A late second half goal by junior Jack Tabor sparked a game-altering, six-goal run to push the Jesuit Dallas lacrosse team past the Coppell Cowboys, 8-2, in the first round of the Texas High School Lacrosse League (THSLL) state tournament on Tuesday at Postell Stadium.
 
Senior Daniel Burnum tied a career high with four goals on the evening, one of five members of the Jesuit Dallas squad to find twine. Juniors Tabor, Marshall Ellison and David Sprock joined sophomore Jacob Jackson in the scoring column, scoring one goal each to aid the Jesuit effort.
 
Senior goalkeeper Luke Millican made four saves in cage for the Rangers (11-5), while senior Dixon Smith and junior Aidan Johnston secured eight and seven ground balls, respectively, to pace Jesuit to a critical, 43-24 advantage in groundballs. Jesuit converted 21-of-28 clear attempts, while limiting Coppell (11-8) to 20-of-27, scoring on 3-of-5 extra man opportunities.
 
After a scoreless first quarter, Burnum got the Rangers on the board in the second, scoring two goals over the span of 90 seconds to complete the opening salvo. Coppell scored its first goal at the 5:55 mark of the second, but Tabor ripped home a shot from 15 yards out with 16 seconds remaining in the first half, sending the Rangers into the halftime break leading, 3-1.
 
Tabor's goal kick started a dominant second half for Jesuit, as the Rangers increased their lead late in the third after being held in check for most of the quarter. Burnum completed his hat trick off of a pass from Sprock with 2:36 left in the third, and Ellison increased Jesuit's lead to four goals with his ninth goal of the year.
 
Jackson scored one minute into the fourth quarter, followed by goals from Sprock and Burnum within the final seven minutes that blossomed Jesuit's lead to seven goals. Despite allowing a tally to Coppell with 4:17 left in the quarter, Jesuit shut the door on the Cowboys and advanced to the regional semifinal.
 
Jesuit will face Memorial on Saturday, May 6 at 2 p.m. from Dripping Springs High School. Entering the postseason with an 11-2 record, the Mustangs opened the year with nine consecutive wins, dropping a pair of decisions to Kincaid on April 13 and 27. The winner of the 2 p.m. clash between the Rangers and Mustangs will advance to the super regional round to take on Westlake at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 7.