farragutpress

2nd period key for FHS lacrosse vs HVA, GPS

April 23, 2025 by Alan Sloan

HARDIN VALLEY — It was a back-and-forth lead change in the first two periods when Farragut High School visited rival Hardin Valley Academy in a key boys lacrosse showdown Friday evening, April 18.

But after taking a 6-5 halftime lead on a goal converted right at the halftime horn, the Admirals took charge — allowing no Hawks goals in the match’s final 22 minutes — to win going away 14-6.

Led offensively by Finn Sachs’ five goals, “Our boys, in the second period, decided they really wanted it. ... They made a unified decision to play the game that they love,” said FHS head coach Ben Sachs, whose team improved to 8-1 overall, 2-0 in district. “The offense started to kick in by playing unselfishly.”

Defensively, “We communicated effectively to pretty much shut them down,” the Admirals skipper added.

Coach Sachs praised FHS goalkeeper Baker Sandoval’s “multiple saves, while also praising Luke Duenckel, “who kept our team moving.”

In the first half, “We were playing our game; we wanted to slow them down, and we did,” said HVA head coach Kevin Hoppey, whose team lost just its second game (8-2) and first in district (3-1).

But in the second half, “They wore us down,” the Hawks coach added.

Maddox Farrow led HVA in scoring with two goals, while Gavin Ralston, Kadin Wilson, Elliot FIsher and Trever Kelley each added one.

Down 5-2 roughly midway through the second period versus Girls Preparatory School, Farragut High’s girls lacrosse team suddenly came to life.

The result was a 9-1 scoring run, which carried these Lady Admirals to an 11-5 lead into the fourth period, winning 11-8 at the FHS home field Tuesday evening, April 15.

“I think we just talked to the girls and really told them to lock in, and they really followed through with that,” Lady Ads assistant coach Savannah Elliott said. “They really worked as a team in this game, and their defense really, really just came through with stopping the attackers.”

Sophomore attacker Taryn Jackson led Farragut offensively with three goals while freshmen Raeanne Ellsworth and Cam Beeler each scored twice.

After Jackson’s second goal tied it, junior attacker Jane Davanzo gave the Lady Ads a 6-5 early third period lead it wouldn’t lose, then added another goal less than one minute later. Senior Greer Butler and freshman Morgan Oglesby also scored for FHS.

The win improved Farragut’s overall record to 6-3, while the Lady Admirals already had finished regular season district play at 3-1.

“I just really think we probably played our best team game overall this season,” Elliott said. “We really locked down and played a good team game.”

“I think that their ability to keep the ball moving and find the ball quick and clean off the ground was really impressive today,” said GPS head coach Laura McIntyre, whose team’s record fell to 2-7.