Finishing the Fight: How senior captain Matthew Han led Paul VI lacrosse to a historic state title

When the final buzzer echoed across St. Paul VI Catholic High School’s home field in May of 2023, senior captain Matthew Han did not sprint toward the goal or throw his equipment into the air. Instead, he stood still for a moment, taking in the scene around him.

Facing Episcopal High School who were the defending state champions, and a program that had haunted them in previous seasons, the Panthers delivered their best performance when it mattered most, winning 9-5 on their home turf.

“I finally felt a weight lifted off my shoulders,” Han said. For Han and the Paul VI varsity lacrosse team, the 2023 Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I State Championship was not just another title, it was redemption and a testament to years of their hard work. 

“We have gone to the finals every year and choked multiple times. It was incredibly rewarding being part of a team that won the championship because we were only the second team in Paul VI history to do it,” said Han. 

This victory marked only the second state championship in program history and the first time Paul VI had beaten Episcopal in the finals. “Honestly, it felt more like something I had to do before I left than a ‘yay, we won’ feeling.” For Han, who had endured multiple years of heartbreaking losses in the title game, this win was deeply personal.

Head coach Steven Lee said Han’s leadership was the difference. “Matt changed the energy of this team,” Lee said. “He’d been there through all the tough losses, and he made sure the whole team understood what it would take to finish. He didn’t just talk about it, he showed it every day in practice.”

Han, a dynamic player known for his composure and endurance, led by example throughout his high school career. During the whole season, Han recorded impressive stats setting up the long-awaited rematch with Episcopal.

“Matt’s the kind of captain who doesn’t need to criticize and yell to lead, you just watch how hard he practices every day. Everyone wanted to play up to his standard,” said his teammate Christian Lee. 

The championship game itself was a testament to that discipline. After a close first half, Paul VI’s defense tightened, holding Episcopal scoreless for much of the second half while Han and the offense controlled possession. Late in the fourth quarter as the final seconds ticked down, the realization set in, they had finally done it.

Winning the championship on their own turf made the moment even more meaningful. “It felt right that it happened here,” Han said. “We had our families, friends and alumni all around us. It wasn’t just our win, it was everyone’s.”

Now graduated and currently playing lacrosse at the University of Michigan, Han looks back on his senior season not just as an athletic achievement but as a lesson in perseverance and leadership. “It taught me that leadership isn’t about the title or the speech before the game,” he said. “It’s about showing up every single day even when you’ve failed before and encouraging everyone around you to believe they can win.”

For the Paul VI lacrosse team, the 2023 VISAA state championship was a long time coming. For Matthew Han, it was proof that persistence, resilience and quiet leadership can finally turn heartbreak into history.