by The last time the Chagrin Falls Tigers and the University School (US) Preppers met at Schovil Field in Hunting Valley in 2023 for a lacrosse game, there was a lot on the line. It was deep into the playoffs and both teams were three wins away from claiming a state title. The two squads have had a long history of squaring off for a Regional Championship like they did on May 24th, 2023 on the University School campus and that time around, the Preppers walked away with not only a 14-6 win over their rivals but a Regional Championship trophy as well.
The Preppers went on to lose the next round and the season was done at that point but the memory remained of that May 24th, 2023 game as Chagrin Falls and University School squared off again at Schovil Field for a regular season matchup on a cool but sunny sky filled Friday night on April 19th, 2024 game.
Temperatures were cool as the game started and bright blue skies were in the air as fans arrived on the campus of University School for a classic Division II matchup between two historic lacrosse programs to end the week.
After a few minutes of back and forth action where great saves were made by the goaltenders on each side, the Preppers struck first when Junior attack Andrew Voinovich took a great pass from Midfielder Manzili Denis to put it past Chagrin Falls goaltender Joey McCamon to give US an early 1-0 with 8:42 left in the first.
The lead was short lived as the Tigers would fire back when Junior Drew Zelch put one past Preppers goaltender Max Salisbury to tie it up at 1-1 with 7:09 left to go in the first quarter.
From there on out in the first quarter, both teams traded goals and leads.
Preppers senior midfielder Nico Alvarez put one past McCamon to give the Preppers the lead but the lead didn’t last when as the Tigers countered with a Jacob Kay goal within the final two minutes of the first quarter.
After two goals by the Preppers Preston Blue and the second by the Tigers Drew Zelch, it was a 4-3 US lead going to the second quarter.
Blue would get the hat trick early on in the second quarter when he would take a pass from teammate Braeden Piero to give the Preppers a 5-3 lead with 11:33 on the clock in the second quarter. Another goal by Blue would give US a 6-3 lead with 7:01 left to go before half time. Blue had four goals to his name on the scoresheet at that point in the game.
Preppers goaltender Max Salisbury made incredible saves to help preserve the Preppers lead all throughout the second quarter.
The Tigers would see the back of the net with another goal by Jacob Kay but additional goals by the Preppers Trip Doyle and Tyler Mee would give US a commanding 8-4 lead at halftime.
Shortly before halftime, Tigers goaltender Joey McCamon went down with an injury and would not return to the game.
Blue would get one more goal for the Preppers in the second half and Salisbury continued to make tremendous saves for US. Salisbury only allowed one goal in the second half to the Tigers and US would go on to win 9-5 for another victory against their lacrosse rivals.
The Preppers, who are undefeated, will go on the road to play Wooster this upcoming week before returning home the following week for games against Archbishop Hoban, Rocky River, and St. Ignatius.
