Big Red Rolls Past Kimball Union, 16–7, Behind Hepp's Heroics and Face-Off Domination
April 30, 2025 — Concord, NH
On a crisp spring afternoon in Concord, the St. Paul's School boys lacrosse team delivered one of their most complete performances of the season, overpowering Kimball Union Academy with a commanding 16–7 victory. From the opening face-off to the final whistle, the Big Red controlled the tempo, showing discipline, intensity, and depth across the field.
Leading the offensive explosion was senior attackman Charles Hepp, who put on a clinic with 6 goals and 1 assist, carving through the KUA defense with a combination of speed, precision, and creativity.
"It felt like everything was clicking today," said Hepp after the game. "We trusted our spacing, moved the ball well, and everyone made it easy with how hard they were riding and fighting for possessions."
The Big Red jumped out early, building a 4–2 lead in the first quarter, but it was their second-half surge—scoring 9 goals after halftime—that put the game out of reach. While KUA stayed competitive in the first half, closing the gap to 7–6 by halftime, St. Paul's came out of the halftime break with a sense of urgency, tightening the defense and going on a 9–1 run to close the game.
A huge factor in that turnaround was face-off specialist Bryan Folsom, who was nothing short of dominant at the X, winning 22 of 25 draws—an eye-popping 88% win rate. His performance helped the Big Red control possession (69 to 42 advantage) and wear down the KUA defense with sustained pressure.
Offensively, St. Paul's shared the wealth. Finian Kilbourne (2G, 1A) and Quinton Delorey (3G, 2A) added five points each, while Matias Williams notched a pair of goals on sharp off-ball cuts. Sophomore attackman Tommy Humphreys also made an impact as a facilitator, recording 2 assists and showing vision behind the net.
"It was one of those games where everyone contributed," said head coach Bernier. "Our spacing, off-ball movement, and hustle were the difference. And when you win that many face-offs, good things usually happen."
The Big Red defense, anchored by goalie Luka Clark (5 saves), rose to the occasion after a shaky second quarter. They held KUA to just 1 goal in the second half and none in the fourth quarter, forcing turnovers, executing clearances efficiently, and smothering the ride.
Despite 7 penalties on the day, the SPS man-down unit stayed composed and allowed zero goals in KUA's lone man-up opportunity.
The win improves SPS's record and showcases a team that's peaking at the right time. With confidence building, the Big Red are looking to make a strong push as they enter the heart of their season schedule.
"We've been working all season to play four full quarters like that," Coach added. "If we can bring this level of intensity and execution every game, we'll be tough to beat."
