The Cambridge Bears Boy's lacrosse team faced our cross-town rival Alpharetta Raiders Friday, March 6th, in our version of "Friday Night Lights" in a wild thriller.
The Bears and Raiders have friends on both teams in this tight-knit lacrosse community, and the stands were full and loud on both sides as the game got underway.
Cambridge scored first, but both teams traded scores, take aways and ground balls throughout the contest. At the end of the first quarter the score was tied 2-2 and 5-5 at halftime after Alex Sichynsky's unassisted goal with 9 seconds remaining in the half.
Alpharetta came out strong in the third quarter to take a 7-6 lead going into the fourth quarter. With the Bears behind and the game on the line, Brendan Fahey dodged and dove his way to the goal to tie the game 7-7 with 5:40 remaining. Austin Walling came through in the fourth period winning critical face-offs, giving the Bears control of the offense for most of the final minutes.
Eric Cizek and Nick Herrick stripped Alpharetta of the ball to try to set up another goal. With 4:18 remaining in the game, Jack Sadighian fed the ball to Will Britain, who shot a great left-handed rip for the go-ahead goal! Both teams traded time-outs as time ticked away. Bears got the ball with less than ten seconds but Alpharetta got it back behind the goal.
Knowing there was very little time to tie the game, Alpharetta called a time-out that they didn't have. They had used all their time-outs and were penalized for delay of game - BEARS BALL with 3.4 seconds remaining. GAME OVER! BEARS WIN 8-7!!
A well-fought, clean lacrosse game (only one flag in the whole game and NONE on the Bears) by both teams and an awesome come-from-behind victory for the Bears!! Scoring was led by Tyler Werth's hat trick (three goals), with additional scoring by Jake Leddy, Alex Sichynsky, Jameson Wilkins, the tying goal by Fahey and the game-winner by Britain. Goals were assisted by Jack Sadighian, Fahey, and Leddy.
Between Walling and Cizek the Bears won critical face-offs and Aaron Contreras in goal was on fire with incredible saves and awesome clears!
It was a tremendous signature win for the underdog Bears.
Next opponent is Fellowship Christian in Bear Country on Saturday 3/14! WE NEED YOU THERE LOUD AND PROUD for the BEARS in this CRITICAL AREA 03 GAME!!
