OHIO CITY, OH - The Junior Varsity (A) Lacrosse Wildcats faced a tough challenge in their home opener against the North Allegheny (PA) Tigers on Friday, March 21, 2025, at McLaughlin Field. Despite a hard-fought contest under sunny skies, the Wildcats fell short, with a final score of 5-4.

The game, characterized by strategic play and strong goalkeeping, was evenly matched, with the halftime score tied at 2-2. Standout performances for the Wildcats came from Ryan Hilliard, who scored two goals, while teammates TJ Hulec and Brian Geary added one goal each. Connor Phipps and Spencer Swanson shared goalkeeping duties, each playing one half and demonstrating strong skills in the net.

A critical moment came late in the game when North Allegheny was penalized, giving the Wildcats a man-up opportunity. However, Hilliard's attempt to secure an equalizer was thwarted, preserving the Tigers' win. The Wildcats' coaches praised the team's effort, acknowledging Griffin Conway and Liam Hill for their exceptional faceoff performance.

Head JVA Coach Chris Hinshaw of the Wildcats shared his optimism despite the loss, stating, "This is going to be an exciting team to watch develop over the season. The reality of playing at a school like Saint Ignatius is that we don't have the advantage of having played together in the same system since third or fourth grade like many of our opponents."

The Wildcats will face St. John's in their next game on March 28 at Baldwin Wallace University. They look to bounce back and improve their current 0-1 record.


Story written by UReportNow.com