The Jesuit Dallas lacrosse team has been stellar all season long, moving in and out of the Inside Lacrosse national rankings. They have been the top-ranked team in the southeast region by the magazine for quite some time now. It is no reason why as they continue to put on spectacular performances. The team continued that this weekend as they played Austin High School in the first round of the Texas High School Lacrosse League (THSLL).
Austin High School
The game was held at home at 1:30 on a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon with temperatures in the 80’s. An hour before game time, the doors of the school opened and a stampede of glistening chrome gold helmets came rushing out, yelling like soldiers preparing for battle, striking fear into their opponents’ hearts. They ran onto the field to warm up in their helmets and gloves while families stood outside the stadium tailgating.
The mountain of a man in the Babson commit Will Reading ’22, or as many call him, “Big Will,” an appropriate nickname for a man of such figure, started the game at the faceoff with a win. Reading would end up going a career-best 22-24 for faceoffs in the day, a 91% win rate. The Rangers would take a slim early lead in the first, leading 3-2 going into the second. Thanks to great coaching and good decisions from the players the lead expanded to 8-3 at the half. The Rangers went on a 6-0 run in the third, shutting out Austin, and getting the chance to give some experience to their bench. The Rangers would end up winning 15-5.
Penn State commit Mac Hobbs ’22 scored 4 goals and had 1 assist, but the real story of the day was Beckett Foley ’24. Foley had 7 goals and two assists, tying the record for most goals in a single game set earlier this year against Austin High School by Mac Hobbs. This also breaks the previous record of most points in a single game with 9. Breakout junior Charlie Schmidt ’23 added two goals of his own, along with Sewanee commit Charlies Moran ’22 and VMI commit Nate Duncan ’22 adding a goal apiece.
Will Reading led the team with 17 ground balls, a career-high.
On defense, Tyler Gazzam ’22 had two caused turnovers while Michael Mathie ’22 and LSM Jack Emery ’22 caused a turnover each themselves.
Defending the cage, Richmond commit Connor Knight ’22 had seven saves. Cooper Coleman ’23, a recent Jacksonville commit also went in the fourth quarter.
Semifinals
The Rangers will travel to Dripping Springs, home of this years THSLL championship, to play St. Mark’s on Saturday at Dripping Springs Middle School. If the Rangers are victorious, they will play the winner of ESD and Westlake (defeated 3rd place Highland Park at Highlander Stadium). The winner of the game will advance to the championship will be held Sunday afternoon at the same location.
State and District Awards
Several Rangers had amazing seasons stat-wise, and a few of them were good enough to be recognized by others for their success.
Class A All State
Goalie – Connor Knight ’22
FOGO – Will Reading ’22
Defense – Tyler Gazzam ’22
Midfield – Charlie Schmidt ’23
Attack – Mac Hobbs ’22
Class A All District
Attack – Beckett Foley
Class A Honorable Mention
Midfield – Charlie Metz ’22
Class B Honorable Mention
Midfield – Jackson Raymond ’24
LSM – Henry Hambleton ’24
