High School Lacrosse
POSTSEASON
May 14, 2007
Collegiate knocks off LexCath in quarterfinals
By NATHAN CHAMBERS
BeyondTheDerby.com
Collegiate coach Tom Windham believed that the Titans could win at Lexington Catholic in the Kentucky Lacrosse Association High School Boys’ Division 1 quarterfinals on Monday night.
Considering that his team had lost to LexCath in overtime in each of their last two meetings, however, Windham expected to sweat out the fourth quarter. He didn’t.
After LexCath pulled into a 7-7 tie in the third quarter, the Titans scored seven straight goals and rolled to a 14-8 win.
"I thought it would be a battle to the end," said Windham, whose team lost 16-15 in one OT on April 20 and lost 9-8 in five OTs last season. "I’m glad it wasn’t."
Fifth-seeded Collegiate will play at three-time defending champion and top seed Trinity in a semifinal at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Trinity beat Ballard 9-2 on Monday.
Third-seeded Tates Creek will play second-seeded St. Xavier in the other semifinal at Thurman Hutchins Park at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Tates Creek mauled Manual 14-5 and St. X pounded Paul Dunbar 15-7 in their quarterfinal games on Monday.
Collegiate-LexCath
The Titans had scored twice before the end of the third quarter and were clinging to a 9-7 lead when a LexCath player was assessed a one-minute, non-releasable penalty with about 10 minutes left in the game.
Freshman Joe Lang and senior Linkon Altman scored back-to-back man-up goals – both off assists from sophomore Carson Pfeifer - within 22 seconds. Senior Mike Imburgia then added another goal moments after the penalty expired, staking Collegiate to a 12-7 lead with 8:41 to go.
"That put the game away," said LexCath coach Terry Justice, who agreed with the referee’s decision to penalize his player.
The Titans really put it away with two more goals in the quarter, and LexCath didn’t score again until the final minute.
Imburgia, who led the KLA in goals, scored six and also assisted on one for Collegiate. Lang scored three, Altman and junior William Hornaday each scored two, and Pfeifer scored one in addition to his five assists. Senior Will Cary masterfully controlled face-offs and ground balls and had two assists.
"Mike Imburgia and Will Cary are just awesome ballplayers," Justice said. "My hat’s off to those kids. I wish them luck the rest of the way."
Senior Adam Woomer had three goals and an assist for LexCath. Senior Will Craycraft scored two goals, and junior Drew Moylan, sophomore Layne Pumphrey, and freshman Kyle Hill each scored one. Woomer’s twin brother Joe and senior Breandan Draper each had an assist.
Freshman Clayton Brown, who became Collegiate’s starting goalie when senior Zach Duck quit the team in April, made 11 saves.
"He stood tall in goal throughout the game," Windham said. "He’s come a long way."
Justice also was impressed with Brown and noted the similar situation that his goalie, junior Sam Holt (6 saves), faced at the beginning of the season. The player that Justice originally had tabbed to play in goal was expelled from school a week before the season started. Holt, who had never played the position, volunteered to fill the void and got just two practices under his belt before the first game.
"I’m really proud of him," Justice said.
Ballard-Trinity
Senior Mike Duffy scored two goals and assisted on four others for the Shamrocks, who also got three goals from senior Sean Medley.
Senior Walker Price added a goal and an assist, and seniors Jay Buschemeyer, Timmy George, and David Thompson each scored once. Senior goalie Greg Donahue made seven saves.
Senior Brett Madigan scored both of Ballard's goals. Junior goalie Jeremy Stein made 21 saves for the Bruins.
Manual-Tates Creek
The KLA’s leading scorer, senior Tanner Bond, had three goals and three assists for Tates Creek, which won the Division 2 title last season.
Sophomore Mick Maynard scored four goals and assisted on one. Senior Brandon Disponette and junior Clint Baker each scored two, junior John Osbourne had a goal and an assist, and seniors Conner Jonas and Ben Schaefer each scored once. Seniors Evan Wehrle and Adam Weldy each had an assist.
Junior Brian Gordon scored all of Manual’s goals. Tates Creek junior goalie Paul Hauser held off the rest of the Crimsons, making 22 saves.
Paul Dunbar-St. Xavier
St. X led 6-3 after one quarter and rolled from there.
Senior Travis Marcum scored four goals and assisted on another for St. X, which out-shot Paul Dunbar 41-18. Sophomore Chase Carraro had three goals and an assist, and twin brothers Connor and Eamon McGetrick each scored three goals.
Junior Hank Wall had a goal and an assist, and senior Charlie Helm also had a goal. Senior Winston Arnold and Junior Taylor Distler each assisted on two goals.
Senior Drew Herbert and sophomore Marty Sutton each scored three goals for Paul Dunbar, and senior Garrett Moulder scored one.