The Hill Academy take three of four games in Maryland

As the only Canadian high school to make the DigitalSports Lacrosse Rankings, the Hill Academy always challenges itself against the top programs in the United States. While on its tour around the Northeast of the US, the Pride, ranked 9^th, stop in Maryland for four consecutive games against the state’s best.

The Hill Academy faced 20^th ranked St. Paul’s on March 11. Dominating early on, the Pride eventually took a 9-5 lead into the fourth quarter. Then the Crusaders heated up, tying the game at 10. After both teams scored another goal, Jeffrey Teat scored the decisive goal with 1:09, putting the Hill Academy ahead of St. Paul’s. Teat led the Pride in the 12-11 with four goals and an assist.

The very next day, the Hill Academy used its momentum in the St. Paul’s game to take down 7^th Gonzaga. Coming out on fire, Hill won the first quarter 6-0. After Gonzaga worked some things out, the Eagles took back two goals in the second quarter to bring the game to 6-2 at the half. Both teams shined in the third, sending the game to the fourth quarter at 10-5. Though Gonzaga hit the back of the net five times in the final five minutes, the Pride’s two goals in the fourth were enough to walk away with a 12-10 lead.

In its third game in three days, Hill Academy faced 26^th ranked Calvert Hall. Much like the first two games, Hill came out hot, taking the first quarter 5-1. Led by the power of Timmy Kelly, Calvert Hall fought back, leading to a 6-4 halftime score line. Kelly netted three goals in the final 45 seconds of the third, to give the Cardinals an 8-7 lead over Hill. After Hill tied the game at 8, Calvert Hall put in two goals taking a 10-8 advantage with 1:28 remaining. The Pride managed to score with 1.1 seconds left, but it was not enough to defeat Calvert Hall. Timmy Kelly led the Cardinals with eight goals and an assist.

After a day off, the Hill Academy got back on the field against 36^th ranked Landon on March 15, looking to get back on the win column. This time, Landon had the edge early on, leading to a 7-4 advantage for the Bears by the half. The Pride went to work in the third quarter, trailing only 8-7 by the start of the fourth quarter. Midway through the fourth, Hill tied the game at 8. Then with two minutes left, Jack Bolen game Landon the advantage. The Hill Academy tried relentlessly to tie the game back up, and with 20 seconds left, the Pride scored a shorthanded goal. On the ensuing faceoff, Hill won it, worked the ball down, and scored the winning goal in the final seconds of the game, capping off a dramatic comeback.

Coming out of four games in five days against four of the best teams in the country, the Hill Academy can hold their heads high with a 3-1 record. In total, Hill is 5-1 in for the season.

Now the Pride gets a well-deserved couple of weeks off from its US tour. Hill returns on April 3 to face 39^th ranked Brunswick School. Throughout the rest of its season, the Hill Academy will be challenged in games against 15^th ranked La Salle, 45^th Brother Rice, and 49^th Bishop Timon-St. Jude coming later in April and early May.