Saline Varsity Men's Lacrosse Splits Two SEC Games in Busy Week

Saline Varsity Lacrosse Splits Two SEC Games in Busy Week

Saline, MI – April 14–16, 2025 – It was a busy stretch for Saline Boys Lacrosse, as the Hornets faced two SEC opponents in three days. After a hard-fought loss to Pioneer on Monday, the Hornets bounced back with a dominant win over Huron during Wednesday's Youth Night at Hornet Stadium.

Saline Falls to Pioneer 9–6

Facing a familiar rival in Pioneer, Saline knew Monday’s matchup would be a battle. The Hornets started strong and kept pace through the first half, but Pioneer made more plays down the stretch, ultimately handing Saline a 9–6 loss.

Saline got on the board early with Nolan Heath scoring twice in the first quarter. They entered halftime with a 6–4 lead, fueled by goals from Heath, Jack Fate, Rylan Stanton, and Jon Jon Ohren-Hoeft. Heath finished with three goals and two assists, Fate added a goal and an assist, Stanton scored once, and Ohren-Hoeft added one goal.

However, Saline couldn’t regain momentum in the second half. Pioneer outscored the Hornets 5–0 after the break, capitalizing on turnovers and extended possessions.

Defensively, Wyatt Page, Dylan Delaney, and Ian Theisen got the start, with Page drawing the assignment of covering Pioneer’s top offensive threat and holding him in check for much of the night. Goalie Owen Belote turned in a strong showing with 12 saves.

"Great game — very evenly matched for the most part. They made more plays down the stretch. Felt like we had our opportunities and couldn't capitalize," said Head Coach Ty McGuire.

Saline will look to tighten execution and capitalize on opportunities when the teams meet again later this season.

Saline Bounces Back with 18–1 Win Over Huron on Youth Night

On Wednesday, Saline returned to Hornet Stadium for Youth Night and delivered a performance to remember, rolling to an 18–1 win over Ann Arbor Huron.

Pregame festivities included player autographs, youth player introductions, and a packed stadium filled with families and young fans.

With starting goalie Owen Belote unavailable due to a band concert, freshman Brecken Harcourt stepped up in his first varsity start. After allowing an early goal, Harcourt settled in and recorded eight saves, shutting out Huron for the remainder of the game.

"Stellar performance from freshman Brecken Harcourt," said Coach McGuire. "Braylon Thomas helped us control the game by dominating at the faceoffs. Our attack unit did a great job controlling ground balls. Jack Fate stood out offensively."

Saline jumped out to a 3–1 lead after the first quarter and never looked back, outscoring Huron 15–0 over the final three quarters.

The offense was firing from all positions. Jack Fate led the way with five goals and two assists, Jon Jon Ohren-Hoeft scored four goals, Nolan Heath finished with three goals and two assists, and Garrett Male added three goals and an assist. Freshman Braylon Thomas scored his first varsity goal, while Jonah Strok recorded a goal and two assists, and Rylan Stanton added a goal. Jack Scarpati chipped in an assist.

Defensively, Wyatt Page, Ian Theisen, and Jacob Bengle started for Saline, with Dylan Delaney and Jack Nichols handling LSM responsibilities. Michael Aeschliman and Jackson Schaible also contributed strong minutes as the Hornets used their full roster to keep energy high and pressure constant throughout the night.

Saline now shifts its focus to the next stretch of SEC play, looking to build on the momentum and teamwork shown during Youth Night. Monday, they will be down in Bedford.

Follow Saline Boys Lacrosse on Instagram (@saline_lax) and Facebook (Saline HS Boys Lacrosse) for highlights, recaps, and updates all season long.

Photo credit William Haeussler, Instagram @wjhphotography1