Of all the players on the field in the final frantic seconds of Monday’s intersectional lacrosse game between Palisades and Santa Monica, Joey Hirschman was the last one expecting to be the hero.
An instant before the clock reached zero, Hirschman fired a low ball through a maze of bodies from 20 yards away and it found the back of the net, giving the Dolphins a thrilling 6-5 victory in sudden death overtime on Senior Night at Stadium by the Sea. Not too shabby considering he hadn’t taken a shot in two weeks.
“I heard someone yell “two [seconds],” so I just let it go and lucky for us it went in,” said Hirschman, among the Pali High 12th-graders honored before the first whistle. “No time for anything else.”
There was uncertainty as to whether or not the goal was good. The referees conferred briefly and ruled it counted. Jack O’Rourke, Macchio Rissone, Gio Mazariegos, Joey Hamwi and Zane Daily also scored and goalie Spencer Au made two point-blank saves in overtime.
Palisades hosts a City Section semifinal today and, if victorious, will play for the title Saturday at 2 p.m. at Stadium by the Sea.
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