Alex Love Photo
Riverside prepares for the final quarter with the game tied 2-2 versus Mauldin.
Mauldin High School beat the Riverside Warriors in lacrosse Friday night at The Reservation, 3-2.
Gunnar Wilson scored Mauldin's winning goal late in the final quarter.
It was Mauldin’s first win over the Warriors since 2011 and handed Riverside its first home loss this season.
Mauldin is 3-1 in Region II-4A and 6-2 overall. Riverside is 4-1 in the region and 5-4 overall.
“Mauldin has a good coaching staff, they have a good youth program, you know they are on the rise,” Warriors Head Coach Jay Black said. “They battled some teams tough this year and we knew this game would be tough.”
Steven Ranck of Mauldin wasted no time getting the Mavericks's first goal less than a minute into the contest. Mauldin built a 2-0 lead before Riverside’s Peyton Lambercht scored from behind his back to end the quarter 2-1.
“We pushed it on transition and we had a slow break going,” Lambercht said. “I just beat my guy and my teammate had a great pass, it’s something I’ve been working on and luckily it went it.”
Zach Greenway gave Mauldin a 2-0 lead.
Lambercht came back in the second quarter scoring his second goal to tie the game 2-2.
“My friend set a great pick on the crease and just came off it. I got wide open and my friend got me with a pass,” Lambercht said. “I shot it and scored and couldn’t do it without the team.”
It was all defense in the second half until Mauldin scored late to win the game.
Riverside goalie Ryan Porter was 14 of 17 in saves and Mauldin’s Matt Butler was 23 of 25.
“I started out my game with two little easy goals and I had to step up my game,” Porter said. “There was a lot of competition between me and the other goalie. I had been working all week and our defense stepped up.”
“I been quoted about this before and I’ve said (Matt) is probably the best goalie in the state”, Mauldin Head Coach Bill Schramm said. “I think with tonight’s performance and the last couple games he’s still by far the best goalie in the state I don’t think it’s close, but besides that (Matt) is a special kid on and off the field.”
Greenville County schools are off for spring break next week. Riverside hosts J.L. Mann on April 7 and Mauldin is at home versus Woodmont on April 4.