Upper Arlington, Jerome capture regional crowns
Thursday, May 25, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Upper Arlington’s Charlie Paxton (20) celebrates a goal with Tommy Janowicz (15) during the host Golden Bears’ 13-3 win over Hilliard Davidson in a Division I, Region 3 final on May 25. Photo: Michael Rich
The celebration was rather tame for the Upper Arlington boys lacrosse team after defeating league rival Hilliard Davidson 13-3 on May 25 at Marv Moorhead Stadium.
After all, the Golden Bears had bigger prizes in their sights than a fourth consecutive Division I, Region 3 championship.
“It obviously feels good (to win a regional title), but we think of it more as the start of the journey,” sophomore attacker Jack Caine said. “It’s a landmark … but we’re ready for the next one.”
UA plays the winner of Cincinnati Moeller and Cincinnati St. Xavier in a state semifinal on May 31 at Springfield’s Edwards-Maurer Field.
“The whole year we talk about making the next play,” UA coach Kyle Olson said. “It’s not about winning the region or winning the conference – it’s about the next play. Right now, we’re focused on what the next play is going to be against whoever we face from Cincinnati. We don’t ever really talk about big picture things – it’s about the little things and working towards the next play.”
Caine was the catalyst for the top-seeded Bears (20-2), dishing out four assists as they built a 7-0 lead at the break.
UA adjusted to Davidson’s zone defense after struggling against it during a 6-5 win in OCC-Central Division play on May 2. The Bears also defeated the Wildcats 17-4 in last year’s regional final.
“They played a zone (defense) and we normally don’t see a lot of zones,” Caine said. “They have a good coach, so it was a (well-coached) zone. But he didn’t change it this time, so (we were able) to learn it.”
The second-seeded Wildcats (19-3) already trailed 8-0 when Noah Dodgion scored unassisted with 5:56 left in the third quarter.
“(UA) played fast, they played aggressive, they played smart and we did none of those things,” Davidson coach David Ames said. “Hats off to them – they played a great lacrosse game. I don’t know why we couldn’t put things together. But it’s probably less about what we did and more about how well they played.”
Dodgion had all three goals and Vance Ames had seven saves for Davidson, which had never made a regional final before last season.
“You can’t give them multiple opportunities,” Ames said. “We did that the first time, but we battled back and we bounced back. This time, they just put their foot on the gas and we continued to compound our mistakes. We talk a lot in our program about how mistakes are going to happen, it’s what happens on the next play and don’t compound them. Tonight, we just let them pile on.”
Seven different players scored for the Bears, led by Tommy Janowicz and Wally Swiney, who had three goals apiece.
Janowicz added a pair of assists and goalies Sam Old and Zach Olvey had four and two saves, respectively.
“We were able hit some opportunities early and that forced (Davidson) out of the zone,” Olson said. “I think we were just a little bit deeper tonight and played a little cleaner. It’s all a credit to seniors and captains stepping up.”
Dublin Jerome’s Marek Tzagournis, the leading scorer in Ohio high school history, attacks the goal in the Celtics’ 20-12 regional finals win over Olentangy Liberty May 25. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Dublin Jerome 20, Olentangy Liberty 12
Leading just 4-3, the host and top-seeded Celtics scored the final four goals of the first half and cruised to their third consecutive Division I, Region 1 championship on May 25.
Jerome advances to play Cleveland St. Ignatius in a state semifinal on May 31 at Ashland’s Jack Miller Stadium.
Brady Sestili had five goals and an assist, Marek Tzagournis added two goals and three assists, Xander Johnson scored three goals and goalie Cory Lorentzen had six saves to lead Jerome.
The Celtics (20-1), who beat the Patriots 15-9 on April 6 and beat them 19-11 in last year’s regional final, built as much as a 10-goal lead in the third quarter.
Austin Mallory led the second-seeded Patriots (16-6) with three goals, Ethan Brooks, Braydon Spencer and Luca Minniti had two goals apiece. Jake Struck had three assists and Preston Mullett had 11 saves in goal.