Lacrosse win CIF title at Home!

Author: Bernie Wilson

For original article: SD Union-Tribune

Patrick Henry High School didn’t have to leave campus during their run to the CIF San Diego Section Division 2 boys lacrosse championship.

The No. 2-seeded Patriots overturned a two-goal halftime deficit by outscoring No. 1 Westview 6-2 in the second half to take a 9-7 win Saturday in front of a lively “home” crowd, even though they were technically the visiting team.

“It’s crazy,” said senior captain Stone Timmons, who scored the Patriots’ first goal and their final goal for a three-tally lead with 3:12 to play. “It felt so nice to play every game here, and just having the CIF here was so cool.”

The Patriots (13-6) added this title to the Division 2 title in 2021 and the Division 1 crown in 2022. They beat Rancho Bernardo 8-4 and Pacific Ridge 13-8 at home to reach the title game.

When it ended, they left a trail of their equipment strewn halfway down the field as they raced to celebrate with senior goalie Zachary Koo, who relieved sophomore Jack Michener in the second half as part of their regular rotation.

Mac Schott, who missed the previous two games with a concussion, scored the go-ahead goal with 6:51 to go in the fourth quarter and scored again 49 seconds later for an 8-6 lead.

Jake Heimann also scored twice in the second half, and Frank Rote had a goal in each half.

“I think it really just clicked that we were losing, and for the seniors, it’s our last game,” Timmons said. “We all just put in the work.”

Trevor Atchley and Merrick Fleming each scored twice for Westview (17-5), which lost offensive-minded defender Noa Magbanua with a leg injury midway through the first quarter.