The last time the Parkland and Southern Lehigh boys lacrosse teams played, back on May 3, it was a one-goal game with the Spartans winning 14-13.

Last Thursday night at Northampton High School’s Al Erdosy Stadium, there was a very similar result, but this time a lot more riding on the game.

Southern Lehigh scored a goal with under a minute remaining to tie the game, and then netted the winner in overtime to take down the Trojans 10-9 in the District 11 final. It was the program’s first district championship, and first team other than Emmaus or Central Catholic to win the district crown. Parkland will have to wait another year to grab its first district boys lacrosse championship.

“It’s disappointing for the kids, especially our seniors,” said Parkland head coach Brad Schifko. “They really wanted this one, and after beating Easton and getting to the final, I thought we had a good chance tonight. We were one win away.”

Parkland (15-7 overall) beat Easton by five goals in the semifinals just two nights earlier, and was riding plenty of momentum heading into the final. The Trojans even held a one-goal advantage before Southern Lehigh (19-2 overall) scored two straight to win the title. It was the second time in two nights that the Spartans mounted a late-game comeback, trailing Central Catholic by two goals with 25 seconds left before winning their semifinal match up.

“They’re a great team, and resilient, and that has shown the last two games,” said Schifko. “They got the better of us tonight. We didn’t lose. They won.”

With the score tied at eight, junior attack Dru Miller gave Parkland the lead with 2:34 left. It was the first time they led all game. They gained possession off the ensuing draw, and looked as if everything was going their way for once.

Schifko called timeout. But when play resumed, the Spartans reclaimed possession.

Dante Serra raced down the field and found Ben Johnston for the tying goal with 34.2 seconds left in regulation.

Then in the overtime period, Southern Lehigh won possession and held it, looking for the right shot. It was found by Colin Hoff who unleashed a hard shot that senior goalie Joey Stevenson could not hold on to.

It was a deflating loss to end the season for the Trojans, who won two district games after falling in the first game of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference playoffs.