Dodgers' Spectacular Run Ends In Group I Final

The Madison High School boys lacrosse state championship quest ended with a 10-4 loss to undefeated Summit in the Group I final on Wednesday night at Livingston High School.

Despite what the final score showed, through the first 1 1/2 quarters the Dodgers looked like a team that might be able to unseat a powerful Hilltopper squad–which was 20-0 coming into Wednesday's game.

The Dodgers trailed 1-0 after the first quarter, as a very strong Dodgers defense kept Madison in the game while offensively, Madison struggled to hang onto the ball, let alone produce any goals.

"[They're a] tough team," head coach Mark Sweeney said after the game. "They pressured us, we knew we were going to get pressured, we had to move the ball and we didn't. We didn't control the ball when we had opportunities."

But in the second quarter trailing 3-0, captain Charlie Oldendorp got Madison within one as he scored two astounding goals, including a shot that flew past the Summit goalie as Oldendorp fell to the turf and the other, a spectacular behind the back shot that made the score 3-2.

But Summit would turn it on from that point, capitalizing on Madison turnovers, as they rattled off three straight goals to end the half leading 6-2.

"We were possible at 3-3 in the second quarter with three minutes to go, we drop a ball in the crease and all of a sudden it turns to 6-2," Sweeney said. "You can't do that against a good team."

In the second half, Summit continued to control the ball with ease and relentlessly scored on Madison turnovers forced by the Hilltoppers swarming defense.

"We thought we could go and play and we thought we had opportunities, but when you drop the ball and give them too many turnovers, you're going to be in trouble," Sweeney said. "And that's what happened."

Summit's Mike Ford jumped on a Madison turnover less than a minute into the half, making the score 7-2.

Summit would then score two more goals in the quarter before a goal from Madison senior Will Stuhler made the score 9-3 heading into the fourth quarter.

"We knew we had to test their goalie, we probably only had eight shots and four of them went in," Sweeney said. "You have to shoot and you have to have the ball to shoot."

Oldendorp would tack on one more goal in the fourth quarter, making his total three on the day, as Madison fell, 10-4.

"I doubt that anybody expected us to be in the county finals and the state finals," Sweeney added. "But we set those goals every year. We expect to be there, but we came up a little short."

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