TEX BOYS: DI Plano Escapes DII Allen in Nail Biter, 7-6

Sophomore middie Simon Sherman scored what stood up to be the game-winning goal with 1:50 remaining in regulation to give Division I Plano a 7-6 victory over Division II Allen in a Texas High School Lacrosse League North District game Thursday night.

Sherman’s goal gave Plano a two-goal lead, and it was just the cushion the Wildcats needed. Allen closed within a goal when sophomore middie Hunter Stoltz scored with 40 seconds remaining in regulation, and the Eagles had one final chance to force overtime.

However, Plano senior defenseman Patrick Franklin forced a turnover and came up with his game-high 10^th ground ball in the waning moments to seal a win for Plano (1-0) in its season opener and debut for first-year head coach Nolan Godfrey.

Sherman and freshman attackman Kyle Frazier each had a goal and an assist to lead Plano’s offense. Sophomore attackman Grant Pieper, junior attackman Cameron Dennis, sophomore middie Matt Zagurski, senior middie Mike Orazetz and senior middie Tanner Stockton all scored once for the Wildcats, who played without out-of-town standout senior middie Sean Leon.

For Allen (0-1), junior attackman Matthew McGrath had a goal and an assist, and five others scored once. The Eagles lost their season opener in the debut of new head coach Wendell Lee.

Plano led 3-1 at the end of the first quarter, 3-2 at halftime and 5-4 at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth, the teams traded goals right down to the end, with Plano twice taking two-goal leads at 6-4 and 7-5 and Allen twice closing the gap back down to one.

“We unfortunately made it more exciting than we wanted to, but we’ve got a lot of youth, a very talented but inexperienced sophomore class that's going to be the basis of a very bright future,” Godfrey said. “Many were not only making their first start but playing in their first varsity game. They made a lot of big plays for it being their first time in the limelight.”