University School of Milwaukee Narrowly Loses to Hudson in State Lacrosse Championship

SUN PRAIRIE – In a thrilling showdown for the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association state girls lacrosse championship on June 13, University School of Milwaukee (USM) suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Hudson, losing 12-11. The decisive moment came when Hudson's Josie Jones scored the go-ahead goal with just 42 seconds left, allowing the Raiders to claim their second consecutive title. This marked USM's second runner-up finish in three years.

The championship match was a rematch of an earlier encounter on May 16, when Hudson had dominated USM with a 17-7 victory. Despite the past defeat, USM's coach Kate Viviano expressed confidence in her team's preparations leading up to the final. “I think we focused too much on them. This week we really put an emphasis on focusing on USM and what we do best,” she noted.

The Wildcats started strong despite an early 2-0 deficit, quickly responding with two goals in rapid succession. Senior Sofie Bucher assisted senior Gabi Ortiz Fleet for the first goal, followed by Darcy Doyle's equalizer, bringing the score to 2-2. USM then took a brief 3-2 lead before Hudson closed the first quarter with a 5-3 advantage, thanks to a goal from Harper Bradley in the final seconds.

As the game progressed, Hudson stretched their lead to 8-4, but USM narrowed the gap to 8-5 before halftime. The momentum shifted again as Hudson built a 10-7 lead, only for Doyle to score three goals in the fourth quarter, leveling the match at 11-11. However, a mouthguard violation against Doyle with just over two minutes left complicated USM’s efforts. Coach Viviano remarked on the final calls, stating, “Some calls didn't go our way, but those are out of our control.”

Despite the loss, Doyle led USM with seven goals, and both she and Bucher earned All-American honors from USA Lacrosse. Reflecting on the season, Doyle cherished the bonds formed with her teammates. “I was just really happy we made it this far, just because I love every single person on the team,” she said. The Wildcats concluded their season with a record of 17-4, leaving an indelible mark on the field and in each other's hearts.