Big Mac Lacrosse Team Falls to Baldwin

By Gary Beam

Sometimes a little help from your friends goes a long way, but if you have an opportunity to get something accomplished by yourself, most times the surety of the result lies in one’s own hands.

So it was Wednesday night with the Canon-McMillan High School lacrosse team as a win against Baldwin and a win next week against Chartiers Valley would ensure a playoff berth in the upcoming WPIAL playoffs.

But, as was the case last year, the Big Macs just couldn’t win the big one as they fell to the Highlanders 11-8 in a titanic struggle at Canon-McMillan Memorial Stadium.

Like two prize fighters, the teams exchanged blow after blow in a well-played game that saw Baldwin pull out to a 4-1 lead with 4:36 remaining in the first half when Canon-Mac senior Richie Leeds put the team on his back and tallied two goals in the last 3:30 of the second quarter to pull the Big Macs within
one at the break.

It looked like a storybook ending might be in the works on this Senior Night as Leeds, the team’s only senior, scored mid-way through the quarter to put Canon-McMillan into the lead at 6-5.

But the plot quickly changed as Baldwin responded with two goals before the third quarter ended and the teams headed to the final period tied at seven.

However, early in the fourth quarter Baldwin netted two goals within in 38- second span to take a 9-7 lead, but Nick Carr got the Big Macs back with one when he scored his 43rd goal of the season.

The Big Mac offense relentlessly attempted to force the game into overtime but the hearts of the Canon-Mac faithful were broken when the Highlanders scored with just 24 seconds remaining in the game to seal the victory and closed the deal with another goal with nine seconds remaining.

Canon-McMillan finished their home schedule tonight against Quaker Valley. The loss drops the Big Macs record to 11-4 overall and 1-3 in the conference.