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Landon Lacrosse 9 SSSA 7
The home team had an impressive 11-5 record coming into the IAC regular season finale and with six wins at Kelleher Field. SSSA is undefeated in its Virginia League games and a double overtime loss to the Hill Academy. Its roster includes highly recruited players heading to Amherst, Brown, Denver, Penn State, Providence, RIT, UMBC, UNC and Utah. The contest held major potential consequences for both team.
Maybe it was the uncharacteristic weather (no snow, or rain and with a temperature 400 above the most recent game conditions, but the Bears came out cold.
The Saints took a quick two goal lead with scores at 6:52 and 5:28.
John Geppertcontinued his hot streak with a goal@2:26
END OF 1ST Q SAINTS 2 BEARS 1
The team in dark brown jerseys, not a haberdashery advantage with the thermometer above four score (credit to A. Lincoln), accelerated in this period. A SSSA penalty was called and expired as Landon was still in EMO mode. A brilliant pass from Zack Johnsonto Joey Epstein resulted in a Bear goal @10:10.
The Saints went ahead, for the last time in the game, with a goal at 11:20.
That inspired a run of four consecutive goals—Joey E set up at X behind goal and feathered a pass to John, whose step down shot ripped the net for his 2nd goal @10:20.
The second goal in this stream of Bear entries in the scorebook was example of the opportunism needed to win a tight game. A teammate took a shot and the rebound was not controlled by the SSSA goalie. On the ground, the ball was controlled by Joey E (credited with GB), was shot by Joey E (credit with shot) and goal @ 3:16 (credited with goal).
Another EMO opportunity resulted in Goal #5—a pass fromGarrett Kurtz to Graham Hertzbergwas transferred to a shot behind the Saints’ goalie @ 2:58. John’s 3rd goal was an alley dodge @ 0:47. The Saints did not waste the remaining seconds and put one past the Bear goal tender at 0:10.2.
HALFTIME BEARS 6 SAINTS 4
Possession was the key strategy for the 2nd half. Battling against a UNC stud at the face-off X, Will Boukept it competitive with winning 50% of the face-offs, The Bear D,Ryan Giles (3 CTs, 5 GBs), Drew Wellington, Mo Sillah(both of who neutralized their opponents), Doug Chirite and Alex Hagerup PLUS Mitch Laughlin (11 saves including a couple of stops of potential SSSA momentum swinging goals) PLUS consistent defensive play by the middies (John, Zack, Greg Strabo, Brett Gallagher, Billy Banfield, Jace Menendez and Miles Tonkel) kept home team well below their season average of 12 goals per game.
Johnregistered his 4th goal @ 9:59. The SSSA team advanced their numbers on the scoreboard at 5:00 to #5.
To finish off this penultimate period, Joey E fed Gilbert Sentimorewho was immediately crushed by several Saint Ds. The future Ute, again opportunistically, rolled his falling body and as he fell to the ground, shot without the benefit of seeing the goal. Landon score #8 @0:17.5
END OF 3RD Q BEARS 8 SAINTS 5
Joey E got his 4th goal @ 10:55 to set a +4 margin for his team. The Saints replied with #6 and 7 at 9:41 and then 2:48. An unreleasable penalty with less than a minute remaining sealed the home team’s fate.
FINAL SCORE BEARS 9 SAINTS 7
KHARI BATEN “That’s a Bear” Award
[in numerical order]
Mitch Laughlin
John Geppert
Will Bou
Ryan Giles
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