The UWM Men’s Lacrosse team is getting ready for another successful campaign. Last year they had an incredible run to win their second GLLL title in 5 years. After going 1-7 in the regular season, the Panthers found themselves facing off against the best team in the GLLL, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in the semi-finals.

The Badgers took an early 7-1 lead, but Ian Borba, the heart and soul of the team, ended the Badgers run by rallying the troops and managing to get two opposing players ejected. From there your Panthers marched triumphantly back into the game.  With less than a minute to go in the game, the Panthers needed one score to bring the game to overtime. Down 7-8, Austin Pegg won a faceoff with one minute to go. After a quick shot and restart of the game, Scottie Blankfield assisted Eric Edwards, who brought the game to overtime.

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UWM Men’s Lacrosse players celebrate their 2nd GLLL title in 5 years.

The game ended up going into double overtime after some incredible saves by UWM goalie Dominic Alessandro. Just 15 seconds before the end of the 2nd OT the Badgers shot a rocket at Alessandro who kicked the ball out to the sideline with his foot. August Thiede saved the ball inches before the ball went out of bounds and carried the ball up field. Three defenders converged on him hoping to stop him just yards from the goal, but left Josh Hanson wide open. Hanson received the pass and took less than a second to shoot knowing time was of the essence. His shot hit the ground and bounced inches over the goalies right shoulder and into the goal as the buzzer rang aloud. Instantly, the rest of the Panthers ran on the field and there was plenty of celebrating to go around.

In the Finals, the Panthers played a hot UW-Whitewater team who beat UW-Platteville in their semi-final game in overtime. This game, the Panthers fared much better taking an early 5-0 lead and never looked back, winning 13-5 to win the GLLL title.

The Panthers start the season on Saturday, April 2nd at UW-Whitewater vs. Whitewater and Platteville. They have a “home game weekend” Saturday April 9th @ Marquette vs. Madison Red & Madison White, and Sunday April 10th @ Shorewood vs. Marquette and SIU.

Cheer on the panthers by attending the games at Shorewood High School. You can purchase spirit wear, and team apparel at laxbacks.com.