ROUND ROCK, TX - The Cedar Park Timberwolves scored four unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to beat McNeil 13-12 and advance to the THSLL Central District finals.  McNeil was in the drivers seat as the clock wore down and held a 12-11 goal lead with just minutes left.  But Cedar Park got the ball and Tanner Brown took a feed from Zach Duncan, burying the tying goal in the back of the net with 1:05 remaining in the game.  Cedar Park advanced into the Maverick end again and Jared Lichtenberger scored the game winner with just 34 seconds remaining.  Cedar Park fans then held their breath as McNeil’s Ben King fired an attempt to tie the game that went just wide of the goal as time expired.

“Jared Lichtenberger and Tanner Brown shared the game ball tonight,” said Cedar Park Coach Chris Knight after the game.  “Tanner got it for stepping up as a sophomore and contributing all night, including scoring the tying goal, and Jared Lichtenberger shared the game ball for scoring the winning goal.”  Stephen Smith led the team in points with two goals and three assists, Chris Asher had two of each for four points, and Ryan Fairclough hat three goals.  Jared Lichtenberger had two goals and an assist while Nick Speir had an amazing turnaround goal during the game. Gerad Stratton had two goals, Tanner Brown had one and Zach Duncan had an assist to round out the scoring. 

Defensively, Rylan Gilley led the team with ten ground balls, followed by Ryan Fairclough with seven. Holden Ilseng with six, Jason Teal with five and Austin Mueller had three. Colton Yarborough had nine saves, some of them spectacular, in the win.

Ben King, McNeil’s leading goal scorer this year, was held to two goals but managed five assists to lead the Mavericks in points.  Tyler Downing had four goals in the losing effort.  Cedar Park next faces Bowie, who won a 9-7 contests vs. Austin High tonight.  The game will be held at Austin’s House Park and will start at 7:30PM on Wednesday, May 13.

Click here for West Side Lax article on the game:

Click here for Hill Country News Article on the game:

Crosse Currents: Cedar Park’s win made history as the team became the first team in the Central district and perhaps the State to qualify for the District Finals in their first year in DI.  The game was also McNeil’s first loss in the Central District this year.  Cedar Park now has two playoff victories in a row by the same 13-12 score.  Check your pulses, parents, the season’s nearly over!