Clinging to a one-goal advantage in the final minute of Friday night’s intersectional contest with Menlo-Atherton, Palisades High’s boys lacrosse team needed a save and Spencer Au got it.
With the opposition one man up and buzzing around the Dolphins’ net, the goalie used his cat-quick reflexes to block a point-blank shot with 12 seconds left and Palisades held on to win 7-6.
“It deflected off my stick and helmet and I went down to get it,” Au said. “I like the pressure. These are the moments I live for. I’ve been working a lot on my stick skills and passing to guys in the run.”
Menlo scored twice in the first two and a half minutes, taking a 2-0 lead on goals by Robert Lane and Jack Wolf.
Joey Hamwi got the Dolphins on the scoreboard midway through the second quarter and added another goal off an assist from Macchio Rissone to pull Palisades within 3-2 in the final seconds of the half.
Jake Takakjian and Cooper Lee scored 10 seconds apart and Zane Daily added another goal just over one minute later to give the Dolphins a 5-3 lead early in the third quarter.
Takakjian and Rissone tacked on goals to make it 7-4 entering the fourth quarter.
First-year Coach Kevin Donovan said the outcome was a product of a great week of practice – and his team’s determination.
“That’s a good team capable of a high-level of possession time,” he said. “In the end, we just wanted it more. We were lucky to be down only 3-2 at halftime.”
— Steve Galluzzo
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
