Men’s Lacrosse: Orange 15, Pinecrest 14: For the second time in three years, the Orange lacrosse team played a one-goal game against the Pinecrest Patriots.
In 2024 in Moore County, an overtime goal by Brandon Williams lifted the Panthers to a victory.
Last Wednesday in the season-opener at Auman Stadium in Hillsborough, it was a defensive stand spearheaded by goalkeeper Jackson Runkle that paved the way to an Orange win.
Runkle made a late save with :31 seconds remaining as Orange clung to a 15-14 lead. After a restart, the Patriots threw the ball away behind the Panther net, and Runkle was able to run the clock out to ensure victory.
It was the third year in a row that the Panthers captured its season opener.
Orange received seven goals from senior attacker Brett Clark, who led the Panthers with 63 goals and 98 points last season.
Clark scored six consecutive goals in the second half. After Pinecrest’s Hayden Michael tied the game 10-10 with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter, Clark scored on a sidearm shot with to put the Panthers back ahead. It sparked a 5-1 Orange run that carried them to victory.
Just 12 seconds later, Clark got free off a faceoff win from Matthew Macneir, took a pass from Jay Parker and dumped it into the upper right corner to give Orange a 12-10 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Clark would score the opening two goals of the fourth quarter. Owen Wimsatt, the younger brother of former Orange midfielder Jake Wimsatt, wound up with the game-winning goal coming with 7:01 remaining in regulation.
Wimsatt had a hat trick on opening night.
Ian Scott of Pinecrest came away with five goals. Dominic Hausauer had two goals for the Patriots, including a tally with 2:01 remaining to cut the Panthers lead to 15-14. The Patriots’ Anthony Monaco and Ephram Newcomer scored in the final five minutes to help Pinecrest make things dramatic down the stretch.
Orange will return to Auman Stadium to host Enloe on March 9.
Men’s tennis: Orange 5, Cedar Ridge 4:
The season opener for the Orange men’s tennis team came down to the last match against Cedar Ridge.
Last Wednesday, Carson Condon and Zachary Cole teamed to defeat Tyler Baker and Cole Wicker 8-6 in the final doubles match as the Panthers defeated the Red Wolves at Panthers Tennis Courts. In addition to being the season-opener for both teams, it was also the Big 7 Conference opener.
Condon was a starter for the Orange men’s soccer team, which won the first conference championship in the 38-year history of the program last fall.
Cole earned two wins on the night. At #2 singles, Cole defeated Baker 6-4, 6-0.
While Orange took four of the six singles matches, Red Wolf sophomore Danny Dyreng earned a victory in the top singles match. Dyreng defeated Orange freshman Luke McCrary 6-2, 6-2. McCrary, who made All-Big 7 and qualified for the 5A State Championships for the Orange men’s swimming team this winter, made his varsity debut for Orange men’s tennis coach Justin Webb.
Orange senior Bryson Waters defeated Grady Coleman 6-2, 6-2 at #3 singles. Senior Jackson Coleman put the Panthers ahead 3-1 after a 6-2, 6-2 win over Oliver Rodgers.
Cedar Ridge’s Ben Stephenson won the marathon match of the night, beating Orange sophomore Thomas Foster 6-7 (3-7 tiebreaker), 6-3, 10-8 in a 10-point, third set tiebreaker.
The Red Wolves evened things up by winning the opening doubles matches, which is determined by one, 8-game set. In the opener, Dyreng and Stephenson defeated McCrary and Waters 8-4. In the second doubles match, Rodgers and Coleman defeated Jackson Coleman and Foster 8-6.
It was Orange’s third straight dual match victory over the Red Wolves. Last year, Orange won a match in the 3A State Dual Team Playoffs for the first time in school history when they edged Walter Williams 5-4.
