Ohio's Final Four: St. Xavier Advances Over Upper Arlington

A highly anticipated rematch lived up to expectations. The game was fast-paced with very little stoppage. In Week 1, Upper Arlington narrowly beat St. Xavier by just one point, and this game was equally close. St. Xavier initially led 4-1, but Upper Arlington fought back to even the score at six by halftime. [player_tooltip player_id='35617' first='Johnnie' last='Guttman'] and Joe Matre were instrumental in their teams' offensive success. Tyler Stegbauer and [player_tooltip player_id='35621' first='Wally' last='Swiney'] were dominant one on one. The second half was intense, with both [player_tooltip player_id='21908' first='Sam' last='Old'] and [player_tooltip player_id='35605' first='Trent' last='Yelton'] making crucial saves. The offenses picked up the pace and shooting, with [player_tooltip player_id='14527' first='Khalif' last='Hocker'] leading the charge for St. Xavier with his smooth moves and decisive decision-making. Both teams' defenses applied pressure and caused turnovers. [player_tooltip player_id='35608' first='Rowdy' last='Scheer'] made an impact all over the field. [player_tooltip player_id='35619' first='Cal' last='Casey'] was active on the Upper Arlington side, contributing to a solid defense. St. Xavier ultimately emerged victorious, winning the game 13-11. Impact players from both teams are below.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">St. Xavier</h2>    Guttman played a pivotal role in driving his team's performance in the first half by scoring three impressive goals. He showcased his versatility by executing crease wraps with both his right and left hand. Guttman's swift roll dodge and quick finish made it seem effortless.     Hocker was unstoppable in the second half. He was electric with the ball, shooting jump shots, and going behind the back. He was very hard to defend and dealt with double teams and quick slides well, quick to move the ball. He was very efficient on ground balls and showed great stick protection after coming up with them.     Stegbauer was shadowing the Golden Bear's best all night and he did not let up. The imposing defender was matching feet, and playing strong physical defense while causing turnovers and scooping ground balls. Handcuffed players on more than one occasion.     A wall all season, Yelton had another impressive night in cage. He made an impressive low-high save to end the first half and from then on, was on fire. He saved outside heaters and shots within ten yards, as well as a great save inside in the closing minutes of the game.     Scheer demonstrated excellent defensive skills all game. He was a menace to opposing players, using his swift and accurate lift check, coupled with a highly effective stick. He exhibited exceptional speed, almost scoring a goal in transition outrunning everyone.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Upper Arlington</h2>    Throughout the game, Casey was exciting to watch. He successfully executed several turnover lift checks and did very well at getting in hands. He frequently disrupted the opponent's offensive plays, leading to ground ball possessions.     On Swiney's lone goal he used agility and maneuvering around the crease, leaving his defender trailing behind as he adeptly moved above goal line extended. He created numerous scoring opportunities with his quick and skillful footwork, and was impressive in transition. He showcased himself as a gritty and impactful player.     Old was making some excellent passes and hit a guy going over the 50-yard line perfectly more than once. He made some nice low saves in the first half and had some key saves down the stretch, including one from a 10-yard shot followed by another body save.    St. Xavier will be facing Olentangy Liberty this Saturday (6/8) in the Division 1 State Championship. For more information on both teams, take a look at <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2024/05/tournament-time-whos-winning-it-all-in-ohios-division-1/?itm_source=parsely-api">Tournament Time: Who's Winning It All in Ohio's Division 1?</a>