Lambert Boys Lacrosse Wins State Championship
The 2021 GHSA boys lacrosse season came to a close over the weekend with a showdown in the Class 6A-7A state championship game between the Centennial Knights and Lambert Longhorns.
The game ended with a 17-9 victory for the Longhorns who dominated in this year’s state playoffs.
The Longhorns finished the season with a 21-1 record, including an undefeated record in region play that launched them into the state playoffs where they had some dominant performances like their first-round 20-0 win over Brookwood.
Lambert led early in the championship game after two scores from junior first team All-State attacker Danny Kesselring, the son of Centennial head coach, and his teammates helped out with a surge of goals that put the Longhorns up 7-5 at halftime. Kesselring would finish the day with an impressive four goals and two assists against his dad’s team.
Centennial did not lie down in the second half, closing the gap to just one goal early in the third quarter. However, it would not be enough as Lambert dominated the fourth quarter, scoring five more goals, making a comeback out of reach and securing their third state title in the last five years.
Senior goalie Zach Vlajk had an impressive nine-saves to help keep the Knights offense from mounting a comeback. Lambert’s senior team captain Drew Kotanian had a great outing as well, tallying three assists and a goal in his final game as a Longhorn.
Saturday’s victory marks Lambert’s fifth lacrosse state championship, the last of which came in 2018. The Longhorns nearly won it all in 2019 as well, but fell short in an 8-7 loss to Walton.
After the Longhorns’ loss in the 2019 title game, they were ready for revenge, but their 2020 season was cut short due to the pandemic. They only played five games before their season was canceled, which means the team had to sit with that championship loss for nearly two years.
Josh Sagel, the Lambert boys lacrosse head coach, has led his team to the state championship in eight of the last 11 seasons and has won the GACA Lacrosse Coach of the Year Award in 2016 and 2018.
The Longhorns finished their 2020-2021 season ranked No. 7 nationally, according to MaxPreps.
Sagel will be tasked with rebuilding his team now that 16 seniors have graduated and moved on. It will not be easy, but it is something that he has done well during his time as the Longhorns head coach. Although the Longhorns are losing three team captains, star Danny Kesselring will be back next season and will continue to be a key piece for the Longhorns’ explosive offense.
Of the seniors that are leaving, some are moving on to play at the collegiate level. Malachi Lindsey signed with SUNY Cortland, Robert Fenters signed with Berry College and Michael Lindsey will be playing for the University of Alabama-Huntsville.
Written by: Jacob Johnson
