Top ranked Auburn varsity LAX topples No. 2 Hoover 12-5

Auburn, AL – The Auburn High School varsity boy’s lacrosse team defeated Hoover 12-5 Sunday afternoon at Duck Samford Stadium in a game that featured the top two teams in Alabama high school lacrosse . The victory improves the Tigers to 9-0 on the season.   After spending most of the 2021 season atop the PrepsNet Power rankings, the loss dropped the second ranked Bucs to 9-2.
 
Auburn jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first quarter by controlling faceoffs and staying one step ahead of the Buccaneer defense with rapid ball movement.  After Auburn’s initial onslaught, Hoover responded in the second quarter and reeled off four unanswered goals of their own putting the Tigers up by a point heading into the break.
 
 
The second half was all Auburn. In the 3rd quarter, the Tigers again turned up the intensity and poured on five unanswered goals, with Hoover’s only score in the second half coming late in the 3rd period. In the 4th the top ranked were content to run out the clock.
 
Joey McGinty continues to be the flashpoint of the Auburn offense, the senior scored seven goals on the day, five of them unassisted.  Five other Tigers, Stone Pearson, Ryan Torres, Harrison Waid, Graham Young and Preston Cole lit up with Duck Samford scoreboard with one goal apiece.  Young also controlled four of the first five faceoffs, which set the tone for Auburn’s early offensive success.
 
Defensively, Auburn was disciplined and aggressive, frustrating Hoover’s offense and limiting their effectiveness.  The Tigers caused 13 Hoover turnovers, with 10 different Auburn players receiving credit for those takeaways.  Goalie John Stanwick was again solid between the pipes, saving 13 Hoover shots on goal versus five goals allowed.
 
Auburn returns to action next Sunday, April 18th, traveling to Spain Park and Helena for a games previously postponed because of inclement weather.
 
Hoover closes out the regular season Thursday night at home against cross town rival Spain Park.