(Photo Courtesy of Christ Church Episcopal Athletics)
Across the South, the high school lacrosse regular season is winding down and playoffs are either fastly approaching or already here.
The South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) 4A and 5A State Tournaments will get underway on Wednesday, April 19. The state title games will take place on April 29 at Irmo High School.
4A State Tournament
Christ Church Episcopal (15-1) earned the No. 1 seed in the SCHSL 4A state tournament. The Cavaliers are unbeaten against fellow Palmetto State teams with their lone loss coming against Charlotte Catholic (N.C.) in early March. The Cavaliers will be looking to finish the business they could not last season as they fell in the title game in 2022 to Lucy Beckham.
Junior midfielder Jack Henry Roye (43G/41A) has led the way for the Cavaliers this season with 84 points through the regular season. However, maybe the player to watch for this team is sophomore Hudson McCarthy. Named the Upperstate Attackman of the Year as a freshman last spring, McCarthy has only played in the Cavaliers’ last six games after missing most of the season due to injury. He has 31 points off 17 goals and 14 assists through those six games. On the back end, senior William Stathakis (107 saves, 52%) anchors a defense that has allowed double-digits just over the past month.
Defending 4A champion Lucy Beckham (9-4) is the No. 2 seed. The Bengals are undefeated against teams from the state of South Carolina and three of their four losses came consecutively early in the season as they fell to a a trio of out-of-state powers in Lake Norman (N.C.), Cannon (N.C.), and Lambert (Ga.). Junior defenseman Garrett Coombs (Saint Joseph’s Commit) headlines the Bengals defense while junior Ryan Weis (Adelphi commit) anchors things in cage. He has 105 saves with a 61% save percentage thus far. Fellow juniors Austin Constable (Binghamton commit) and Ryan McCarthy have combined for 63 points as leaders of the offense.
Bishop England (12-2) earned the No. 3 seed while A.C. Flora is the No. 4 seed. Bishop England carries and 11-game winnings streak into the postseason. That streak includes 6-5 win over A.C. Flora.
5A State Tournament
Chapin (14-1) and Lexington (11-3) come into the postseason with two of the best records and neither have lost a game in about a month. Chapin is on an 11-game winning streak while Lexington has won each of their last five games.
Wando (9-6), Nation Ford (13-3), and J.L. Mann (7-3) are the top three teams to watch in the 5A state tournament.
Wando is the reigning 5A champion and has won the most titles in Palmetto State history with seven. The Warriors have won seven of their last eight games with a defeat to Hough (N.C.) being the only blemish on their resume over the past month. Senior Garrett Mayer (Rhodes signee) has led the way for the Warriors this season with 57 points off 44 goals and 13 assists. Junior Huson McConnell (29G/25A) has 54 points on the year. Sophomore Connor Kraemer has anchored the defense in cage with 102 saves and 43% save percentage.
The Falcons of Nation Ford were the runner-up last year, having lost to Wando in the title game. They beat J.L Mann in the semifinals. Two of Nation Ford’s three losses are against out-of-state teams in Marvin Ridge (N.C.) and Hoggard (N.C.). They also fell to 4A power Lucy Beckham. Sophomore Josh Ameo has led the way for the Falcons with 59 goals and 38 assists for 97 points thus far.
J.L. Mann is led by senior Jacob Watt (Air Force commit) as he has put up 47 points off 26 goals and 21 assists thus far. Sophomore. Ryan Doherty has 34 points off 20 goals and 14 assists. Sophomore Logan Erdley has helped lead the defense out in front while senior Anthony Sanchez (216 saves, 66%) anchors things in cage. The Patriots ended the regular season with a loss to Charlotte Catholic (N.C.). Their other two losses came to 4A power Christ Church.
Players to Watch
Hudson McCarthy, A, Christ Church Episcopal (Fr.) – 4A
Garrett Coombs, D, Lucy Beckham (Jr., Saint Joseph’s) – 4A
Flynn Wilson, FO, Lucy Beckham (Jr., Sacred Heart) – 4A
Ryan Weis, G, Lucy Beckham (Jr., Adelphi) – 4A
Josh Ameo, A/M, Nation Ford (So.) – 5A
Jacob Watt, M, J.L. Mann (Sr., Air Force) – 5A
Garrett Mayer, A, Wando (Sr., Rhodes) – 5A
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