Suffolk News-Herald

Bobby Flintoff fired his third goal into the upper-right corner of the Norfolk Academy net with 21 seconds to go in overtime as host Nansemond-Suffolk Academy snared its second consecutive TCIS junior varsity lacrosse championship on Monday, defeating the Bulldogs 8-7. Flintoff, who finished the game with three goals and three assists, took an assist from Adam Nash for his team’s only shot of the overtime period.

&uot;I saw the goalie coming out at me, and I threw three fakes,&uot; said Flintoff, a freshman Saint. &uot;I totally faked him out.&uot;

With the Saints up 7-5 with two minutes left in regulation, the Bulldogs popped in two goals that stole the momentum, according to eighth-grader Tyler Van Selow.

&uot;They were stoked, and our momentum totally died,&uot; said Van Selow, who knocked in three goals and passed for two assists (Kyle Jett and Dylan Spence also scored for the Saints). &uot;Before overtime, our coaches told us, ‘Offense wins games, but defense wins championships.’&uot;

The Saints proved the words true in the extra period, as the Bulldogs were on the attack for virtually the entire first four minutes, firing five shots. But with 43 seconds left, Jeff Kiser stole the ball from a Bulldog, and passed to Griffin Powell, who charged to midfield.

Powell met a Bulldog player head-on (or shoulder-on), and the ball popped loose. Nash charged up, snatched the ball, and headed toward the Bulldog goal.

&uot;I had two guys right in front of me,&uot; said the eighth-grader. &uot;I couldn’t see well, but then I saw Bobby.&uot; Flintoff was on the left side of the net, about midway between the goal and midfield.

Nash fired a high pass between the two defenders, and Flintoff reached up and snared it. He then sprayed it into the Bulldog net, and the Saints’ bench emptied to mob the players.

&uot;This was the most gnarly game ever!&uot; said a grinning Flintoff. &uot;I hope we’re this good on the varsity team next year!&uot;