By Thomas Grant Jr.
The centennial celebration of Lexington High School athletics now includes the crowning of a new state champion.
On Saturday at Irmo High School, the girls’ lacrosse team became the school’s 16th title winner. The Lady Wildcats defeated Spartanburg 12-7 to win the S.C. High School League Class 5A Division I championship.
“It means everything,” Lexington second-year head coach Tiffany Tortorello said. “It shows what the Midlands is having for the future and the team growing and how this sport is growing in the South.”
It was the first-ever title for girls’ lacrosse, matching the same feat accomplished on the same field nine years ago by Lexington girls’ soccer.
Instead of a “Golden Goal” to win sudden death as soccer did in 2016, the Lady Wildcats jumped out to an early 4-0 lead. They held their advantage through the goalkeeping of Emersin Clamp.
The senior “clamped” down on the Lady Vikings with 15 saves on goal.
“I tried to do it for my team,” Clamp said. “I knew what I was doing it for and it was for them.”
Providing the offense once again was senior Izzy Saville. She scored three of her five goals in the first quarter for her third ‘hat trick’ of the post-season.
“It’s not just for me…it’s for my team,” Saville said. “We knew we wanted to be here. It has to take everyone, but I felt I had to step up and that’s what we did.”
Anna Barger also scored three goals as Lexington built a 9-2 lead in the third quarter. Spartanburg rallied with four straight goals in the final three minutes to close the gap to 9-6.
Just like the start of the second half against River Bluff, Tortorello kept her fourth quarter message focused on one goal – Finish.
“That if we wanted to win and it was our job,” said Clamp about Tortorello’s message. “We had to put forth effort and that’s what we did.”
With 10:40 left in the fourth quarter, Adler left the game after taking a stick to the face. Jada VanSickle replaced her and sent the penalty shot Spartanburg goalkeeper Abby Hampton to make it 10-6.
“That was a huge play,” Tortorello said. “She basically came in and was able to score. I think that brought the momentum to us. Came off the bench, having that momentum increased. I think that helped the team a lot.”
Adler returned to the match and scored 39 seconds later. After two attempts at the goal, Barger converted her third goal and final one for the Lady Wildcats with 8:22 left.
“We knew they were going to come back swinging and that’s what they did and we had to figure out a way to come back swinging harder and that’s what we did in the end,” Saville said.
After Saffy Evans’ third goal with 1:24 left, Lexington players and fans prepared for its post-match celebration. As the final buzzer sounded, the team gathered on the field to commemorate the historic moment.
“I can’t believe it,” Clamp said. “This is an honor. Here and the community and on this team and play for a state championship. I can’t believe it. We said we came out here to finish and that’s what we did.”
Lexington finished a school-best 16-1. The lone loss came at the hands of Class 4A champion Oceanside Collegiate, with first-ever wins over Class 4A runner-up Bishop England, Riverside and Academic Magnet.
