Long Beach Prevails Over MacArthur to Advance to Quarterfinals

In a thrilling display of athleticism and skill, the Long Beach and MacArthur lacrosse teams clashed in a Class B postseason battle on Tuesday at Long Beach High School. The game saw Long Beach emerge victorious with a final score of 8-3, beating MacArthur for the second time this season.

The match unfolded with an air of anticipation as both teams took to the field, ready to showcase their prowess. In the first quarter, both teams came out firing, exchanging goals to set the tone for the rest of the game. However, it was Long Beach who seized the initiative in the second quarter, outscoring MacArthur with two goals while maintaining a solid defensive presence to keep their opponents at bay.

Despite facing a deficit, MacArthur refused to back down, as they aimed to stay within striking distance. However, Long Beach remained composed under pressure, matching MacArthur goal for goal to preserve their lead heading into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter proved to be the deciding factor, as Long Beach delivered great offensive efficiency, scoring four goals to put the game out of reach for MacArthur. Despite their best efforts, MacArthur could not match Long Beach, ultimately falling short as the final whistle blew.

Individual performances shown brightly on both sides, with players from each team leaving their mark on the game. Brody Faivre and Ryan Fitzgerald showcased their offensive prowess for MacArthur, each contributing a goal and Ryan Sheehan with two assist to keep their team in contention. Meanwhile, Maverick Chernoff and Luke Hartman led the charge for Long Beach, combining for six goals and two assists to propel their team to victory.

In goal, Caden Cullen stood tall for MacArthur, making ten saves to keep his team within reach distance despite facing a number of shots from the Long Beach offense. On the opposing end, Aiden Derupo was a stalwart presence for Long Beach, turning away seven shots while boasting an impressive 70% save percentage to anchor his team’s defense.

This marked the end of the line for MacArthur as they end the 2024 season with an overall record of 9-8, while Long Beach will continue their season into the next round of the playoffs where they will head to South Side to face the number one seed Cyclones this Friday at 6:00.