2 weeks Ago By Glenn Graham
Having a bye at the beginning of the week gave host Mount Saint Joseph lacrosse extra time to prepare against No. 5 St. Paul’s and its gifted attack on Friday.
It proved to be time very well spent.After defense carried the play in the first half, the Gaels got on a third-quarter roll offensively to get the needed separation in an 8-4 upset win over St. Paul’s in Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference play.
Goalie Austin Slade made 13 saves with defenseman Brody Reese leading the cohesive defensive performance. Jack Birrane had a three-goal performance and Owen Craney added two goals and an assist.After opening conference play with a 13-8 loss to Loyola Blakefield last Friday, the Gaels (7-2) had a quality reset to even their MIAA A mark at 1-1.
St. Paul’s (5-3) falls to 1-2 in the conference.Down 2-1 early in the third quarter, the Gaels got four consecutive goals — two from Birrane, one from Craney and one by Cooper Myers to go up 5-2 with 2:45 left in the period.
Another goal and an assist from Craney in the fourth helped them stay in front with the defense putting in four outstanding quarters. It’s the second straight year the Gaels got the better of the Crusaders.“We were prepared and I think that’s the biggest thing — our guys are buying in as a team,” Mount Saint Joseph coach Tyler Reid said.
“Our team culture — from our seniors all the way down to the younger guys — they want to win and they’re hungry.”Slade set the Gaels’ stingy tone with a reaction save right in front on the Crusaders’ first possession and his defense forced other shots he could clearly see.St.
Paul’s, which got eight saves from goalie Josh Marson, proved equally effective on defense through the first half, which ended tied at 1.After the Crusaders took a 2-1 lead on Hayden Lauer’s goal with 8:42 left in the third quarter, the Gaels took hold of the game. Birrane tied it on a man-up goal one minute later and the four-goal run was underway.
St. Paul’s opened the fourth-quarter scoring on a goal by Connor Cook, but Ryan Currie and Craney responded with goals to give the home team a 7-3 lead midway through the final quarter.The Gaels’ defense was sensational, Reese primarily tasked with covering All-Metro standout Luke Bair and limiting him to one assist.
Drew McCOrmick, St. Paul’s, maintains control of the ball under pressure from Ryan Currie, Mount Saint Joe, in the first half of a boys lacrosse match. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Right, Tyler Clary, St.
Paul’s, keeps control of the ball under pressure from Jack Birrane, Mount Saint Joe, in a boys lacrossr match. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Bronson Burger, St. Paul’s, is defended by Nick Kern, Mount Saint Joe, in the first half of a boys lacrosse match.
(Kim Hairston/Staff)St. Paul's goalie Josh Marson deflects a shot from Mount Saint Joe in the first half of in boys lacrosse match as Drew McCormick, St. Paul’s watches.
(Kim Hairston/Staff)Connor Cook, St. Paul’s, runs through pressure from Henry Clark, Mount Saint Joe, in the first half of a boys lacrosse match. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Drew McCOrmick, St.
Paul’s, maintains control of the ball under pressure from Ryan Currie, Mount Saint Joe, in the first half of a boys lacrosse match. (Kim Hairston/Staff)Show Caption1 of 6Drew McCOrmick, St. Paul’s, maintains control of the ball under pressure from Ryan Currie, Mount Saint Joe, in the first half of a boys lacrosse match.
(Kim Hairston/Staff)Expand“Early in the week, we had a bye, so went through with our scout guys imitating their offense and practicing it through. So credit to those guys for showing out in practice all week to get us going for today,” Reese said. “It definitely feels great.
This gives us some momentum and I’ll definitely be sleeping great tonight.”Slade was happy to do his part and appreciative of the support he got in front.“Early on, I had that first save right on the doorstep, which got me going for the rest of the game,” he said.
“My defense won their matchups today and this wouldn’t have happened without them. The main thing going into today was making sure we won our matchups because we knew if we could, we’d have a chance to beat this talented team.”Related ArticlesSeverna Park’s Tyler Lawhorne thought a lung issue took lacrosse away from himNo.
6 Manchester Valley girls lacrosse excels offensively in 14-5 win over LibertyCatonsville softball rallies for 12-7 victory over Mount de SalesCentennial girls lacrosse finishes strong in 15-12 win over River HillNo. 1 McDonogh girls lacrosse tops Severn, 11-7, in clash of IAAM A Conference unbeatensDisappointed by his team’s lackluster performance, St. Paul’s coach Steve Settembrino said the Crusaders can only look for a reset Tuesday when they travel to John Carroll with game time set for 4 p.
m.“Just bad,” he said. “[We] shot the ball real poor, couldn’t get any rhythm on offense.
Credit Mount Saint Joe, coach Reid has done a great job with them. They’re tough, they’re disciplined and we were not disciplined or focused today.”Mount Saint Joseph travels to Gilman on Tuesday for a 4 p.
m. game.St.
Paul’s — 0-1-1-2 — 4Mount St. Joseph — 0-1-4-3 — 8Goals: SP — Cook 2, Iannantuono, Lauer; MSJ — Birrane 3, Craney 2, Scott, Myers, HerbertAssists: SP — Burger, Bair; MSJ — Herbert 2, Scott, CraneySaves: SP — Marson 7; MSJ — Slade 13Have a news tip? Contact Glenn Graham at [email protected], 410-332-6636 and x.
com/GlennGrahamSun..
