Lacrosse weathers Storm; on to sectional final

HUNTLEY – A final-minute goal, a halftime pep talk and some threatening weather added up to a special night for Huntley boys lacrosse team, as HHS advanced with a 10-8 win over South Elgin May 25.

Huntley junior Andrew Baumley scored for an 8-7 HHS lead with five minutes left, then netted the-game winning goal with 1:14 remaining. Senior Connor Ardell added another goal in the closing seconds.

With the victory the Redtop seed  Raiders move on to their sectional final at home at 5 p.m. May 27 against rival Hampshire, the second seed. Huntley won the first clash for the Fox Valley Conference title. The winner advances to the IHSA Super-Sectional clash at Hoffman Estates May 31.

On a wet Wednesday, it was senior Brady Mullsen who was the team motivator. The battle was deadlocked at 4-4. Halftime was also the second weather delay of the evening and both teams charged out of the field house area for the second half.

“I noticed some guys’ heads were down, but said it’s 4-4, it’s fair game,” Mullsen said.

Mullsen then tallied a go-ahead goal and senior Andrew Toman added another for a two-goal lead. But the visiting South Elgin Storm gained a tie and the teams traded goals until Baumley’s winner.

“I came flying down the alley and got the pass from Toman. I  noticed their goalie had gone low so I shot high,” Baumley said. “it really was intense.”

Baumley took many hits from the Storm players but came right back at them each time. “That is just his style, consistent with the way he plays,” HHS coach Dominic Saccomanno said. It was a back-and-forth game, two big teams going up and down the field. Mullsen’s speech at halftime really kick-started us.”

The Red Raiders took an early 2-0 lead on an Ardell goal and Mullsen’s first tally. But it was tied less than a minute later, and then the visitors took a 3-2 lead. Ethan Phillips’ goal tied it up and Toman’s next goal made it 4-3. Toman’s second half goal provided a 7-6 lead, but that too was short-lived.

In the end the Huntley squad gained its 14th straight win, a 16-4 mark and a sectional final opportunity.