HIGHLAND PARK – Faced with a state title slipping away on Sunday, Highland Park attacker Duncan Zielke remembered advice to prevent panicking. That discipline led to poise that spread among the Scots and a fine cap to a championship season.
Zielke scored three goals, two to start an important 4-0 stretch to close the game as Highland Park pulled away for an 8-4 win over the Episcopal School of Dallas in the Texas High School Lacrosse League’s Class 2A state championship game at Highlander Stadium. Zielke powered in a shot from the left side with 10:11 remaining, then struck again off a pass from Colton Heinlen with 9:02 remaining to give HP a 7-4 lead. A Quinnipiac commit, Zielke was named the tournament Overall Most Valuable Player.
Zielke’s heroics halted a near dramatic comeback by ESD. After trailing 5-0 at halftime, the Eagles stormed back with Virginia commit Josh Logan scoring two goals in the third quarter. ESD cut the lead to 5-4 on a Wayte McKnight goal McKnight goal with 10:40 remaining.
“Coach (Mike) Pressler instills in us no panic. He said before this game we would face adversity head on and we faced it head on,” Zielke said. “You stay calm. You breathe. You gotta block out the noise and talk to your teammates. The boys around you are the ones that will help you out at the end.
“We have been playing together since the second and third grade. We are brothers and we bond. We communicate older players to younger and younger to older. If we don’t that communication today we might have lost.”
Highland Park (18-2) picked up its second straight state title and ninth overall in the THSLL’s highest classification since 2004. ESD (15-2) was denied its second straight state title and its seventh overall. Highland Park was the only team to beat ESD this season and both times the Eagles were held to a season-low in goals, including an 11-4 decision on April 25 at Highlander Stadium.
Highland Park’s combined long offensive possessions and physical defensive play to take a 5-0 lead in the first half. Harrison Brown scored two first goals in the first half. Battling cramps and exhaustion, Brown finished with three goals to earn Offensive MVP honors.
Highland Park’s physical defensive play was led by defenders Jackson Bond and Ben Boyer, commits to North Carolina and Virginia respectively. Bond, who was named the Defensive MVP, said the style his team had in the first half returned in the fourth quarter.
“The tougher we play, the better we play. No team can play with us if we play as tough as we can,” Bond said. “They got a few goals in the third quarter, but we bounced back.”
Highland Park goalie Jack Morse finished with 13 saves for the win. ESD goalie Connor Kowalewski, a Binghamton signee, had 15 saves, nine in the first half. Michael Goglia added a goal and an assist for ESD.
Chance powers St. Mark’s past Austin for Class A title
Weston Chance wasn’t happy with how his team’s offense played in the first half of the THSLL Class A state championship game on Sunday, so the St. Mark’s junior midfielder took matters into his own hands. The tide would turn in the second half, anchored by Chance making his own signature moment of toughness.
Chance scored three goals, two in the second half as part of a 6-0 run to give St. Mark’s a 7-1 lead on its way to a 7-3 victory at Highlander Stadium. Chance’s second goal of the game and first of the second half was the most impressive as he knocked a defender down with a legal hit before powering his way to the goal. Chance was named the Overall Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
A great defense took care of the rest as St. Mark’s equaled a season low in goals, a mark the Lions three previous times this season including last Sunday’s super-regional win over Houston Strake Jesuit in Houston. Led by MVP Rocco Renda, St. Mark’s limited to Austin to 15 shots on goal, eight shots and two goals in the fourth quarter when the outcome was practically decided. Sophomore William White was solid in goal for St. Mark’s stopping 12 of 15 shots on goal for an .800 save percentage, an excellent showing in lacrosse.
“In the first half we weren’t playing aggressive enough, so at halftime our coaches told us we going to have to go take it and make our own opportunities. On the second goal I just lowered my shoulder and went inside. The hit felt good. I think it got us all fired up,” Chance said. “Our defense played incredible. Hats off to the preparation in watching a ton of film and communicating. That was the loudest we have been communicating with each other on field this season.”
Mac Saye had two goals and an assist for St. Mark’s and earned the tournament Offensive MVP honors. St. Mark’s (12-6) picked up its first state title since winning the Division I crown in 2013. Nolan Miller had a goal and an assist for Austin (13-7) while goalie Haynes Morrison made 10 saves.
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