Senior Captain Sebastian Schnur cradles the ball downfield, looking for opportunities to score. Schnur scored a team-high six goals in this game and has played a key role in the Raiders’ playoff run.

On Wednesday, Apr. 16, the Boys Varsity Lacrosse team took on Ransom Everglades at Sean Taylor 0’1 Memorial Field for the district championship. The Raiders hold a strong 11-5 record and are ranked 28th in the nation. With their season at stake, winning was the only thing on their minds.

“This could be our last game, and I’m willing to give everything I have to make sure that doesn’t happen. Starting now, don’t take anything for granted and leave everything you have on that field,” Senior Captain Sebastian Schnur said during the pregame huddle.

Within the first two minutes, Schnur put the Raiders on the board with his first goal of the game. Possession was split between the two teams with scrappiness on defense. However, the offense went on a roll to end the first quarter with three goals in three minutes by sophomores Lucas Albert and Evan Vineberg, alongside Schnur.

As for Ransom, two goals to end the quarter kept them in the ballgame, trailing by two going into the second quarter.

On the defensive end, senior Julian Terry and junior goalkeeper Thaddeus Slanker led the Raiders to hold Ransom Everglades scoreless in the second quarter. The defense continued to get stops, which led to the offense getting more fast-break opportunities. Senior Sebastian Schnur scored another two goals, giving him an impressive four for the first half, and senior Jordi Quirch and Hoban Noyes added to the damage with respective goals, giving the Raiders a 9-2 lead going into halftime.

“I’ve said it before, it’s all up here [the mind] at this time of the year. Everything’s mental, making good decisions … We need to be great in this half. We’re not giving up here. Intensity has to be better in this half,” Head Coach Connor Kelly said during halftime.

The Raiders were flying on all cylinders to start the second half, with another clean sheet from Thaddeus Slanker in the third quarter and three goals from Noyes, giving the team an impressive 11-goal lead going into the fourth quarter and sealing the game and winning their second district championship in a row.

“We’ve gotta celebrate every step of the way. Celebrate the little things, celebrate this, and let’s keep this momentum,” Kelly said after the game.

The Raiders’ Regional Semifinal matchup is against Oxbridge, Friday at Sean Taylor ‘01 Memorial Field at 5:00.