Orange Men’s Lacrosse

Before the season even started, Orange lacrosse coach Chandler Zirkle knew the lineup he had returning for this spring would be, to put it mildly, formidable.

Only five seniors graduated from last year’s squad that reached the 3A/2A/1A Eastern Regional championship game for the first time in program history. Leading scorer Connor Kruse, face-off ace Jake Wimsatt, midfielder Joe Cady, goalkeeper Katie Wolter and defensive standouts Sascha Van Praag, Nick Cardone, Josiah Tisdale and Braden Hunt would all be back.

But what would be the best style to improve on a 17-3 record, the best in school history?

The answer is whatever can work on a given night. It’s really the difference between having a good team and having a good program.

On Monday night against their top conference rival, Northwood, Orange was a defensive juggernaut.

The defensive corps of Tisdale, Cardone, and Hunt held the Chargers to just three goals in the final 17:51 while Kruse scored all four of his goals in the second half as Orange defeated Northwood 11-8 at Auman Stadium. The Panthers are now in sole possession of first place in the Mid-Carolina Conference at 7-0. Orange is the two-time defending conference champion.

Senior Tigh Metheny scored two goals in the second half and finished with three points.

It’s Orange’s 24th straight win against a Mid-Carolina Conference opponent.

“I wanted this to be a defensive game,” Zirkle said after a celebratory postgame meeting in the Orange Fieldhouse. “We have the talent to do it.”

As much as Orange returns this season, the most pleasant surprise has been the freshmen who have filled in amid player absences. Freshman Matthew Macneir stepped in for Wimsatt and dominated the face-off circle. Macneir won all but two draws in the second quarter, which helped keep the Chargers scoreless for the final 12:57 of the first half.

Zirkle also used freshman Brett Clark, sophomore Kale Womble and senior Seth Hall on defense for another wave of players that the thinner Chargers had to reckon with.

Northwood (5-1, 3-1) got a hat trick from senior Taylor Laberge in the first quarter. Laberge scored off three bounce shots, the final one coming off a man-up goal with :57 remaining in the first quarter after Hunt was penalized for slashing. The Chargers led 3-2 at the end of the first quarter.

Orange responded with all three goals of the second stanza. Metheny scored off a feed from freshman Brandon Williams to even the game. After Laberge was penalized for an offside penalty, Orange notched its own man-up marker when Nevius dumped it in off an assist from Josh Cowan. With 7:47 remaining in the first half, oophomore Luke Nevius unleashed a rocket from 17 yards away that beat Northwood freshman goalkeeper James Flanagan to put Orange ahead 5-3 at halftime.

Despite the halftime lead, Northwood longstick defenseman William Johnson did a stellar job defending Kruse, who was held to one assist in the first half.

Northwood’s defense opened the second half by keeping the Orange defense off of its rhythm. The Panthers were held without a goal for 16:13. The Chargers’ Will Smith and Carson Fortunes each scored unassisted markers to even the game.

Williams came back with his first goal off an assist from Cady. Kruse got on track when a pass from Cady was knocked down in front of the net. Cruse won the ground ball and dunked it in to push Orange’s lead to 7-5.

Metheny opened the second half when he found Kruse on the doorstep for his second goal of the game. After Smith added his second goal off a gorgeous feed from defenseman Gianmarc Byers, Cady drew a double-team and dumped it off to a wide-open Kruse to put the Panthers ahead 9-6. Cady and Kruse would add two more goals in the final three minutes.

Orange will travel to Carrboro on Wednesday before heading to Wilmington and facing Laney on Friday.

The Orange men’s lacrosse team has won two consecutive Mid-Carolina Conference championships. With returning player like Connor Kruse, Joe Cady, Jake Wimsatt goalkeeper Katie Walter, Tigh Metheney, Sascha Van Pragg and Alden Cathey back, the Panthers lost only five seniors from last year’s team that reached the 3A/2A/1A Eastern Regional championship game in the state playoffs. However, freshmen who arrived fresh from Orange Middle School and Gravelly Hill Middle School have made an instant impact in big games for the Panthers amid some injuries and other player absences. Matthew Macneir won 15 of 21 faceoffs in Orange’s 13-9 win over Western Alamance on Wednesday night at Auman Stadium. Another freshman, Brandon Williams, scored a goal and scooped up four ground balls against the Warriors. Last Tuesday, the Panthers defeated Cedar Ridge 15-0 at Red Wolves Stadium. Williams had a goal against the Red Wolves. Coming up tonight, Orange will host Northwood in a crucial matchup at Auman Stadium. Opening face off will be at 6PM. You can hear the game on Hillsboroughsports.com.

Orange lacrosse Matthew Macneir and Brandon Williams discuss win over Western Alamance

The Orange men’s lacrosse team has won two consecutive Mid-Carolina Conference championships. With returning player like Connor Kruse, Joe Cady, Jake Wimsatt goalkeeper Katie Walter, Tigh Metheney, Sascha Van Pragg and Alden Cathey back, the Panthers lost only five seniors from last year’s team that reached the 3A/2A/1A Eastern Regional championship game in the state playoffs.

The Chapel Hilltopper Lacrosse Foundation, a charitable organization set up by the Zirkle family in Chapel Hill, was recognized by the NCHSAA in December for their extensive work in the local lacrosse community and for their contributions to the NCHSAA Scholarship Fund.  Through the Bull City All Star Game, the Foundation has raised nearly $50,000 for the Cullen Fund, which provides four scholarships (two men and two women) for graduating seniors who will play lacrosse collegiately.  The Foundation has also been active in local lacrosse supporting and establishing middle school programs while also supporting high school programs.  A prime example of their work includes helping to start the Neal Middle School lacrosse program through financial assistance, donation of equipment, and providing leadership in the development of that program.  Neal Middle School is perhaps the most improbable school in Durham demographically to introduce lacrosse, yet this is why the school was chosen, to introduce a new sport and give back to that community.  The foundation has donated helmets and gear to several programs in Orange and Durham County.

Franklin Zirkle, or Coach Z, retired from High School coaching in 2021 after successful stints and East Chapel Hill High School and Leesville Road High School.  His teams appeared in 3 NCHSAA State Championships and won the title in 2006.  Coach Z finished his relatively short career with over 200 wins, a number rarely reached in high school lacrosse.  Kimberly Zirkle graduated from Chapel Hill High School where she played tennis.  She graduated and attended Guilford College where she was a member of the 1982 National Championship Tennis team.  Eventually she played lacrosse her senior year after Franklin turned over the reigns of coaching the Guilford women’s team to join the men’s staff.  Guilford was a Nationally ranked team during Coach Z’s playing and coaching days.  He attributes much of his success to the mentoring of his collegiate Coach Geoff Miller.

In 1992 while living in Durham, Coach Z was recruited back to the game as an official by former Duke Coach Tony Cullen and  local NCAA official Rick Wooten.   Z had a successful officiating career that included refereeing three NCHSAA Championship games and selection as referee on the National Championships for Club lacrosse.  He also served as an NCAA official for many years.  Tired of the long collegiate officiating travel and wanting to spend more time with his family he applied for the East Chapel Hill job.  He took over a program that just won a NCHSAA Championship, interestingly in a game he officiated.  Despite losing 18 seniors, he returned the program to two consecutive State Title games in Cary.  All his teams competed in the playoffs, with many reaching the semi-final game.  While he coached many All-Americans he seems most proud of the numerous Academic All American’s he coached over his twelve year career.

After leaving East, Z started the Carolina Hilltopper Lacrosse travel program.  Now the oldest travel team in the area, the Toppers have placed over one hundred players on collegiate rosters.  The program has always been a family affair, with son Chandler, now Head Coach at Orange High School, providing a leadership role both with travel lacrosse and the Bull City All Star Game.  Hartford Zirkle, the youngest son, has coached at all levels in the program and retains the distinction of being the first Hilltopper.   Both sons and Coach Jacob Manning and Coach Daniel Thayer were members of the East Chapel Hill team that appeared in the 2011 title game.   The Topper staff is comprised of many former colleagues and players who have had successful careers and players and coaches.  Many of the coaches have had NCHSAA State Title game experience and received recognition for their coaching.  The program is old enough that several successful former Toppers are now coaching, not only with the program but also in local high school.

The Bull City All Star game and Cullen Classic for Cancer was created to honor a mentor to Coach Z, as Tony Cullen coached against Z, officiated with Z, and upon his unfortunate passing, Coach Z was able to coach two of Tony’s sons at East Chapel Hill.  Jeff Spear, a co-founder of the game, played for Tony Cullen at Duke and served as a Captain during his senior year.  Through Jeff’s connections to Duke, he was able to open many doors and solicit financial support from former players who wanted to honor Coach Cullen.  The annual game provides one last venue, at Koskinen Stadium on the Duke campus, for top female and male seniors to play while raising money for both the Cullen Fund and Duke Cancer.

Kimberly Eastman Zirkle or “Mamma Z” as she is known by players, is also Co-Chair of Christmas House, part of the Chapel Hill Service League’s commitment to the local community.  Christmas House provide toys and clothing for over 800 families needing financial assistance in making Christmas a joyous time in many households.

When asked about the award, Coach Z stated, “It’s an honor to be recognized by the NCHSAA for the work of the Foundation.  We learned a long time ago that the reward is seeing others succeed, create opportunities for those in need, and teaching a great game with substantial meaning.  I have been blessed to enjoy this adventure with my family, many former coaches on my staff, and great people who love the game of lacrosse.  There is so much satisfaction in watching players learn life lessons, celebrate victories and learn to accept the occasional defeat.”

Collectively, last spring may have been the greatest season in the history of Hillsborough lacrosse.

For the first time ever, Orange hosted the 3A/2A/1A Eastern Regional title game after winning its second consecutive conference championship. At Cedar Ridge, the Red Wolves won a state playoff game for the first time since 2017, when they won the Eastern Regional Championship. Under first year head coach Cole Churchill, the Red Wolves finished third in the Mid-Carolina Conference.

Now, the top scorers from each of the two teams have been named All-Americans by USA Lacrosse.

Orange sophomore Connor Kruse and Cedar Ridge’s Roman Oguntoyinbo, who graduated in June, received the honors following a vote by coaches in the geographic region. Over 500 players from across the country earn All-American status. Kruse and Oguntoyinbo, who both played for the Carolina Hilltoppers club lacrosse program, were among eleven players from North Carolina public schools named All-Americans.

Kruse, who was named the Mid-Carolina Player of the Year in July, set school records with 77 goals and 136 points in 2022. He led the most successful team in school history, which set a new mark for wins in a season (17), conference wins (11) and winning percentage (.850). The Panthers reached the state semifinals for the first time ever.

Kruse, the son of former UNC and Johns Hopkins midfielder Travis Kruse, opened the season with hat tricks in each of Orange’s opening three games. He scored five goals in a season-opening 19-5 win over Vance Charter, then scored another five goals in a 14-11 win over East Chapel Hill at Dave Thaden Stadium in Chapel Hill. It was Orange’s first-ever win over the Wildcats, a traditional power that Orange head coach Chandler Zirkle played for in high school.

Kruse had a career-high seven goals against South Brunswick in the opening round of the 3A/2A/1A State Playoffs on May 5. He followed with four goals in an 17-10 victory against Walter Williams.

Oguntoyinbo finished his Cedar Ridge career scoring 78 goals, the most in school history for a single season. It was the only time in his high school career where Oguntoyinbo played a full season after the pandemic cut the 2020 season short after just three games. In 2021, Oguntoyinbo scored 26 goals in a season limited to nine games.

In his final game inside Red Wolves Stadium, Oguntoyinbo scored a career-high nine goals as the Red Wolves rolled past Western Alamance 18-5 in the second round of the state playoffs. In his final game, Oguntoyinbo scored two goals and two assists against First Flight, who would go on to win the Eastern Regional Championship.

Oguntoyinbo had 13 hat tricks in the 2022 season. He opened the campaign with four goals in a 10-8 win over Jordan at Claude Currie Stadium in Durham on March 1. Two nights later, Oguntoyinbo scored a hat trick in a 6-4 victory over J.H. Rose in Greenville.

For his career, Oguntoyinbo scored 119 goals and 214 points. If he had had standard-length sophomore and junior seasons, he likely would have broken the career school record of 146 goals and 245 points set by Sean Tobin, who played from 2013-2017. Tobin and Jack Widman (59 goals in 2017) was the 1-2 scoring punch that led the 2017 Cedar Ridge team to the 3A/2A/1A Eastern Regional Championship, still the only lacrosse team from Hillsborough to reach the state championship game.

Oguntoyinbo earned an invitation to play in the Bull City All-Star Game at Koskinen Stadium at Duke University in June. After graduating from Cedar Ridge, his family moved to Andover, Massachusetts this summer. Roman will play for Northfield Mount Herman Prep in Gill, Massachusetts for a season of postgraduate lacrosse this winter. His brother Leo, who played goalkeeper and wrestled at Cedar Ridge during his freshman year in 2021-2022, is now at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA.

Following the most successful season in Orange lacrosse history, three Panthers have been named 1st-team All-State by the North Carolina Lacrosse Coaches Association.

Sophomore attacker Connor Kruse, junior face-off specialist Jake Wimsatt and junior defenseman Nick Cardone were all honored with selections to the 3A/2A/1A All-State first-team after the Panthers set a school-record with 17 wins this spring.

In addition, junior midfielder Tigh Metheny, long-stick midfielder Aiden Cathey and junior attacker Joe Cady were named 2nd-team All-State.

This year, Orange won its second consecutive conference championship after finishing 11-0 in the Mid-Carolina Conference. They finished 17-3 and hosted the 3A/2A/1A Eastern Regional Championship game at Auman Stadium for the first-time ever. The Panthers won three games in the state playoffs, beating South Brunswick, Walter Williams and Carrboro.

Kruse set a new single-season school record with 77 goals and 136 points. The son of former North Carolina and Johns Hopkins lacrosse player Travis Kruse, Connor opened 2022 with five goals in a win over Vance Charter on March 1. The next night, Kruse scored five goals and dished out five assists in a 14-11 win over East Chapel Hill at Dave Thaden Stadium, the Panthers first-ever win over the Wildcats in men’s lacrosse. Orange coach Chandler Zirkle played lacrosse and football at East Chapel Hill under his father, Franklin, who joined the Panthers’ staff this season.

Kruse had 15 hat tricks this season. From March 8 to April 26, he had a hat trick in ten consecutive games. In the opening round of the state playoffs, Kruse had a season-best seven goals in a 18-5 victory over South Brunswick. Kruse registered a season-high 13 points in the Panthers’ conference-opening win over Western Alamance on March 8 in Hillsborough.

For the second straight season, Wimsatt was Orange’s face-off ace. He won 85% of his draws in 2022. In 2021, Wimsatt won 73% of his face-offs. In 19 of Orange’s 20 games this year, the Panthers won the majority of its face-offs, which helped the Panthers score 260 goals, a school-record. In Orange’s last nine wins, the Panthers won at least 73% of its face-offs, including 89% in a playoff victory over South Brunswick and 92% against Walter Williams in the 3rd round.

Mainly due to his face-off ability, Wimsatt led the team with 186 ground balls. It was the second straight year where he’s led the team in ground balls.

Wimsatt scored 45 goals, which was tied with Metheny for second on the team. He scored 67 points, which was third on the squad. He had a season-high five goals in a 17-10 win over Walter Williams in the 3rd round of the 3A/2A/1A State Playoffs on March 13.

During his 2nd year at the varsity level, Cardone created 28 turnovers and grabbed 63 ground balls. He anchored an Orange defense that allowed only 8.75 goals per game. Cardone had five ground balls in the win over East Chapel Hill. On March 21, Cardone created three turnovers against Northwood as the Panthers came back from a 7-1 deficit to beat the Chargers 14-9 in Pittsboro. Cardone created a turnover in nine consecutive games from March 18 to April 27. He played in all 20 of Orange’s games.

Metheny, in his junior season, was second on the team with 69 points. He was tied with Wimsatt with 45 goals. Metheny scored five goals in a 13-4 win over Carrboro in the state quarterfinals.

Cady had 43 goals in 19 games. On April 26, Cady scored a season-high six goals in a 19-5 win over Eastern Alamance, which ensured a share of the Mid-Carolina Conference championship. Cady had hat tricks in the state playoffs against Williams and South Brunswick.

Cathey, a sophomore, collected 68 ground balls as the Panthers long-stick midfielder. He was third on the team with 14 turnovers created and was a key factor in Orange’s high clearance rate.

It isn’t easy being a defensive player in any All-Star game. Certainly, it’s no different in lacrosse, where Orange senior Jack DiFabio played defenseman for the Blue Squad during the Bull City All-Star Game at Koskinen Stadium  inside Duke University on Wednesday night. DiFabio factored in on several defensive stops as his Blue squad defeated the White team 20-18. It was likely the final lacrosse game for DiFabio, and a fitting place to end his career. DiFabio’s mother, 1991 Orange High graduate Gwen Hall-DIFabio, attended Duke University. During her stint in Durham, the Duke men’s lacrosse team played at Koskinen Stadium and reached the NCAA Tournament four times. DiFabio is part of a senior class that has been the most successful in Orange lacrosse history. During his years as a varsity lacrosse player, DiFabio has been a starter as the Panthers have won consecutive conference championships in consecutive years. It likely would have been three straight conference titles, but the 2020 season was stopped after only six games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Panthers were 6-0 when the season ended, outscoring opposition 92-33, including a win at Roxboro Community School just before the world shut down as we know it. DiFabio will attend UNC-Wilmington after he graduates from Orange High on Friday. 

This week’s Orange Panther of the Week is junior lacrosse midfielder Jake Wimsatt. For the second year in a row, the Orange lacrosse team won the conference championship. Once again, Wimsatt was the face-off ace for the Panthers. He won 85% of his faceoffs as Orange finished 11-0 in the Mid-Carolina Conference. Wimsatt was tied for second on the team with 45 goals in 2022. In the second round of the 3A/2A/1A State Playoffs, Wimsatt scored five goals as Orange defeated Walter Williams 17-10 at Auman Stadium. He had a season-high nine points against the Bulldogs. Wimsatt finished this season with nine hat tricks. He three goals on March 2 as Orange defeated East Chapel Hill 14-11 at Dave Thaden Stadium. It was the first-time ever that the Panthers defeated the Wildcats in lacrosse. The night before, Wimsatt scored four goals in a 19-5 over Vance Charter in the season-opener. Last fall, Wimsatt also played tight end on the Orange football team. He had a long touchdown catch against Western Alamance. Since Wimsatt has been a member of the Orange lacrosse team, the Panthers have been successful, winning five state playoff games. After Orange hosted the 3A/2A/1A Eastern Regional Championship game this year, the Panthers will aim higher for 2023. 

A decade ago, the Orange lacrosse team finished a winless conference season by losing to crosstown rival Cedar Ridge 15-3.

On Tuesday night, some 3,679 days after a largely ignored end to a forgettable season, the same Orange program hosted the 3A/2A/1A Eastern Regional Men’s Lacrosse Championship game in front of thousands of fans at Auman Stadium.

It was a world of difference between what Orange lacrosse was then and what it is now. The storybook finish would have led the Panthers playing again in Cary this Friday night for the state championship.

That will have to wait.

The First Flight Nighthawks reeled off an 11-1 run at the end of the first quarter to beat Orange 13-7 at Auman Stadium on Tuesday night.

First Fight (12-3), who came into the season with only one state playoff win in school history, captured its first regional championship in lacrosse. They will face Lake Norman Charter for the 3A/2A/1A State Championship on Friday night at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.

Junior Jacob Gray continued a strong postseason with five goals to lead the Nighthawks. Gray scored eight goals against Cedar Ridge in a 14-10 win in the third round of the State Playoffs in Kill Devil Hills last Tuesday.

While hosting a regional championship game for the first time in school history will always be a point of pride for this Orange team, the loss to the Nighthawks will likely leave sour feelings. Last year, the Panthers played at a high level in losing to East Chapel Hill in the state quarterfinals at Auman Stadium. The Wildcats won, but Orange played well offensively. East had Alec Levy, whose five goals was enough to take the Wildcats to the regional final. Two teams played its best and the better one won.

Against the Nighthawks, the Panthers were held to its lowest scoring output of the season. While the Nighthawks defense may have been the best Orange has faced, the Panthers were sloppy offensively. Simple passes that Orange usually completes almost effortlessly wound up out of bounds or in the pockets of Nighthawk sticks. The Panthers were just 1-of-5 in man-up opportunities, rarely getting multiple shots on possessions when the Nighthawks had someone confined to the penalty box.

After Orange led 3-1 at the end of the first quarter, they were held to just one goal in the subsequent 23:26. Sophomore Connor Kruse and junior Joe Cady, Orange’s leading scorer with 136 points this season, was held without a goal for the first time this year.

First Flight longstick defenseman Cam Van Lunen, the son of head coach John Van Lunen, defended Kruse for much of the game.

Tigh Metheny and Jake Wimsatt each had two goals for Orange.

“We weren’t able to possess the ball the way we wanted to do it,” said Orange coach Chandler Zirkle. “I think we got caught up with how electric the crowd was. The moment got a little bit bigger than us.”

After Grey Crabtree knocked a loose ball into the net past First Fight goalkeeper Porter Smith, Orange led 3-1 at the end of the first quarter. Josh Cowan and Metheney opened the Panther scoring. Orange goalkeeper Katie Wolter made three saves from point-blank range against the Nighthawks in the first quarter and it appeared the Panthers were in good shape.

That changed very quickly.

Immediately in the second quarter, the Nighthawks assumed command. Joey Krieg scored in transition off a feed from Joe Wagner only 43 seconds into the frame. Grey tied the game after another fast break goal assisted by Van Lunen. After Orange’s Alden Cathey was called for a slashing penalty, senior Jackson Kelly notched his 23rd tally of the year on a diagonal pass from Krieg for the first man-up goal of the game. First Flight took its first lead 4-3 with 9:22 left in the first half and they were just getting warmed up.

Sophomore James Summerton went low to the bottom right corner against Wolter to make it 5-3. Kelly, Wagner and Grey (three goals in the first half) all scored in the final minutes of the second quarter to put the Nighthawks ahead 7-4 at the half.

Orange was no stranger to comeback wins in the regular season. They trailed Northwood 8-1 in Pittsboro on March 21 and still prevailed 14-9. They trailed the Chargers again 10-7 with 8:43 remaining on April 27, then finished the game with the final five goals to win 12-10.

There would be no rally on Tuesday. The Nighthawks kept Orange scoreless in the third quarter. Senior Nicholas Gardill, First Flight’s leading scorer, hat a hat trick in the third quarter. His final goal, assisted by Gray, gave First Flight an 11-4 lead.

Wimsatt scored Orange’s only man-up goal in a 6-on-4 situation in the fourth quarter. Joe Cady notched his lone tally after he whacked a rebound into the top of the net to cut the Orange deficit to 13-7 with 6:27 remaining. There was some left time for a miracle, but First Flight was too disciplined and ran out the clock as the faithful from Kill Devil Hills, who had driven four hours to Hillsborough, cheered on.

The Orange players got a standing ovation from the largest lacrosse crowd in Auman Stadium history. The Panthers’ following in lacrosse will likely only grow from here. A team that has twice as many sophomores as seniors will return all of its offensive weapons from a 17-3 team, the most successful in school history.

But for Zirkle as his Orange coaching staff, there’s pain right now which may only grow as the weekend approaches. In 2005, Chandler’s father, Franklin, took his East Chapel Hill Wildcats into Cary’s WakeMed Soccer Park (then called SAS Stadium) and won the North Carolina Lacrosse Association’s State Championship over Chapel Hill. Even now, 17 years later, the game’s final score of 10-2 just rolls off the tip of his tongue.

Chandler Zirkle was a ballboy for that East team. Now, his father is an assistant at Orange after amassing over 200 head coaching wins at East and Leesville Road. Zirkle wanted to coach in Cary this weekend, just like his father did in 2005. Now, he’ll explore how to get better with the bulk of a Mid-Carolina Conference Championship team returning for 2023 and a bevy of 8th graders arriving from Orange Middle School waiting to make their mark, some possibly sooner than later.

But for now, there’s just pain after a lost opportunity.

“First Flight played a really good game,” Zirkle said. “They had a really good defensive game plan. We had too many uncharacteristic turnovers and I’m not sure what they were based on. We just threw the ball away too much. It’s probably a product of not being fully ready for the moment. I think that’s probably more of it than anything else. We have a really young group. I hope at this time next year, we’re more ready for this.”