On Saturday, the 6th ranked Jesuit Men’s Lacrosse team headed to Gladstone High School for a massive OHSLA Quarterfinal showdown against the 3rd ranked West Linn Lions. For a program used to playing into June, the energy in the stadium was electric, and the stakes couldn't have been higher.
Things started off quick. West Linn struck first, but the Crusaders answered back. Senior Elliot Hire put the team on his back early, scoring quickly and then following it up with another goal to hand Jesuit the lead. Then Senior Davis Dolp fired one into the back of the net to make it 3-1, and it felt like Jesuit had all the momentum. But lacrosse is a game of runs, and the Lions found theirs. As the first half progressed, things began to unravel for the Crusaders. West Linn caught fire, rattling off a series of unanswered goals. By the time both teams headed to the locker rooms at halftime, Jesuit found themselves in a 7-4 hole.
The third quarter offered more of the same uphill battle. Down 11-6 with about three minutes left in the period, Senior Ryan Devine gave the Crusaders a spark of hope, scoring his first goal of the game to shorten the deficit. Heading into the final quarter, the desperation and grit could be felt from the guys. Jesuit tried to make a late game push, but every time the Crusaders found the back of the net, the Lions had an answer. The final whistle blew with the scoreboard reading 13-10.
This game was majorly decided on the faceoffs. West Linn absolutely dominated the possession game, going an impressive 20 for 23 on faceoffs. In a sport where possession is everything, losing that battle meant the Crusader defense was pushed to the limit, spending far too much time on their heels trying to stop a strong Lion offense.
The loss is a tough pill to swallow. Jesuit hadn't seen a playoff exit this early since 2019. The Crusaders have played in the state championship game every single year since 2021. Still, a tough Saturday finish doesn't erase what was an incredibly gritty season. The Crusaders ended the year ranked 6th in the state with a 10-3 record, including some great wins against strong teams. To make things even more impressive, all three of Jesuit’s losses this year came against top 5 opponents.
The heartbreak was felt among the seniors after the final whistle, reflecting on both the game and the end of their high school careers. Ryan Devine shared that the team fell short of its potential, stating, "I feel like we underachieved this year. We had the talent to get it done but we just couldn’t click it all together. West Linn is a good team but I definitely feel that we could beat them." Henry Van Pelt summed up the emotional night directly, calling it "a tough way to end a gritty season." Meanwhile, AJ Bayne looked at the bigger picture and the bond the players shared, adding, "It was a great season. I'm sad we ended a little sooner than expected. We went through a lot of adversity but we battled well. It was a great group of dudes." It's not the amazing ending the senior class wanted, but this team fought until the final buzzer.
