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Welcome to #BestOfLax2022. Help us celebrate the past year of lacrosse by voting in 15 polls spread over 15 weekdays in December. All voting will be conducted on Twitter (@usalacrossemag), and fans will have 24 hours to let their voices be heard.

For more information — including upcoming categories, rules and more — check out our introductory post to #BestOfLax2022.

The clutch gene was on full display in 2022, and the following four players epitomize coming up big when the lights shine brightest.

Here are the nominees for Best in Clutch. 

BEST IN CLUTCH

For the players who embrace the biggest moments.

SAM GEIERSBACH

The Richmond transfer became a North Carolina legend in May, earning Most Outstanding Player honors in the NCAA tournament. She scored five critical goals in a historic comeback against Northwestern in the NCAA semifinals and then three more goals against Boston College in the national championship game. Simply put, UNC does not win a national crown last spring without her clutch exploits.

DILLON WARD

Ward was a big fan of the summer months. He started it by winning an NLL crown with the Colorado Mammoth and followed it a few months later by capturing the PLL championship with the Waterdogs. For both teams, he was one of the top clutch players in the sport. 

JP WARD

One of the biggest upset of the season came in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Delaware, outmatched (on paper) by Georgetown, got the game-winning goal with eight seconds left from sophomore attackman JP Ward. Ward finished first on the Blue Hens with 72 points.

CJ KIRST

Clutch during the college season, Kirst gets a nomination here for his efforts in Limerick, Ireland, for the U.S. U21 team. Kirst, the tournament MVP, scored five first-half goals in the gold-medal game to help the United States down Canada 12-10. The last player added to the U21 roster, Kirst was instrumental in lifting the team across the finish line.