Sophomore attackman Jonah Woessner scored the go-ahead goal with 4:42 remaining in regulation, and senior goalie Brian LaFlam could not be beat down the stretch, as third-seeded Chandler downed second-seeded Salpointe Catholic, 7-6, in an Arizona Youth Lacrosse League Division I semifinal Friday night.
With the victory, the Wolves (13-3) advanced to the state championship game for the first time since 2005. Chandler, which has never won a state title, will next face the winner of Saturday night’s Brophy Prep-Chaparral semifinal on Friday, May 14.
Senior middie Andrew Muscara registered a game-high four points on two goals and two assists, sophomore attackman Sean LaFlam finished with three points on two goals and one assist and Woessner scored twice for Chandler, which beat Salpointe Catholic for the second time this season.
Junior middie Brandon Moranz had a goal to round out the offense.
In the cage, Brian LaFlam saved 17 shots.
In defeat, junior middie Ryan Bakewell had a team-high three points on two goals and an assist, senior attackmen Cameron Wilhite and Ben Neilson each finished with a goal and an assist and junior middie Dominic Cozzetti and senior attackman Matt Greenberg both scored once for Salpointe Catholic.
The Lancers finished their best season in program history 13-3, but they failed in their bid to become the first Tucson-based team to ever reach the Division I state championship game.
The game was tied, 3-3, at the end of the first quarter, and Chandler led 6-5 at halftime and 6-5 going into the final 12 minutes.
Neilson scored off a feed from Wilhite with 8:24 remaining in regulation to tie it, 6-6, but Woessner answered with 4:42 to play off a feed from sophomore attackman Daniel Nelson.
Salpointe had its chances to force overtime, including a man-up advantage in which Brian LaFlam made two saves. In all, Brian LaFlam saved five shots in the fourth quarter.
“I thought we played much like the way we did against Desert Vista, with a lot of emotion and self-control,” Chandler head coach Dave Henning said. “We were able to match up with probably the most athletic team in the league.”
Chandler has now reached the state final after winning both its playoff games by a goal. Up next will be either Brophy Prep, which beat Chandler in the regular season, or Chaparral, which lost to the Wolves.
“I’m focused mostly on what we need to do and us playing our best game,” Henning said. “We have areas where I believe we can improve with a week of practice.”