Reds rally past Irish for SOSSA title
The Denis Morris Reds captured the SOSSA AAA field lacrosse championship in dramatic fashion Thursday.
With time running down and overtime looming, Peyton McIntosh fired the winning goal with less than one second remaining to give the Reds a 6-5 win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association crown.
“I wasn’t aware of the time,” said McIntosh, an 18-year-old, Grade 12 student. “It was just mixed emotions. I love all these guys. There are like my brothers.”
The Reds called a time out with 30 seconds remaining and drew up a play.
“We had a set play going down to 7 (Owin Hendsbee) and then coming up top to me for the shot on the off side and look for 88 (Cole Yungblut) just in case,” said McIntosh, who plays box lacrosse for the Spartan junior B’s.
DM coach Matt Vinc was thrilled to see his charges pull off the win.
“I’m happy,” Vinc said. “It wasn’t something that we really practised too much because they were playing us a little differently.
“We wanted to get the ball in Peyton McIntosh’s stick. He’s really a heck of a player and was going to give us a good chance. We also wanted to have guys at X (behind the net) to give us two options.”
McIntosh said teamwork helped the Reds get over the top.
“I love all these guys. You couldn’t ask for a better group of people to be with,” he said. “I loved all the moments. All the boys pulled through. A lot of highs and lows but the boys got the job done.”
The Irish jumped out to an early 3-0 lead before the Reds rallied with five straight goals. Notre Dame then tied the game at 5-5 with a pair of late goals, setting the stage for McIntosh’s heroics.
“We got down 3-0 in the first quarter. I think last year that would have been game over for us,” Vinc said. “We battled hard and showed a little bit of composure and veteran leadership there. We have a lot of Grade 12s who are big pieces of the puzzle and they played really well.”
DM goalie Austin Paddy, a member of the junior A Athletics, also had a strong game with several big saves.
The Reds now advance to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) championships in Owen Sound June 5-6.
“I’m looking forward to it. Owen Sound is going to be good,” McIntosh said. “We’ll bring the boys together, try and have some fun, and try and win an OFSAA championship.”
Vinc isn’t sure where the Reds will be ranked.
“We’ll have to wait and see. It’s based on record and who played. We’re usually ranked in middle of the pack.
“Hopefully we can go there and do the area proud.”
Reds 6 Fighting Irish 5
BPSN Star of the Game: Peyton McIntosh of Denis Morris with two goals, including the winner with less than one second to play.
Denis Morrs Reds: McIntosh 2; Owin Hendsbee 2; Dan Kennedy, Cole Yungblut.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Max Brook 2; Dylan Dekoe, Nick Rubino, Harrison Doan.
Up next: The Reds advance to OFSAA June 5-6 in Owen Sound.
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