toplaxrecruits.com toplaxrecruits.com -
By Tom Peace
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 3/29/14
BALTIMORE – McDonogh School (MD) used a 6-0 run to spark a 10-7 victory tonight over Gonzaga (D.C.) in the nightcap of the inaugural PNC HS Lacrosse Invitational at rain-soaked Ridley Athletic Complex at Loyola University.
Trey McGee
The Eagles – the No. 3 team in the Warrior/TopLaxRecruits Rankings – improve to 7-1. They were coming off a 13-8 loss to Culver Academy.
“It was a huge bounce back win after the Culver loss last week,” said McDonogh senior attackman Trey McGee who had a goal and four assists. “And now we have to get ready for the MIAA season.”
The Eagles had four players score two goals apiece – Robert Clark (three assists), Bobby Austin (one assist), Robby Black (one assist), and, Barrett Sutley.
Both teams traded scores in the first quarter and then McDonogh went on a seven-goal run to take an 8-2 lead. Gonzaga finally scored again at the 7:35 mark in the third quarter after being held scoreless for 16:47.
Gonzaga attackman Timmy Monahan had a big game, scoring five of the Purple Eagles seven goals.
The Purple Eagles (5-4) went on a late three-goal run to cut the deficit to 9-6. One goal came after McDonogh goalie Jacob Stover lost a field clear that led to an easy goal by Avery Myers.
But McDonogh recovered and remained focused to seal the victory.
The way Mcdonogh played in the second half didn’t sit well with head coach Andy Hilgartner.
“The second half was a little bit disappointing,” said Eagles coach Andy Hilgartner. “We played hard; that’s one thing we talked at the beginning of the game. And we wanted to compete on every single play.
“Gonzaga is a lot better than that score against (Boys’ Latin, 17-2 loss) indicated and they have a great coaching staff. They’ve got awesome kids in that program, and in the second (half) that was the difference.
“They started working a little harder than us, we made some mistakes that were uncharacteristic of our team that we’d like to have had back.”
Gonzaga, a three-time WCAC champion, now enters the DC buzzsaw of a schedule. Head coach Casey O’Neil wasn’t upset with his team after the loss, but going forward he would like to see a little more fire from his young team.
“Every kid on this team wants to win, I am desperate for us to get a little bit tougher, nd we showed some toughness and some moxie late in the game,” he said. “Most teams would fold being down six or seven goals, but we battled back.”
PNC Bank and Corrigan Sports Enterprises put on a successful event and drew 1,023 despite the poor conditions. Both teams were honored to be a part of the event (Haverford School downed St. Paul’s School, 9-8 in the opener).
“Tonight was fantastic, all of this is first class, being in a big boy locker room,” said O’Neil “I felt like we represented DC the best that we could.”
Hilgartner added: “We are very fortunate to be a part of this. To have the teams that are here that are nationally known like St. Paul’s, Haverford, Gonzaga, and McDonogh, it’s a great experience for the kids.”
McDonogh 10, Gonzaga 7
McDonogh 2-4-3-1- 10
Gonzaga 2-0-2-3 – 7
Gonzaga: Timmy Monahan 5/0, Liam Fitzpatrick 1/0, Avery Myers 1/0
McDonogh: Robert Clark 2/3, Bobby Austin 2/1, Robby Black 2/1, Barrett Sutley 2/0, Trey McGee 1/4, Jackson Morrill 1/1
Saves: Gonzaga: George Christopher 6; McDonogh: Jacob Stover 10
The post .@PNC_Lacrosse Invitational: @McDonogh downs @GonzagaLacrosse, 10-7 appeared first on toplaxrecruits.com.