De Smet and MICDS will meet in the postseason for the sixth consecutive season to kickoff the semifinal round of the Class 2 Missouri Scholastic Lacrosse Association boys lacrosse state tournament Tuesday.
The previous four meetings occurred in the Class 2 championship game, including the Spartans’ 11-9 come-from-behind victory to earn the title last season.
2023 title game story: https://metrosportsstl.com/2023/05/27/mark-steadies-ship-helps-de-smet-dethrone-micds-for-first-state-title-in-21-years/
Clayton defeated Kirkwood in an epic, 10-9 overtime thriller on April 22. The Greyhounds erased a three-goal deficit in the fourth quarter before a goal by Adrien Shor-Perrier won it in double overtime. They will renew acquaintances at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a Class 1 MSLA semifinal.
Clayton comeback story: https://metrosportsstl.com/2024/04/23/clayton-rallies-from-three-goal-deficit-to-stun-kirkwood-in-double-ot-thriller/
News and Notes for Semifinal Tuesday:
Class 2 Semifinal – De Smet (9-8) at MICDS (15-5) –5:30 p.m. Tuesday
- Rematch of 2023 state title game won by De Smet 11-9, snapping the streak of eight consecutive MICDS state championships.
- Sixth consecutive season the teams will meet during the Class 2 playoffs (MICDS is 4-1).
- MICDS won the regular season meeting with De Smet 14-8 on March 28.
MICDS defeats De Smet 14-8: https://metrosportsstl.com/2024/03/29/tough-composed-micds-cruises-past-de-smet-in-state-title-rematch/
De Smet: After a stretch of six losses in seven games from April 10-April 29, the Spartans have won three consecutive contests, including a 13-12 overtime triumph over Chaminade in a state quarterfinal.
Top Performers:
- 27 Tanner Culleton – 44 goals 9 assists
- 35 Graham LaBonte – 38 goals 19 assists
- 2 Jack McManus – 37 goals 36 assists
- 9 AJ Russel – 69 ground balls, 24 caused turnovers
- 31 Casey Burkot – 135 saves, 8.33 GAA, .511 save percentage
MICDS: Won seven of last eight games, including a 16-6 victory over Eureka in a state quarterfinal. The Rams are 11-0 against St. Louis-area opponents this season, with an average margin of victory of 11.1 goals per game.
Top Performers:
- 50 Ian Spakowski – 51 goals 12 assists
- 5 Willy Carpenter – 49 goals 19 assists
- 7 Steele Crissman – 35 goals 43 assists
- 43 Henry Oliver – 86 ground balls, 60 caused turnovers
- 11 Tommy Cook – 173 saves, 8.38 GAA, .564 save percentage
Class 2 Semifinal – Priory (12-4) at SLUH (13-5) – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
- SLUH won regular season meeting with Priory 7-5 on April 5.
- SLUH is 4-0 against Priory since 2017.
- First postseason meeting between the two teams
Priory: Earned first Class 2 semifinal berth with 9-8 victory over CBC in state quarterfinal. Had stretch of seven consecutive wins from April 9-May 2, including victories over Chaminade and De Smet. Are 6-3 in games decided by two goals or fewer.
Priory wins quarterfinal over CBC: https://metrosportsstl.com/2024/05/18/priory-mounts-final-defensive-stand-to-hold-off-cbc-advance-to-first-class-2-semifinal/
Top Performers:
- 1 Colin Pim – 206 saves, 6.50 GAA, .678 save percentage
- 6 Mick Murphy – 33 goals 15 assists
- 44 Grant McGowan – 26 goals 11 assists
- 3 Jack Parent – 26 goals 8 assists
- 23 Myles Garcia-Eidsness 60 ground balls, 31 caused turnovers
SLUH: Reached 12th state semifinal in last 13 seasons. Has won five of previous six games, including a 12-3 victory over John Burroughs in a Class 2 quarterfinal. Looking to reach first state final since 2018.
SLUH defeats Chaminade in MCC opener: https://metrosportsstl.com/2024/04/10/sansone-leads-smothering-defensive-effort-as-sluh-defeats-chaminade-in-mcc-opener/
Top Performers-
- 42 Will Feise 43 goals 7 assists
- 25 Josh Bertram 33 goals 35 assists
- 4 Marco Sansone 73 ground balls, 47 caused turnovers
- 77 Henry Unger 48 ground balls, 31 caused turnovers
- 1 Sam Dorsey 104 saves, 8.17 GAA, .520 save percentage
Class 1 semifinal – Clayton (9-7) at Kirkwood (10-7) 6 p.m. Tuesday
- Kirkwood is the defending Class 1 champion, defeating Clayton in the quarterfinal round on its way to the title last season. Clayton defeated Kirkwood 10-9 in overtime on April 22. Last five meetings have been decided by a total of nine goals, with three one-goal games.
Clayton: Nine wins are the most since 2015. The Greyhounds are 3-0 in games decided by one goal, including a 9-8 victory over Parkway South in a Class 1 quarterfinal. Were 4-20 in a two-year span in 2021 and 2022.
Top Performers-
- 7 Jack Zimmerman 32 goals 9 assists
- 26 Aiden Louis 25 goals 6 assists
- 23 Luke Stipanovich 60 ground balls, 25 caused turnovers
- 25 Reece Fuller 12 goals 8 assists
- 22 Matt Martin 120 saves, 9.08 GAA, .504 save percentage
Kirkwood: Has won five of seven games since overtime loss to Clayton, including an 11-6 victory over Edwardsville in a Class 1 quarterfinal. Averaging 12.2 goals over last 15 games.
Top Performers –
- 8 Cooper Terry 53 goals 14 assists
- 10 London Kenter 41 goals 18 assists
- 16 Kelly Swartz 182-287 (63%) on faceoffs
- 44 Gavin Jansen 54 ground balls, 51 caused turnovers
- 7 Jed Holiday 184 saves, 7.79 GAA, .648 save percentage
Class 1 Semifinal – Ladue (7-9) at Marquette (10-4) – 6 p.m. Tuesday
Marquette defeated Ladue 17-7 on April 6. Ladue leads series 4-3 since 2018.
Ladue: Class 1 runner-up last season. Defeated Seckman 10-9 in wild finish to reach quarterfinal. Has defeated both teams on other side of bracket (Clayton, Kirkwood).
Top Performers –
- 4 Luke Lochmoeller – 42 goals 19 assists
- 21 Max Weinstock – 29 goals 15 assists
- 26 Andy Schulte 19 goals 15 assists
- 19 Lathan Levy – 83 ground balls
- 0 Johann Schuldt 162 saves, 10.40 GAA, .609 save percentage
Marquette: 10 wins is most in a season since going 11-4 in 2015. Had winless, 0-15 season in 2022. Averaging 12.2 goals per game. Two of four losses are by one goal (Lindbergh, Lafayette).
Top Performers –
- 1 Jimmy Farmer 45 goals 12 assists
- 22 Charlie Ingram 40 goals 15 assists
- 2 Brendan Kirwan 15 goals 11 assists
- 19 Colin Farrell 16 goals 16 assists
- 6 Hurley Hayes 20 ground balls, 12 caused turnovers
The Missouri Scholastic Lacrosse Association Class 1 and Class 2 championship games will be held on Friday, May 24 at Lindenwood University at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m respectively.