toplaxrecruits.com
toplaxrecruits.com -
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 4/9/15
Staff Report
Timmy Monahan collected five goals and an assist as host Gonzaga College (D.C.) held off the nation’s new darling, St. Ignatius Prep (CA), 12-9, today at Catholic University.
The loss was the first of the year for the Wildcats (9-1), who shocked North America Tuesday with its 10-8 win over Landon School (MD), the No. 2 team in the Epoch Lacrosse North America Rankings and in most every other national poll.
The Purple Eagles, ranked No. 7, improved to 10-2.
St. Ignatius, ranked No. 20, also impressed Gonzaga coach Casey O’Neill.
“That team is really good,” O’Neill said. “They have great players who are fun to play. We went up 11-5 and they just kept coming, but fortunately we pulled it out.”
Gonzaga had leads of 5-1 and 8-3 and then took the 11-5 advantage before St. Ignatius drew within 11-9 with 1:15 to play. Gonzaga won the ensuing face-off and put in the insurance tally.
“I told our kids that that was the most athletic team we will see all year,” said O’Neill.
Also for Gonzaga, Luke McCaleb had two goals and an assist and Richie Petitbon had a goal and an assist while Mikey Stanton, Ridge Slater, Liam Fitzpatrick and Brian Townsend each scored once. George Christopher posted nine saves.
For St. Ignatius, Patrick Brosnan tallied three goals, Finn Barry and Tommy Fleming each had two goals and Bryn Evans, Peter Alimam each had one. Freshman goalie Mac Gates had 10 saves.
“They are a very good team,” said St. Ignatius Prep assistant coach Scott Brittain. “We got off to a slow start; we were down 5-1 and then pulled within 5-3.
“But we got a 1-minute stick penalty and they scored twice and got another goal on transition when we were releasing. So it was basically a 3-goal penalty. We stormed back at the end getting, but we ran out of time.
“Hats off to Gonzaga, they have a fantastic squad.”
Brittain said the Wildcats will look forward to the end of the season and the Northern California playoffs. He also said the squad was thrilled late Wednesday when head coach Chris Packard arrived from California where his wife is days away from delivering a child.
“We needed to play mistake-free against a team of that caliber and we made some unforced errors,” Brittain said. “We are definitely excited to come back home and see where we go.
“We showed our depth of character. We did not roll over when we fell behind big. This was a positive trip and we have a great group of kids – we are as proud as we could possibly be.”
O’Neill said the Wildctas’ showing in their East Coast trip reflects good on the sport.
“Their kids are well coached, disciplined and athletic,” said O’Neill. “I think it goes to show how great this sport is going.”
The post Boys’ lacrosse: California power @StIgnatius bows to No. 7 @GonzagaLacrosse, 12-9, but makes name for West Coast appeared first on toplaxrecruits.com.