Jonathan Alder’s Mason Curtis (white) wins a faceoff battle against DeSales’ Declan Lilienthal during the first half of action.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavoff)
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Jonathan Alder’s 17-2 lacrosse loss to DeSales offered more learning opportunities.
“We have to learn to play in games like that and not get ourselves too rattled,” JA coach Rob Davis said. “I feel we kind of pushed it too hard.”
The Pioneers are in the midst of a three-game losing skid following the lopsided setback.
In its last three matchups, JA has been outscored 43-14 as it dives into the most competitive part of its schedule. All of those losses came against state-ranked opponents.
The Stallions have proven themselves to be one of the top programs in the state, making a finals appearance in last year’s Division II championship game against Olmsted Falls.
DeSales (6-0) is currently the No. 1 D-II team in the state.
DeSales struck first in the opening minutes of the ititial quarter with a goal from Blake Carawan.
Several minutes later, DeSales’ Neal Ritchie connected on a shot for a 2-0 edge.
“I thought in the first quarter, and the first half, we had some good possessions where we held onto the ball,” Davis said. “But a team like that (DeSales) gets a lot of possessions and their defense is very good. If you make a mistake, they make you pay for it.”
The remaining minutes of the opening quarter saw the Pioneers struggle to maintain possession.
The visiting squad added another three goals and took a 5-0 spread into the second quarter.
The Stallions stayed in the driver’s seat with four more goals during the second period.
At the midway point of the contest, the Pioneers found themselves down 9-0.
“We told them at halftime to trust the process and do what we work on in practice,” Davis said.
DeSales’ Ty Hampton notched another two goals at the start of the third quarter.
They were followed by scores from Jack Jordan and Ritchie, putting the lead at 13-0.
The Pioneers finally got on the board when Jack Kennedy assisted on Wyatt Clemons’ goal with around five minutes remaining in the third period.
The Stallions tallied a pair of goals at the end of the set to go up 15-1.
Kennedy scored JA’s final goal at the start of the fourth quarter, putting the contest at 15-2.
With a running clock instituted, DeSales maintained its defensive standard.
The offense tallied two more scores in the remaining minutes.
DeSales’ defense was the strongest JA has faced this season. On several occasions, defenders doubled up on Clemons and Kennedy as the most threatening goal scorers.
Learning from how DeSales played the midfielder and attackmen, Davis said Alder’s offense will need to be more in sync in order to compete against top-ranked teams.
“There were moments where guys got dodges, ran into a double team, saw it coming and didn’t move the ball forward,” Davis said. “All we can do is take this opportunity to get better against a really good defense.
“The four other guys have to be engaged and get the pressure off of Jack and Wyatt,” he said. “They they have to trust those guys so they can move the ball.”
Goalie Eli Nicol recorded 15 saves.
The setback puts JA’s record at 7-4.
In junior varsity action, the Pioneers suffered a 7-1 loss. The only goal JA came from freshman Caleb Wiltshire in the second quarter.
Gavin Murphy notched seven saves.