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Lucky number seven. 

LaGrange put seven past Wayne County to book a spot in the round of 16 of the AAAA state playoffs. The Grangers kept a clean sheet on their home turf, dominating 7-0 to make the second round of the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year (excluding the COVID-19 shortened season in 2020). 

“There were positives all around,” LaGrange coach Shane Pulliam said. “I don’t think we gave up too many shots, but we have to still keep working and get better.”

Senior Andy Patton opened the scoring for the Grangers less than three minutes into the game on an unassisted goal, and it was all LaGrange front there.

“Andy came through for us with a really quick goal,” Pulliam said. “We scored really quickly and kind of knocked them out of the game before they really realized they were playing the game.”

Bo Beall was one of the standout players for the home team, scoring the second and third goal of the game, both on assists by playmaking midfielder Davis Knight.

“Bo was outstanding, and it was good to see him get on the scoresheet for us,” Pulliam said. 

Knight got in on the scoring in the second half, getting the Grangers fourth goal 10 minutes into the second half.  Ty Ormsby, Jan Alvarado and Romans Outland all scored a goal and provided an assist in the second half. Logan Raley also had an assist in the game.

“We got some guys on the scoresheet that haven’t been on the scoresheet for a while,” Pulliam said. “We had guys step up in a big way tonight. We played a lot of people so some of our younger guys got to experience what the playoffs are all about.” 

LaGrange was in complete command of the game from the opening whistle but will be looking for a cleaner, sharper performance next Thursday in the round of 16. The Grangers will host Bainbridge, who beat Spalding 8-0 in the opening round of the playoffs. The most recent encounter between these two teams was a 5-0 home playoff victory in the round of 16 of the 2021 state playoffs for LaGrange. 

“We had to play the winner of Bainbridge-Spalding that year in the round of 16, and this year will play the winner of Bainbridge-Spalding,” Pulliam said. “This year feels very similar to that year.”