The 2026 “Battle of 422” lacrosse matches between the Chagrin Falls Tigers and the Kenston Bombers certainly did not disappoint.
Game photos click here.
The 2026 “Battle of 422” lacrosse matches between the Chagrin Falls Tigers and the Kenston Bombers certainly did not disappoint.
Lacrosse fans of both schools were treated to two, highly intense dramatic overtime thrillers.
Following a “Battle of 422” triple overtime thriller on April 10, this year’s “Battle of 422” lacrosse matches ended in 1-1 tie after the Tigers Girls Lacrosse Team defeated the Bombers, 12-11, in a dramatic come from behind overtime victory.
Similar to how the Kenston Boys Lacrosse team came from behind in their “Battle of 422” triple overtime victory over the Tigers on April 10 at C.S. Harris Stadium, the Tigers Girls Lacrosse team overcame adversity to erase an early 6-1 first quarter setback on April 18 at Bombers Stadium.
On April 18, the Bombers were dominant in the first quarter as it looked like they were on their way to coasting to victory.
The Bombers started the game fast and furious, particularly in the last few minutes of the first quarter.
After Claire Cufr got the Bombers on the scoreboard early, the Tigers Sophie Igoe answered as she found the back of the net with 6:35 left in the first quarter.
Tied 1-1, the Bombers then scored five straight goals in the final five minutes of the first quarter to take a 6-1 lead.
Scoring goals for the Bombers in the final five minutes of the first quarter were junior Natalie Reed (2 goals), senior captain Caitlin Cooley (2 goals), and senior captain Charlotte Cowan.
In the second quarter, both teams traded goals as the Bombers and Tigers both scored twice. Scoring goals for the Bombers in the second quarter were Cooley and senior captain Brenna Zak.
The Tigers second quarter goals were scored by Lyla Mihalek and Ella Catney.
Down 8-3 at halftime, Tigers senior Ella Catney said that the Tigers coaches did a good job of keeping the Tigers confident even though they were down by 5 goals at the half.
She explained that the positive support from the staff helped the Tigers stay focused on making good plays and smart decisions.
“The coaches really build our strength and our energy and courage throughout the game,” Catney said. “We’ve had games where we don’t start as good and they just keep our heads up.”
Certainly the positive support was influential as the Tigers faced adversity head on and showed a high level of mental toughness.
In addition, Tigers Head Coach Lyndsay Zyla said that she told her team to stay focused on the things they have been working on in practice that lead to success.
“The first half wasn’t our best showing, but we really locked in and worked on getting all those ground balls and draw controls and at the end of the day, that’s what wins games,” Zyla said.
With the positive support, the Tigers were undeterred to give in to defeat. In fact, the Tigers stormed back after halftime as they outscored the Bombers 4-1 in the third quarter.
Freshman Sophie Igoe attributed the third quarter turnaround to starting the second half with more energy.
“We always said we’re a second half team,” Igoe said. “We’re always out there doing our best, we just needed to get the energy up.”
Leading 9-7, the Bombers extended their lead to 10-7 with a goal by Zak with 7:31 left in the game.
Down by three, the Tigers continued to show grit and resilience as they again overcame the adversity of the moment.
In overcoming adversity, Catney said that the Tigers focused on keeping their energy up and made sure to say positive things to each other to keep teammates confident.
“So if we drop a pass, ‘it’s okay we just have to get it back’,” said Catney. “We don’t blame other teammates, because that just makes us less strong.”
With a positive mentally tough mindset, the Tigers scored three goals in the next five minutes to even the score at 10-10 with 2:51 remaining in regulation.
Both teams then scored before the end of regulation.
The Tigers got the go ahead goal with 1:07 left in the fourth quarter when senior midfielder, Claire Hoelzel, found the back of the net.
The Bombers then responded with a goal by Reed in the final minute to force overtime.
In overtime, the Tigers got the game winning goal when Catney found Igoe open in front of the net for the win.
“I saw an opening, Ella was the one who passed it to me, it was a great pass,” Igoe said. “I was like, ‘this is going to be it’ and it was great, it was it.”
In finding Igoe open for the game winning goal, Catney said that she focused on making a good pass that was easy to handle.
“(After Igoe got the game) winning goal, everything was going through my mind, all of the passes, all of the plays we put in to this game,” said Catney. “We have looked at this game the whole entire season to make sure we win this and I think we really put that to the test today.”
For the game, the Tigers were led offensively by Logan Kohanski (3 goals), Catney (2), Ila Cottrell (2), Igoe (2), Mihalek (2) and Hoelzel (1).
The Bombers were led offensively by Reed (4 goals), Cooley (3), Zak (2), Cowan (1) and Cufr (1).
