The PCHS Boys Lacrosse team opened their season on March 15 at Dozier Field, facing off against the Lone Peak Knights. The Miners managed to outlast the Knights in overtime, winning by a score of 9-8. The Miners now move to 1-0 on this young season.

At 5:00 pm in blustery and cold weather, the Miners faced off against the Knights to start their 2022 campaign, which looks to accomplish what the 2021 campaign could not: win a state championship.

Last season, on May 29, 2021, the Miners lost to the Corner Canyon Chargers by a score of 20-13 in the Division A Utah State Boys Lacrosse championship game, after Park City was leading by 1 goal at halftime. The Miners will face the Chargers on Friday, March 18th in Draper for a state championship rematch.

In last year’s State Championship, the 2-seeded Miners took on 15-seeded Lone Peak in the first round, winning narrowly by a score of 14-13 in another overtime victory. This was their tightest game, up until the state championship game against Corner Canyon. The Miners ended the season with a 17-3 record, including an 8-1 record when playing at home.

Tuesday’s Lone Peak matchup proved tougher than expected for Park City. Coming off of a relatively average 9-7 2021 season, Lone Peak had started the 2022 season 2-1. Park City entered with a clean slate, this being their season-opener.

In the first nine minutes of the first quarter, the Miners jumped to a quick 3-1 lead over the Knights, thanks to goals from sophomore Brendan Johnson, junior Jack Ronan, and senior John Trahan. Lone Peak answered back in the end of the first quarter and the second quarter, tying the game at 3-3 at halftime after shutting out Park City in the second quarter. 

After halftime, the Miners quickly regained their lead. Sophomore Brendan Johnson scored his second goal of the night, set up by a beautiful pass from junior Chase Beyer. On the very next possession, freshman Brighton Bruce increased Park City’s lead to 5-3. Lone Peak responded with back to back goals of their own, tying the game back up at 5-5 with just under five minutes left in the third quarter.

Immediately after Lone Peak knotted the game at 5, junior Jack McHenry won the face-off and took it coast-to-coast for a goal of his own, putting the Miners up 1. Lone Peak tied it at 6-6 just before the third quarter expired. 

Heading into the final quarter, Lone Peak was within reach of an upset. With just twelve minutes to go, the Knights had an opportunity to take down the defending number two team in the state. However, Park City regained their lead thanks to Johnson notching his third goal of the night with eight minutes remaining in the game. Park City began to take longer possessions to run out the clock and come closer to clinching the win. Senior Jude Trahan scored on an assist by his twin brother John Trahan in what seemed to secure the win for the Miners, bringing Park City to an 8-6 lead with just a little over one minute remaining.

While it may have seemed that way to many Miners fans in the stands, Lone Peak had not been defeated just yet. With just forty-two seconds on the clock, Lone Peak scored again to bring the score to 8-7, in favor of Park City. McHenry won the ensuing face off, but a costly turnover followed by a Lone Peak timeout with twenty-three seconds left opened the door for the Knights. 

Lone Peak was able to take advantage of the final twenty-three seconds of regulation, quickly moving downfield and scoring with only four seconds remaining. Knights senior Anders Neuenschwander netted a goal to tie the game at 8-8 at the end of regulation. 

The game transitioned to a four minute sudden death overtime, in which the first team to score a goal wins. 

Similar to many other face-offs earlier in the game, McHenry won possession for the Miners, giving them the ball in the most crucial possession of the night. Park City came close to ending the game immediately after the face-off, but Ronan’s shot missed the mark. However, Park City was able to regain possession and regroup with a timeout. Right out of the timeout, John Trahan got the ball and cashed in on his mid-range shot, scoring his second goal of the night, and more importantly securing the win for the Miners. 

Park City kicked off their hopeful 2022 campaign with a win, moving to 1-0. The Miners’ next game takes place in Draper on Friday, March 18th, as they attempt to redeem themselves against the state’s top lacrosse program.