DURHAM, N.C. — Green Level picked up the pieces from what could have been a demoralizing moment and instead turned it into the program’s finest hour.

After giving up four straight goals to allow Lake Norman to force overtime in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A boys lacrosse championship on Friday at Durham County Memorial Stadium, it was the Gators who had the final moment of euphoria, winning 11-10 on an Austin Hryn goal off an assist from Gus Maggio.

It is the Gators’ first title in program history.

The winning goal came with 2:31 left in the overtime period, and happened right after the Gators flipped the field and had to protect against a potential game-winner from Lake Norman.

It was a roller coaster of emotions.

Green Level (22-2) had controlled most of the first half and led 6-2 at halftime. The Gators built a 10-6 lead in the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats (18-6) went on a 4-0 run, scoring the last three goals in the last 1 minute and 9 seconds of regulation.

The tying goal came with just four seconds left as Lake Norman forced a turnover, threw a full-length-of-the-field pass in desperation, and senior Hayden Cichon caught it without a bounce, turned over his right shoulder and flicked it into the net as he dove.

In the overtime period, Green Level’s Josh Smith won the faceoff and the Gators called timeout. However, Lake Norman blitzed the ball coming out of the timeout and forced a turnover, then called a timeout of its own. A turnover by the Wildcats gave Green Level new life, and a series of passes caught Lake Norman slow to slide on the pass. Maggio found Hryn right in front of the net, and the Gators had their title.

The Gators got four goals from Hryn and two more Jackson Spells to go with his two assists. Kelan Moore and Harrison Murray also had two goals each. A.J. Ahart (one assist), Sam Dickson (two assists) and Gus Maggio (one goal) rounded out the scoring.

It was is Green Level’s second NCHSAA title in any sport since it opened its doors in 2019, and its first state championship appearance in boys lacrosse.

Lake Norman, which was playing in its sixth state final and hoping to add to its two championships, was led by a trio of Cichon (three goals, one assist), Cannon Wigginton (three goals) and Brandon DeBerardinis (three goals). Pete Geraffo had one goal, which came with 45 seconds left to bring the Wildcats within one. Ty Faucher added one assist and Brady Johnson had two assists.

Prior to the game, the NCHSAA hands out sportsmanship awards to one player from each team. The Green Level sportsmanship award winner was Ahart and the Lake Norman winner was Shaun Wilson.

Source: highschoolot.com