Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/14/10
From Press Releases
Host Gettysburg got out to a quick start today, then held off a Haverford College rally as the top-ranked Bullets won their Centennial Conference opener with a 10-9 victory over the 14th-ranked Fords.
The game was originally scheduled for Saturday but was rescheduled due to inclement weather.
The Bullets, who stayed undefeated (6-0, 1-0 CC) on the season and won their 19th straight home game, received a hat trick from senior Joe Brody, who scored three goals and dished out one assist. Sophomore Pat Sartory and senior Kyle McGrath scored two goals apiece while junior Chris Cahill had one goal and two assists.
Junior Matt Griffo tied a career-high for face-off wins, finishing 10-for-18 while picking up a career-high nine ground balls for the Bullets.
Haverford (3-2, 0-1 CC) was led by junior Max Hjelm (Conestoga), who scored four goals and handed out one assist. Junior Myles Monaghan had two goals and one assist while senior Andrew Kim had one goal and two assists. Sophomore Zach Cohen distributed two assists for the Fords, who outshot the Bullets 21-11 in the second half after being outshot 21-9 in the opening half. Sophomore goalie Joe Banno finished with 10 saves.
Trailing 10-8 heading into the fourth quarter, Haverford turned up the pressure, outshooting the Bullets 11-2 and forcing nine turnovers. Hjelm scored the only goal in the period, taking a pass from sophomore Phillip Valiant and blasting home a straightaway shot with the Fords a man up. Haverford had plenty of opportunities to tie it, taking five shots the rest of the way, but sophomore goalie John LeClerc made four of his eight saves in the fourth quarter, with three coming inside the last 3:55.
LeClerc made his final save with 1:06 on the clock, stopping a low shot from Travis Gregory. A series of three straight turnovers ensued, and Haverford came up with the ball after a big hit from sophomore defenseman Dillon Hamill with 40 seconds left. The Fords raced it upfield before calling timeout with 27 ticks showing.
Haverford was unable to capitalize however, as Cohen threw the ball away from behind the net, looking for a cutting Hjelm. After the Bullets cleared it, the Fords forced one more turnover deep in their own territory, but time expired as defenseman Matt Dooley launched the ball well short of the Gettysburg goal.
