FAIRMONT — Pure joy.
It was all over the field Saturday night. In the form of smiles, hugs, a team pile-on and boys lacrosse equipment strewn across the East-West Stadium turf.
The first stick to go airborne started the celebration, and made Fairmont Senior’s season-long goal a reality, as the Polar Bears upset No. 1 Morgantown, 9-8, for their first state title.
Being the new kids on the championship block, they soaked it all in after holding off a late Mohigans’ charge. You name it — photos, trophy kisses, cutting the hair of assistant coach Mike DeVault — they likely did it during the giddy postgame celebration.
“It’s a great, it’s a dream come true to win it,” Fairmont Senior’s Travis DeVault said.
Those dreams may have been dashed if not for the performance of goalie Tyler Ross. The Polar Bear senior was named game MVP after recording 22 saves, including 14 in the second half.
While he flirted with danger in the fourth quarter — three Morgantown goals, two by Chaz Chase, in 2:43 made it 7-7 with just over six minutes left — Ross’ confidence never strayed.
He felt he had been “in the zone” since the end of the first period. Whenever that is the case, he wants the opposing offense to challenge him, to see who is truly the best.
“I want them to come at me,” he said.
When the Mohigans struck in the final period, Ross usually stopped them cold. He had seven saves in the fourth, none bigger when he corralled a ball from his knees after a close-range shot with 20 seconds left in regulation.
“Tyler is ... oh my gosh,” DeVault said. “When he first said he wanted to be a goalie, he was kind of nervous about it and didn’t think he’d do a good job. He’s become the best goalie in the state.”
“He was phenomenal,” Fairmont Senior first-year coach Jarrott Brogdon said. “I’ve said he’s the best goalie in the state and I think he proved it today. I don’t think there’s any doubt now.”
There’s little doubt the rest of Fairmont’s roster came to play, either.
David Bonazza had a hat trick, including the game-clinching goal that made it a 9-7 game at the 2:46 mark. Louie Romano, Brad Cox and Nate Freeland added two goals a piece to help Fairmont Senior lead 4-1 after one and 6-2 by halftime.
While the start played a key role in a Polar Bears’ title, the finish — and the team’s gutsy fourth quarter despite being outshot 14-3 — made the difference in the end.
“It’s huge,” Brodgon said of the win. “I felt we could do it, but there was times I wasn’t sure. That has nothing to do with their desire or ability, I just didn’t know if I’d have the time to show them the things I needed to show them. They’re amazing.”
“Lacrosse probably is going to be pretty big in Fairmont,” Ross said.
Looks like it already is.
E-mail Nick Cammuso at ncammuso@timeswv.com.
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