Lacrosse: Skyline Beats Pinckney; Downs Pioneer in Regional Quarterfinal
The Skyline Eagles ended their regular season Monday with a convincing 17-4 win on the road over the Pinckney Pirates in boys’ lacrosse. Scoring was led by senior co-captains Kevin Nguyen and Jamie Newton as well as junior Walden Jones-Perpich. Sophomore Mitchell Westhoven notched his first varsity goal for the Eagles.
On Friday, the Eagles played for bigger stakes when they travelled across town for their regional quarterfinal match against rival Pioneer. The teams were 1-1 in the regular season and tensions were high.
The Eagles opened the scoring two minutes into the contest when senior co-captain Jamie Newton found the back of the net. Senior co-captain Kevin Nguyen scored the second goal, but Pioneer answered both and the score was
2-2 at the end of 1.
Nguyen was unstoppable in the second quarter. He scored four consecutive goals to generate a strong offensive lead, and the Skyline defense also played an incredible game, closely guarding the Pioneer attackers. Goalie Philip Crumm made some critical saves and only allowed one goal in the second quarter. The score was 6-3 Eagles at the half.
Pioneer came back in the third, winning possession and ground balls, and mounted a three goal offensive comeback. Although Newton and Nguyen each scored once, Pioneer narrowed the Eagles’ lead to 8-6 at the end of 3.
The Eagles came out strong in the fourth. Nguyen and freshman Graham Newton each scored to toke the Eagles to 10-6, but the Pioneers kept fighting. Taking advantage of their possession, Pioneer ran the score up to 10-9 with a few minutes left in the game. The contest came to an exciting finish when Eagle junior Walden Jones-Perpich scored with less than thirty seconds on the clock, ending the season for Pioneer, and sealing the 11-9 win for the Eagles.
The Eagles advance to play the Saline Hornets Thursday in the regional final at Eagle Stadium.
