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Hudson midfielder Robby Lynott was named Div. I All-Ohio and Ohio High School Lacrosse Association Player of the Year after the Explorers' first-ever state championship win on Sunday against Worthington Kilbourne.
COLUMBUS – Fresh off its first-ever state championship win against Worthington Kilbourne on Sunday, the Hudson boys lacrosse team found out that several members had earned personal accolades, including coach David Blue, who was named Div. I Coach of the Year by the Ohio High School Lacrosse Association.
Hudson senior midfielder Robby Lynott was named Div. I All-Ohio and OHSLA Player of the Year, while Explorers sophomore goalie Tyler Zickel also earned All-Ohio honors.
The Hudson boys lacrosse team (21-1) endured a 17-hour rain delay, after lightning stopped its state championship match against Worthington Kilbourne, and came back Sunday afternoon to beat the Wolves 14-8 for the state title.
The on-and-off again affair started at the 10:16 mark in the first period Saturday evening and continued until the game was called for the night with 8:17 left in the fourth quarter and Hudson up 12-7. The game, which started at Westerville Central High School, was moved to Dublin Coffman High School for its conclusion.
“We’ve had our share of weather delays in the past, including a tournament game against Kent Roosevelt that started one day and finished the next, so by the end of the season, we had pretty much come to expect that,” said Blue, who completed his 16thyear as head coach. “We felt really good about our players’ ability to adjust. With it being a state championship game, that made it a little bit more of a challenge, but the kids did a great job of dealing with the adversity of it.”
Hudson sophomore Patrick O’Loughlin led the Explorers with three goals and three assists, junior Steve Jones had three goals and one assist and senior Andrew Circelli, named Offensive MVP for the game, had three goals.
Other key contributors included Lynott and senior Cooper Charlton, both named All-Americans, as well as Zickel, Blue said. “Robby was a big part of the whole season and Cooper was the heart and soul of the team on defense,” he said. “Our goalie had a phenomenal season.”
Zickel had 13 saves on 24 shots int he final match.
“In the end, it was a total team effort and the Explorers dominated from start to finish,” Blue said.
After facing the Wolves four times in the last six years in the state semifinals and losing three of those matches, the Explorers finally had the upper hand. Hudson had made it to the state semifinals in six of the last seven years, and to the state championship game in 2000 and 2007.
"The third time's the charm," Blue said.
Also earning All-Ohio honors among players in the SportsInk.com coverage area were attacker Alex Schell of Medina (Div. I) and goalie Matt Gatto of Walsh Jesuit (Div. II).