FAIRFIELD — As time ticked off the clock in Fairfield’s 34-33 win over Malta for a Class B state championship, Allix Goldhahn looked toward the sky. On the sideline, her parents – Pat and Windie – did the same.
In the midst of the frenzied celebration at half court, Allix found her parents. In an emotional embrace, Pat said what they all were thinking and what the family and the whole team knew.
“Lauryn’s watching.”
The last few months have taken a toll on the Goldhahn family. Their youngest daughter, Lauryn, died when the vehicle she was a passenger in rolled on a dirt road in August. She wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.
The family is still picking up the pieces – dealing with a pain that will never go away. They’re aided in part by their efforts with the #BuckleUpBlueForLauryn campaign which advocates for seatbelt use. And they’re aided by a group of supportive Eagle teammates and family members.
Through grief, sports have served as an outlet for the Goldhahn family.
So it was fitting that when Fairfield trailed the two-time defending champion M-Ettes by two with under a minute left in the game the ball found Allix on the wing.
She heaved up the ball – and of course it went in. There was an angel that made sure of it.
“I don’t think I can explain it,” said Allix, who had the initials ‘LG’ emblazoned on her socks. “You look up at the clock and you see 1.1 seconds going off and you’re like, ‘We just won a state championship.’ I’m in awe, I’m in heaven.”
Head coach Dustin Gordon and the Fairfield community knew the five Eagles on the court when the buzzer sounded were not alone.
“There’s absolutely no doubt,” he said.
His eyes welled up.
“It’s not the first time we’ve had angels with us,” Gordon admitted. “There was something special. We won’t go into it, but there’s some personal history with our team and for Allix, especially. I think we might have had a little bit of help tonight.”
Pat Goldhahn agreed.
“Allix has played a lot of basketball in her life,” he said. “I think we had a little bit of help from an angel tonight.”
An angel who is no doubt proud of the Eagles. Today and every day.
