Opening the season with six straight wins, the surging Calvert Hall lacrosse team has shown a knack for closing out tight games.
So when rival Boys’ Latin tied the game midway through the fourth quarter Tuesday — taking hold of momentum with three unanswered goals — the Cardinals simply locked in on the next play.
Faceoff specialist Ben Cuomo scrapped to win possession and even drew a penalty. Mark Botek stuffed home the man-advantage goal off a feed from Jackson Mitchell, and Will Schoonmaker provided a needed insurance goal.
The No. 3 Cardinals turned to their defense, which dominated big chunks of the game, in the final minute to keep the No. 4 Lakers at bay. The Cardinals held, claiming a thrilling 6-5 home win in Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference play.
Botek led the attack with two goals and two assists, Cuomo won 14 of 16 at the X and goalie Brady Stangle made 11 saves, the last coming with 14 seconds left. Calvert Hall (7-0) is now 2-0 in the MIAA, while Boys’ Latin, which got a sensational 16-save performance from goalie Garrett Held, falls to 5-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
Still looking for their first goal of the second half and seeing their 4-1 halftime advantage gone, the Cardinals looked forward instead of looking back.
“Just staying composed,” Botek said. “We’ve had close games this season, we’ve had others come back in those situations and we don’t let it get to us. You’re always focused on the next play and what can I do to help with the next play.”
For Botek, it was movement without the ball to set up the good look from Mitchell that gave the Cardinals the lead and momentum back.
“There, it was just a great pass from Jackson Mitchell and I just dumped it in the goal. It felt good, especially when it comes from one of your best friends,” he said.
Defense carried the day for most of the game. For the Cardinals, it was a collective effort led by Cole Hottle, Clay Stauffer and Stangle that helped keep the Lakers off the scoreboard until there was under two minutes to play in the first half.
But Held kept the Lakers close throughout with his fine work in the cage and the attack found a flow at the end of the third quarter. TJ Shaw and Lincoln Herriing score a minute apart to make it 4-3 with 1:25 left in the third.
After two more saves from Held early in the fourth, Shaw tied the game at 4 with 7:28 to play.
Enter Cuomo.
The ensuing faceoff turned into a loose-ball scramble and he persistently tracked it down, taking a pushing penalty from the Lakers on his way down.
“I think the mentality the team has right now is less about me ball and it’s more about we’re going to get the gritty plays and we’re going to stay in it the entire time. It’s why we’ve had three overtime wins and another tight one today,” he said. “All you want to do is not get too hyped up in the moment … and just play. My head was down and I was just running, giving 100% effort. This is my last season here and I want to make a difference, so just giving my all.”
After Botek’s go-ahead goal and another Cuomo faceoff win, Will Schoonmaker got under a defender and finished to make it 6-4 with 4:35 to play.
The Cardinals killed off a 30-second man-down situation before Lakers senior standout Matt Higgins scored his second goal of the game to make it 6-5 with 1:32 to play.
The Lakers got their final possession with 58 seconds left, but the Cardinals defense won out. Higgins had a shot that didn’t get through and then a second that Stangle got a piece of before it slowly rolled through the crease.
“It’s not the first time we’ve been down two or three goals and they’ve showed that fight all year,” Boys’ Latin coach Brian Farrell said. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get the job done this time and when it’s a league game, it really hurts because it affects your record. Certainly, proud of the second half, I thought it was much better and a shout out to Garrett Held, who brought tremendous energy in the goal and sideline. He was excellent today.”
The teams return to league play with 4:15 p.m. games Friday — Calvert Hall traveling to Severn, while Boys’ Lain hosts John Carroll.
Boys’ Latin: 0-1-2-2 — 5
Calvert Hall: 1-3-0-2 — 6
Goals: BL — M. Higgins 2, Shaw 2, Herring; CH — Botek 2, Forte 2, Kelly, Schoonmaker
Assists: BL — McDonald, Lynch; CH — Botek 2, Mitchell
Saves: BL — Held 16; CH — Stangle 11
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