Landon Lacrosse 9 Paul VI 8

FIRST ROUND OF THE 2021 WASHINGTON CHAMPIONSHIPS

Traveling to the Northwest corner of Fairfax to play the Paul VI was a trip worth the time. The Panthers were the home team based on the tournament’s assessment that the 10-2 (losses to Episcopal and St. John’s College HS) WCAC team deserved the advantage. They boost a roster with college commits to Maryland, Rutgers, Lehigh, Boston U., Vermont, Merrimac, Detroit Mercy, Air Force, Manhattan, Stevenson and Colorado College.

The 1^st Q seemed to endorse the higher ranking as the home team (at 11:26 and 3:06 EMO) took a 2 goal lead. The Bears did not look sharp in their passes, their shots were not on target enough, but a stout D (6 shots, 2 saves and  goals for Hunter Taylor) plus domination at X (Kopp 3/0) kept it close.

END OF 1^ST Q BEARS 0 PANTHERS 2

The next Q saw more Bear O with a face-off loss by Nic Kopp, but #19 caused a Panther turnover setting up  a feed to Stephen Bou for goal #1 @ 11:13. The home team responded with a goal at 3:35, but Graham Hertzberg  beat the PVI goalie with a blast @ 1:19. The Panther called a time out and his boys delivered a goal at 0:00.

Nic and Bobby Rudzki combined for 0 wins out of 5 while Hunter saw 9 shots, stopped 3 and had 3 GA.

HALFTIME BEARS 2 PANTHERS 5

The 3^rd Q saw the home team score early and late (at 11:01 and 5:56). The Bear coaches adjusted their O and it produced. Landon 3^rd Goal was by Cameron Brown from Kevin Miller @ 9:56. Soon thereafter Tony Panetti showed Chantilly his speed beating the opposing goalie @8:28. The run continued with Nic’s win at X, sprint into his O zone and scoring @8:14. The visitors pulled within 1 by breaking a PVI clear, a GB by Kevin and an assist to Will Single’s goal @2:10.

The Bear Duo at X won 5 while losing 3. Hunter saw 4 shots, saving 2 and allowing 2Gs.

END OF 3^RD Q BEARS  6 PANTHERS 7

The last 12 minutes mattered. The Bear D held the Panthers to one goal on 7 shots and only that one was on goal. Nic got his team going by winning the first draw and passing to Graham for the tying goal @ 11:54. A broken PVI clear ended with the ball in the cross of Jake Cohen who scored @10:30.

The home team knotted the score at 6:05, but the relentless Graham blasted another of his cannon shots, the winning goal @6:05 from the midfield.

Possessions alternated between the two teams and then the Panthers gained possession and with 0:23 on the shot clock and 1:01, the coach called a time out to set up his equalizer. Jake Cohen destroyed the best plans laid by Panthers’ men and his one man clear consumed the  remaining time. Celebration by the Bears and the throng of fans (who seemed to outnumber the Chantilly crowd and who definitely out volumed them) erupted.

Hunter faced 3 shots, saved 2 and allowed 1. Nic and Bobby held the X at 50/50.

FINAL SCORE BEAR 9 PANTHERS 8

NEXT GAME VS. GP at Catholic University June 8 at 5pm.

The other half of the draw is SJCHS v. DeMatha (beat Bullis)