East Coweta's Cooper Collects 500th Save As Indians Defeat Sprayberry

East Coweta goalie Josh Cooper collected his 500th career save in win over Sprayberry

On Thursday, the Sprayberry Yellow Jackets boys lacrosse team hosted the East Coweta Indians in a non-region match, however both teams looking to pick up win for some momentum, however more importantly for the Indians, a win would be their first of the season. As the game got underway, East Coweta came out striking first taking an early 2-0 lead and would stay out in front of Sprayberry throughout the opening quarter as they led 2-1 by the end of the period.

However, the second quarter would be owned by the Yellow Jackets as they outscored the Indians 3-1 in the period, including back to back goals by Christian Lombardo, forcing a tie at 4-4 by halftime. Once action resumed in the third quarter, East Coweta would quickly swing momentum back in their favor opening the period on a 4-0 run to take an 8-4 lead. The Indians would pick things up defensively as well, allowing Sprayberry just two second half goals, while East Coweta goalie, josh Cooper would notch his 500th career save.

East Coweta would go on to pick up their first win of the season as they defeated Sprayberry 9-6 and East Coweta head coach, Nicholas Johnson said he simply told his guys to they needed to “get back to ourselves,” as they found their rhythm in the second half. “I challenged my team at halftime. We weren’t playing up to our standard,” Johnson said. And while the win was the first for East Coweta, Johnson praised his players for how they have showed up and competed day in and day out.

“We’ve been in a lot of tight ones, played some really good teams. I knew what we were capable of but I went in there and challenged my team at halftime, they came out and responded and we got the ‘W’ for it,” Johnson said. In part of the Indians’ response was also the play of Cooper, who Johnson said he was “proud of” for the career accomplishment.