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UA Takes Back Crown in Classic Battle with Wolves

Jun. 10, 2010

UA Takes Back Crown in Classic Battle with Wolves

It's a whole lot like those old story problems you might remember from grade school math.

If the locomotive that is Worthington Kilbourne's boys lacrosse team chugs out of the station outbound when the postseason starts May 22, and the Upper Arlington diesel leaves at the same time, how long before the two collide in a memorable Division I state tournament championship game?

Turned out to be about 15 days.

Before a frenzied crowd at Dublin Jerome Saturday, June 5, the Golden Bears (18-2) snatched back their title lost a year ago to Kilbourne, defeating the defending champ 10-8.

"It was insane, but I loved it, it was really fun," said UA senior goalie Daniel Kloos of the do-or-die atmosphere.

"They played unbelievable, but we dug down deep and got the win."

All sides agreed, one series of action in the third quarter turned the tide.

After the Wolves (17-6) cut a 7-3 Bears halftime lead to just 7-5, a revitalized Kilbourne seemed ready to seize the game by the throat when two quick penalties had UA playing two men down.

But a Kilbourne shot hit a pipe, and a hard-charging Eliot Allen going the other way blasted a goal for the Bears from 20 yards out, giving UA an 8-5 lead heading into the final quarter.

"That was a two-goal swing," said Wolves coach Drew May.

"We hit a couple of pipes; if one of those had gone in, it's 7-6. Instead, they go down and score. We couldn't really recover."

An equipment violation on Kilbourne at the start of the fourth quarter led indirectly to a UA score by Adam Narwicz and a 9-5 margin, but Kilbourne wasn't done. Even with UA ahead 10-7 in the final minute, the Wolves still fought for a final goal by James Meager.

"It was a well-fought game, you have to give Arlington credit," said May, who admitted he didn't think any other team in the state besides UA could have beaten his Wolves that night.

"I don't think so," said the Wolves' boss. "I think our guys laid it all on the field. It doesn't get any better than that."

May also said he wasn't immune to the excitement that sizzled through the warm night air.

"I wished I could suit up," he remarked.

For the Bears, much of the postgame talk centered on the respect they had for the school they've now met in the title game three straight years.

Last year's 7-6 Kilbourne win stung more than a little.

"They came out firing," said UA attackman Cam Williams. "We love playing Kilbourne, it's always an intense game. Last time (a 16-5 Bears win May 4) wasn't their best effort. Tonight, they played great, they came out much harder, more intensity, very focused."

Yet UA had a focus of its own.

"It was our goal from Day 1, we wanted to bring it back to UA," he said.

While Bears coach Ted Wolford has become a fixture at state title games, he said there was something special about this UA group.

"Every (championship) is a lot of fun to see the kids win," Wolford said, "but I think especially with this group, from the standpoint of the effort they put forth.

"I said it from the beginning, this is a really nice group of kids who worked hard for us all year. They deserve everything they've got, all the accolades."

This was not a particularly veteran crew that seized back the state crown.

"It's a small senior class," Wolford said.

"Every one is an awesome individual. To see them walk out with something like this, we're very happy they're able to do that."

Scoring two goals apiece for UA were Williams, Tim Yuhas and Adam Narwicz, while netting one each were Kyle Cassady, Spencer Parsons, Allen and Kevin McCarley. Kloos had nine saves.

Kilbourne was led by Conor Igoe, who had the first three Kilborne goals, while Charlie Bassani added two. Notching one each were Will Campbell, Cory Spencer and Meager.

Keeper Cole Horwatt had eight saves.

By PHILLIP KING. Worthington News