Piedmont High School’s boys lacrosse team fought a valiant battle on May 7, but ultimately came up short in the Highlanders North Coast Section Division 2 playoff match at Miramonte, falling 7-6.
Piedmont ends its season at 7-7. The third-seeded Matadors (11-8) will host University-San Francisco in the semifinals on May 12.
The teams entered the fourth quarter tied 6-6 in a thrilling match with two buzzer-beaters to end the second and third quarters. The Highlanders got a one-minute power play early in the final period but were able to generate just a couple of shots.
Miramonte got the game-winner with six minutes, 20 seconds to go in the game. Evan Ho took the ball behind the net and cleared out a teammate. He then went around to the right side of Piedmont goalkeeper Luke McAulliffe. Quentin Shafroth defended Ho well, but Ho was able to shoot over Shafroth while turning on the run and got the shot past McAulliffe.
The Highlanders had several chances for the equalizer. Milo Stevenson got a nice shot off from up close with just over four minutes left but it went wide. Timmy Kalamas had two shots with just under two minutes left, but one went over the net and the other went wide. Landon Heppner got a shot off with 1:20 remaining but it went wide left.
Two Piedmont turnovers in the final 65 seconds were devastating. The Matadors were able to kill the clock off and move on.
Miramonte got a 2-0 lead early on a pair of goals where Ho set up William Murphy from behind the net. Heppner got one back with 2:55 left in the first quarter. Murphy then set up Ho to make it 3-1 with 2:15 to go in the period.
Owen Curran scored a nice goal off of a spin move and a shot while jumping with 1:12 left in the quarter and it was 3-2 at the break.
Piedmont tied the score when Kalamas set up Connor Fredericks with 7:52 to go in the half. Murphy scored to put Miramonte back on top but Fredericks set up Curran at 3:53 to tie the score at 4-4.
Murphy got the first buzzer beater, coming around the net and scoring as time expired to give the Matadors a 5-4 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Highlanders tied the score again when Fredericks came from behind the net to score with 5:04 on the clock. Murphy stole the ball from Piedmont goalkeeper Deniz Radzik to score with 3:19 to go. Stevenson set up Fredericks from 20 yards out with a huge shot that went in as time expired to tie the score at 6-6.