The Chaska Hawks Lacrosse team was 5-5 for the year coming into its May 13 game with Orono (8-1).

Before the game, Coach Chris Orcutt summarized the game.

“We are doing well, we’re beating the teams we’re supposed to beat and the teams’ skills are coming along very well,” Orcutt said. “We lost to Orono last year in OT by one, so our seniors are focused.”

It was senior night as the team, school and assembled parents acknowledged 12 varsity and nine JV seniors.

In the pre-game huddles, the coaches stressed being in position and not allowing for easy passes on Orono’s part. Chaska brought intensity to the game and pulled out to a 5-2 lead after the first quarter.

Senior goalie Cohen Carlton played in net for the Hawks the whole game. He would go on to face 30 shots on goal from Orono.

Chaska handled the ball throughout the second quarter and held the ball in the Orono end, with defense supporting Cohen on the Chaska end of the field. It was a tough, physical game with each team getting the referee’s whistles. By half time, the score had Chaska up 9-6.

Halftime discussions had an impact on play, as both teams came out with increased focus. Play went back and forth through the third and into the fourth quarters. Both teams rotated players in and out with strategic precision and in an attempt to make plays.

With 7:36 left to go in the game, the score had Chaska up 13-11. With 5:23 left in the game, Chaska was up 13-12. Orono tied it up at 13-13 with 0:53 seconds left.

As fate would have it, Orono scored the winning goal with 0:05 seconds left in the game, 14-13.

Kamren Atteberry led the Hawks in scoring with nine points – seven goals and two assists. Atteberry leads the team this year in scoring with 49 goals and 23 assists. Adam Wilson and Ian Schaffer had two goals and an assist each in the Orono game. 

The team was disappointed with the outcome. The coaches complimented their efforts and pointed out the learning opportunities from such an outcome.

“That was a tough one,” Orcutt said. “We’ve gotten better each game, and playing that tough against a good team like that shows what we’re made of.” 

The Hawks travel to Waconia for a game on May 20 and finish up the regular season with a home game against Chanhassen on May 22.