LANDON LACROSSE 13 SSSA 11

This was a game which the seniors, in particular, would not lose.

The 13-6 Saints’ hot offense has averaged almost 12 Goals a Game. The “other” Alexandria IAC (one League tournament championship) and VISSA team (champions in 4 of the past 5 years) has an impressive roster (highly recruited players heading to Amherst, Brown, Denver, Penn State, Providence, RIT, UMBC, UNC and Utah). Their coach, in a pregame informal comment, said that he came to Bethesda, MD to win the IAC.

The 21 Bear 2018 members of the squad led their brothers to a determined 13-11 win. The Saints were ahead for 0:41 of the 1^st period and frequently attacked back to tie, but never lead in the remaining 40:21 of the game. Each time the visitors challenged the 2017 reigning champions, a Bear would step up and reply.

The home team first entered the score book when Mitch Laughlin made an important save which was transferred to a Landon fast break. Senior John Geppert exhibited his super speed by completing a One Man Clear and his appearance in the Home Team O zone compelled the Saints D to slide. That opened Joey Epstein ’18 to beat the SSSA goalie @ 9:54.

As with last Tuesday’s game at Kelleher Field, the Saints scored twice to take an early and their last lead of the game (at 7:43 and 7:39).

That did not sit well with the Bear seniors; so, Zach Johnson’18 flew down the field and drew a slide. That defensive response created an opportunity for the Bears future Ute, Gilbert Sentimore, who availed himself of the opportunity, received the pass on the SSSA crease and deposited the ball in the back of the net @6:58.

Bear goal #3 was a nice exchange between John and Joey E @0:38,4.

The visitors equalized 3-3 at 0:15.1, seemingly assuring of a tie at the end of the 1^st stanza!

WRONG, after a Bear time-out, John retrieved a GB and fed Graham Hertzberg (as the cheering crowd reminded the visitors “he’s a freshman”) who blasted a goal @0:04,2

END OF 1^ST Q BEARS 4 SAINTS 3

SSSA responded with another tying tally at 11:35, but the ’18 Bear combination of John, whose dodge caused the visitors D to rotate, and Gilbert benefitting from a crease interstice in the Saint D, buried his 2^nd goal from point blank @8:59. A rare first half play was next, Zach bull dodged his way to the precipice of the 6’ by 6’ opening being defended by the opposition and the ’18 midfielder (Michigan ’22) blasted the ball past the SSSA goalie @6:47. What made this score unique? It was the only unassisted goal of the 1^st half—that’s a symptom of a well-functioning offense.

A midfield dodge by Captain Joey pressured the Saints D with a swift move left of goal freeing CaptainJohn for a hands-free shot and the goal @5:24.

The “we-ain’t-going-to-give-up” Saints narrowed the Bears’ advantage with two consecutive goals at 3:36 and then 1:26.

The one goal margin kicked up the ‘18 competitiveness; Zach to Gilbert @0:07.6

HALFTIME BEARS 8 SAINTS 6

The next period saw the Saints reduce the Landon margin to +1 with goals at 5:50 and 1:38. Joey’s reply was an acute angle shot from about 17 yards @2:56.

The 3^rd period saw a barrage of SSSA shots and Mitch showed that a ’19 goalie was supporting his senior teammates with some key saves. Also noteworthy on F/Os and around the crease was Zach’s timely and critical ground balls (#4 had a game high  total of 6 GBs).

END OF 3^RD Q BEARS 9 SAINTS 8

For the last time in this contest, the visitors tied the score at 9-9 at 11:12.

The Bears responded with two consecutive goals—Joey on a 7 yard goal @ 9:12. From the far end of the field another brother of ’18, Drew Wellington possessed the ball, cleared it into his O zone and blasted the Saints’ goal net @7:50.

And the Bear goal/Saint goal pattern continued

• SSSA at 5:51

• John to Graham @ 4:49

• SSSA at 5:31

A big Mitch save followed by a Zach GB and clear

• John with a quick reversal of direction and then a pass to Graham ’21 for his 2^nd goal @4:49

• SSSA’s 10^th goal at 4:29

• +2 resumed with a Joey E to Graham @ 2:23

Landon’s D blunted several SSSA attacks and then the home team was able to possess the ball for the remainder of the game.

FINAL SCORE BEARS 13 SAINTS 11

Good luck to SSSA in the VISSA TOURNAMENT

KHARI BATEN “THAT’s a Bear” AWARD

[IN NUMERICAL ORDER]

Joey Epstein

Mitch Laughlin

Gilbert Sentimore

Zach Johnson

John Geppert

Graham Hertzberg

Drew Wellington

Friday May 11 home v. Bullis, time TBD