Jonathan Alder’s Jack Kennedy (20) sprints past Licking Valley’s Carson Ramsey (22) during the first quarter. The senior attackman scored six goals and notched three assists in the team’s win over the Panthers.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
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Jonathan Alder’s boys lacrosse squad earned its third straight win following a 17-3 triumph over visiting Licking Valley.
“They came out and did what we asked them to do,” JA coach Rob Davis said.
Following a recent loss to St. Charles, the Scarlet and Black are experiencing an upward trend.
The team’s most recent victory came in the form of a 7-6 overtime win against visiting Kettering Archbishop Alter.
That is the smallest margin of victory the Pioneers have claimed so far this season.
The temperature for the team’s matchup against the Panthers was less than to be desired.
A brief period of hail delivered a light blanket of ice over Performance Stadium.
Like many of JA’s victories, the Pioneers took the Panthers to task as Wyatt Clemons punched in the first goal of the contest about a minute into the action.
Clemons notched his second goal moments later on an assist from Jack Kennedy.
Brody Hill called his own number and tallied the team’s third goal with 4:38 left in the opening period.
That was followed by another goal from Kaiden Snyder at the 1:13 mark.
The last score of the set came with 44 seconds left after a face-off win by Will Moeller.
The ball proceeded to find itself in the stick of Clemons, who struck the team’s fifth goal.
Licking Valley struggled to get itself past midfield in the second quarter. When it did, Alder defensemen were there to quell any offensive opportunity.
JA’s scoring barrage remained consistent at the start of the second period.
A goal by Kennedy put the lead at 6-0.
Moments later, another face-off win by Mason Curtis resulted in an assist to Kennedy for a 7-0 margin.
Alder notched another six goals credited to Kennedy (two), Grant Nicol (two), Curtis and Clemons.
As such, JA held a 13-0 margin at halftime.
Due to a 12-point lead, per OHSAA rules, the second half was played with a running clock.
Kennedy put the score at 14-0. He then delivered another assist to Clemons for a goal that lifted JA to a 15-0 margin with less than four minutes left in the third quarter.
Licking Valley showed signs of life at the start of the final stretch following a goal from Justin Truex.
Braydon Holland scored the team’s second goal to put the score at 15-2.
However, two more goals from Kennedy and Clemons put the lead back up to 15 goals with the last coming with less than four minutes to play.
Licking Valley’s Dylan Dean score the contest’s final goal.
Inside the cage, Eli Nicol and Gavin Murphy combined for three saves. Kennedy and Clemons each tallied six goals.
“We have some things we still want to clean up,” Davis said about the team’s clears and rides. “We did really well tonight on both of those things, but stiffer competition is coming.”
The Pioneers improved to 5-1 with the same record in Region 7 matchups.
Alder will host a familiar foe in Oakwood today with the first face-off slated for 4 p.m.
Oakwood concluded the Pioneers’ postseason hopes last year with an overtime defeat during the first round.
“That is a team that, traditionally, has been a very, very tough game for us,” Davis said. “They are going to come in here thinking they are going to get the win and we just have to play really good ball in the end.
“We haven’t had enough success against them.”