BY CAROLYN CAPELOUTO

The Grady lacrosse team fought hard but lost a home game against Whitewater tonight by a score of 10-5. The defeat against the Fayetteville school cost Grady its chance to make the playoffs.

Whitewater scored within the first two minutes of the game, followed closely by two goals from Grady. Junior Will Taber got the ball and ran the length of the field to score the first Grady goal. The equalizing goal was closely followed by a goal from Grady sophomore Timmy Kopp that gave the Knights a 2-1 lead. Whitewater scored three more times before the end of the first quarter, however, to lead 4-2.

After winning the faceoff at the beginning of the second quarter, Whitewater scored twice more, increasing its lead to four goals.

After the first half, senior Zach Peters had to be taken out of the game due to illness.

“It was really unfortunate that Zach wasn’t feeling well because he plays a large role on attack and is the leading scorer on the team,” junior Will Smalley said.

This loss of Peters could be felt in the second half of the game as Whitewater dominated possession in part due to Grady penalties. Grady was largely supported by a three-goal half from junior Keegan Hasson. Despite Hasson’s heroics, Whitewater pulled even further ahead, scoring four times in the half for a 10-5 final score.

Although the loss dashed Grady’s chance at a playoff appearance, the season is not over, and the team is ready to bounce back in upcoming game Friday against Martin Luther King Jr. High School.