The Yorktown Patriots have continued as heavy hitters in postseason boys lacrosse action this spring.
With the campaign-ending state tournament still to come, the high-school team already has won a sixth straight Liberty District tourney, followed by finishing second in the 6D North Region competition for the second year in a row and third time overall.
The Virginia High School League’s Class 6 state tournament begins for Yorktown with first-round action today (Friday). The Patriots, with a 16-4 record, are expected to be a contender for the title they won for the only time in 2021.
“We thought we had a good shot to do this well in the playoffs,” Yorktown coach Greg Beer told ARLnow. “That’s always the goal.”
In the region tournament, Yorktown finished 2-1. The Patriots lost the seesaw region final at home to the Madison Warhawks by a one-goal 8-7 score.
Madison took an early 2-0 lead, then Yorktown rallied to move in front 4-2 at halftime. The Warhawks bounced back to move ahead 8-5 with 4:41 left in the match as the Patriots were hurt by turnovers in the second half.
Yorktown then rallied to cut the lead to 8-7 and had the ball with 22 seconds to play after a Madison turnover. But the Patriots did not get a final shot off.
“I figured this would be a one-goal game or go into overtime,” Beer said. “We played a good game but were just one goal short.”
Yorktown lost to Madison, 11-4, early during the regular season.
“We have come a long way since that game,” Beer said.
Logan Kaetzel scored two goals for Yorktown in the region final, and Nate Randles, Eli Pilch, Alex Randisi, Mikey Cowan and Quinn Jones one each. Randles and Jack McCorry had assists. Wyatt Taphorn won multiple faceoffs.
Leading the Patriots’ defense was goalie Nicky Palma along with McCorry, Alex Len, P.J. Cooper, Peyton Tien, Caden Henault, Konstantinos Alexis, Owen Lefton and Collin Damato. Palma made a number of big saves, as he did in each postseason game.
Yorktown was hoping to win its third region championship in program history, the first two coming in 2021 and 2022. The region-final loss snapped Yorktown’s 14-game winning streak.
In its first two region-tournament games this season, also at home, Yorktown defeated Westfield, 15-6, then Oakton, 15-7, in the semifinals.
Prior to the region event, Yorktown was the top seed and finished 2-0 to win the district tourney. The Patriots downed Herndon, 15-6, in the semifinals, then Langley, 18-11, in the final to finish 9-0 against district opponents this season.
Randles, Pilch, Kaetzel, Cowan, Randisi, Andrew Sacks and Xavier Alford led Yorktown in goals and assists in the Patriots’ other postseason matches.
Randles had eight goals and as many assists against Herndon, tallied three goals and eight assists versus Westfield and five goals and three assists against Oakton. Pilch scored six goals against Langley and Cowan five against Westfield.
Randles, chosen first-team all-region attack and the region’s Player of the Year, will play in college at Penn State. He became Yorktown’s career leader in assists and points scored this season. Randisi was chosen first-team midfielder and Len a first-team defender.
NOTES: Yorktown’s schedule has been difficult this season. In addition to playing four teams that will participate in the state tournament, the Patriots also defeated Langley and Oakton twice each. Both of those teams advanced as far as the 6D North Region tournament semifinals. “Our tough schedule has prepared us well,” Beer said. … Yorktown now has a 15-0 district-tourney record en route to winning those six straight tournaments.
