Lovett host Hillgrove in preseason scrimmage

Hillgrove's Abi Kirk #47 defended by Lovett's Kate Kennedy #10

Ahead the start of the Georgia High School Association lacrosse regular season, the Lovett Lions girls lacrosse team hosted the Hillgrove Hawks in a preseason season scrimmage as the two teams, who both reached the second round of the state championship last season, hit the field for a tune-up match.

"Pushing the pace there at the end and scoring fast, those were some fun lessons to learn about," Lovett head coach, Ryan Randolph said following the matchup as he praised his players for their performance in the final few minutes of the match in which they battled back from trailing 9-4 to get within one goal of the Hawks before the contest ended with Hillgrove leading 9-8.

"We tried to learn that you're never really down and out of it, so that's a big take away for us tonight," Randolph said of the Lions, who will open the regular season against the Kell Longhorns next week. Meanwhile, for Hillgrove, Keon Humphries was "pleasantly surprised" watching his team and they way they "fought and competed" as they took an 8-3 lead in the fourth quarter.

"To see them out there, first time in action, I'm really excited," Humphries said of what he saw from his team during Thursday's preseason matchup. The Hawks will open their regular season on Monday when they travel to take on the McEachern Indians.