s Myla Zawadski would try to bring the Generals back in the game with the final goal of the game but it was too late.
After an impressive defensive fourth quarter from both teams, the Jesuit Crusaders would win the 2026 OGLA state championship, completing the six-peat.
Jesuit goalie Lanie Knight would be named the games MVP after making many impressive saves to help lead the Crusaders to victory.
“Winning the championship your senior year is a surreal experience and getting to do it with your best friends is even better. Being named the MVP wouldn’t have happened without the contributions of my teammates and the support from my coaches,” Lanie Knight said.
