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By Tom Peace
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 4/21/15
BROOKLANDVILLE, Md. – Alex Roesner and Ryan Conrad notched hat tricks to lead first-place Loyola-Blakefield to a key 11-9 victory today over host St. Paul’s in Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association boys’ lacrosse.
Cole Williams
The Dons, ranked No. 14 in the Epoch Lacrosse North America Rankings, improved to 8-1 with their seventh straight win as they strengthened their hold on first place in the MIAA A Conference with a 5-0 mark. St. Paul’s, ranked 19th, is 9-5 and 3-2.
St. Paul’s trailed 5-2 at the half but managed to chip away at Loyola’s lead throughout the second half. With 8:43 left in the fourth Alex McGovern scored back-to-back goals to make it a one-goal game.
“We came in prepared we watched the film,” said Williams. “We knew after people saw how Archbishop Spalding’s zone was handling us that we had to work on that. They did use it the whole game, but we started working the ball around and sneaking in cuts and getting open shots right in top of the crease.”
Then Conrad and Roesner scored and the defense went to work and closed the door on the Crusaders.
“When you have guys like, (Alex) Roesner, (Ryan) Conrad, and Cole Williams you expect them to respond when things aren’t going well,” said Loyola Blakefield coach Jack Crawford. “If they fall apart the machine breaks down.”
St. Paul’s had the lead once when the Crusaders opened 1-0 in the first quarter. But the Dons were dominant throughout the first half setting the tone for the entire game.
Crusaders coach Rick Brocato attributed the loss to a couple things. “Loyola understood the moment and the sense of urgency you have to have and they executed very well,” he said.
“I don’t think our heads were in it from the beginning. I think (Loyola) did a great job jumping on that and they smelled that and they executed well and I don’t think we did. Two goals in the first half and the way we were throwing the ball away and getting stripped and not moving the ball; we were not playing St. Paul’s lacrosse.”
The Dons now turn around to play a tough McDonogh team on Saturday. And the Crusaders will do battle against Archbishop Spalding.
Loyola Blakefield 11, st. Paul’s 9
SP: Alex McGovern 2, Carter Flaig 2/2, Dawes Milchling 2/1, Mitch Gordon 1/1, Tyler Rockhill, Joe Pollard 0/1, Saves: AJ Barretto: 13
Loyola: Alex Roesner 3/2, Ryan Conrad 3, Cole Williams 2, Nick Goles 2, Cormac Bateman, Nate Leishear 0/2, Saves: Jake Stout: 10
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