By Jack Veltri
Correspondent
After struggling to find answers most of the night, the Catawba Ridge boys’ lacrosse team came to life when it mattered most.
The Copperheads came from behind to defeat the South Meck Sabers 5-4 Tuesday night. They have now won two straight games after starting the season 1-6.
“We’re taking a lot of guys who haven’t played lacrosse as their predominant sport,” said Copperheads head coach Matthew Day. “So, they’re picking up sticks this time as freshmen as their first time playing. I think they just do a really great job of fighting and using what we do have.”
Trailing by two in the third quarter, Catawba Ridge got its first goal since the closing minutes of the first quarter. Cam Hiser scored what would be the first of two goals in the game.
Without much action heading into the final minutes, it seemed that the Copperheads would go down losing. However, Hiser saved the day with his second goal of the night with 2:11 to go to tie the game.
In overtime, it didn’t take long for a winner to be decided. Less than two minutes into the extra period, Adam Christenberry put the ball through the back of the net to give Catawba Ridge the victory. For Christenberry, it was his 100th career high school goal.
“He is the first player to ever do that in Catawba Ridge history, so it’s pretty cool,” Day said. “Cool way to get it. I feel like it was a goal that should’ve gone in a long time ago.”
The Copperheads’ comeback efforts wouldn’t have been possible without a strong performance from freshman goalie Ben Kriss. After allowing two early goals in the first quarter, Kriss did a fine job slowing down the Sabres offense.
There was only one word Day could think of to describe the way Kriss played: “Incredible.”
“It was unbelievable,” Day said. “I mean, he’s been playing goalie for eight weeks. He has not picked up a goalie stick before January of this year. And when those shots are moving 85 miles per hour, for somebody who hasn’t played, I mean, he is little as a freshman. It’s unbelievable what he has been doing. Defense as a whole too.”
With five games to go, Catawba Ridge will turn its attention to the Clover Blue Eagles on Wednesday night.
In Day’s opinion, his team might be catching steam at the right time.
“We just gotta keep growing,” Day said. “We want to go for a winning season. That’s something the school’s never had.”
March 20 Roundup
Nation Ford
The Nation Ford boys’ lacrosse team locked up the Region 3-5A title with a 19-3 win over Blythewood on the road to improve to 6-0 in the region and 8-1 overall. Nation Ford still has two region game left against Spring Valley and Fort Mill.
The girls’ lacrosse team won 19-8 against Blythewood at home to improve to 5-5 overall and 3-3 in region play.
The baseball team took game one against Blythewood to open their series winning 7-5 at home. Nation Ford is now 7-3 on the season and 3-1 in the region.
The tennis team fell to 4-2 with a loss to Charlotte Catholic.
Catawba Ridge
The Copperheads’ Jackson Mullen pitched a six-inning no-hitter to beat York 10-0. Mullen tossed his second consecutive no-hit performance going six inning and allowing two walks while striking out eight. Catawba Ridge had 13 hits in the win as they improve to 7-3 overall and 4-0 in Region 3-4A.
Fort Mill
The Fort Mill baseball team fell 5-4 to Rock Hill in game one of their series and are now 5-4 overall on the season and 1-2 in Region 3-5A.
-Mac Banks
