Friday night was the final game of the 2018 season, as well as being Senior night for Coppell Boys Lacrosse. Coppell was facing McKinney Lacrosse in what would be the final high school lacrosse game for the eight graduating Seniors. It was only fitting that in a game where the seniors logged the majority of the playing time, they also dominated the statistical categories as well.
Both teams were a bit slow to get things going early, as each team posted a single goal in the first quarter. Coppell’s first score came when Senior Reese Walker (3 goals, 3 assist on the night) found fellow midfielder Brandon Point for a goal. The scoring picked up midway through the second quarter though, as the teams combined for eight goals in the quarter. Faceoff specialist Reece Reynolds got Coppell going with a faceoff win and fast break goal with six minutes remaining until halftime. Reese Walker then went on a scoring streak that included 1 goal and 2 assists on the next three scores for the Cowboys. First Junior Walker Cain found Reese Walker for a score. Then Reese Walker found fellow Senior Zach Bartolacci for a goal before Bartolacci returned the favor on their next score, finding Walker wide open from 12 yards out where he buried a shot for the goal.
This started a scoring run by Bartolacci (3 goals, 2 assist in the game) which included him either assisting or scoring on 5 of Coppell’s final 7 goals, including 2 assists and an unassisted goal with just 36 seconds left in the game to ice the victory for the Cowboys, with a final score of 10-8.
The Cowboys were strong at the face off line on the night, with Junior Reece Reynolds winning 13 of 18 possessions, and Freshman Tyler Wendel was a perfect 4 for 4 on the night on his face offs.
On the defensive end, Senior Harper DeLoach posted one of the strongest games of the season by a close defender for Coppell, grabbing a season-high 6 ground balls and forcing 3 McKinney turnovers. Fellow Senior Hayden Lowrance, who along with DeLoach played almost every minute of the game, grabbed 1 ground ball and forced 3 turnovers. Senior Goalie Lee Martin got the win in net while making 6 saves on the game.
It was also fitting on Senior night that the team leaders in goals scored on the season with 21 goals each, Seniors Reese Walker and Zach Bartolacci, each scored 3 goals in the game to finish the season tied for the team lead with 24 goals. Senior Harper DeLoach finished with 20 ground balls won on the season, tops among the Cowboy’s close defenders.
Thank you and congratulations again to our eight Seniors who finished their high school careers with a win. Reese Walker (Team Captain) will attend the University of Utah and play Division 1 lacrosse. Hayden Lowrance will attend the University of Texas at Austin. Zach Bartolacci (Team Captain) will attend the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Zach Eckley (Team Captain) will attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. Griffin Hess will attend the University of Texas at Austin. Harper DeLoach (Team Captain) will attend the University of Texas at Austin. Mark Webb will attend the University of Alabama. Lee Martin will attend Texas A&M University.