Record season ends in section semifinal appearance for boys’ lacrosse

The year didn’t end as they wanted, but the Monticello boys’ lacrosse team still had the best season in program history. After winning the conference for the first time, the Magic won their first-ever section game. They played St. Michael-Albertville on the road in the Section 8 semifinal on Tuesday, June 4.

The first few minutes belonged to the Magic but the Knights recovered and eliminated Monticello from postseason play.

An errant pass on the defensive side of the field resulted in an own goal for STMA as Monticello took a 1-0 lead with eight minutes left in the first quarter. A minute and a half later, Gunnar Simon intercepted a pass, raced down the field and doubled the Monticello lead. Another minute later, another STMA turnover turned into another Magic goal for a 3-0 lead with 5:25 left in the first.

The Knights woke up after that and closed the game on a 16-4 run. Caleb Waller scored twice within a minute and then dished a wicked assist with 1.1 seconds left in the opening frame that tied the game 3-3.

That run continued as STMA scored five more unanswered goals to take an 8-3 lead and that was all she wrote. They went on to win 16-7 and advanced to the Section 8 Championship. Stats were not available.

Monticello went 10-5 under first-year coach Chad Hayda. 10 seniors who played on the team graduated from Monticello High School last week: Callan Jacobson, Hunter Stutzman, Roman Thompson, Jonny Sanchez, Brodie Mich, Ben Bauer, Austin McGill, Jackson Montgomery, Simon and Jacob Hangsleben.