In Patriot League action, the Midshipmen of Navy (9-5, 5-3 PL) overtook the Bison of Bucknell (9-5, 3-5 PL), 13-6.
Kevin M. Neibauer.
LaxPhilly– A Division of the Edge of Philly Sports Network.
The Bucknell Bison ventured to Annapolis Maryland’s Navy- Marine Corps. Memorial Stadium to close out the 2022 regular season.
Navy started fast and flexed their defense muscles to gain the #5 seed in the Patriot Conference Playoffs.
“Great game. I was really proud of our guys,” said third-year Navy head coach Joe Amplo. “I thought our energy coming out to start the game was the key. It gave us confidence that we can play well.”
What Went on?
Driving home Coach Amplo’s sentiment, Henry Tolker (3g,1a), Xavier Arline (1g) and Tolker putting home a Patrick Skolniak (2a) set up pushed Navy to a quick 3-0 lead with 5:44 to play.
Harry Wellford (2g) followed by Connor Davis (1g) putting home an Alston Tarry feed for his 44th to end the opening quarter with a 3-2 Middies edge.
Onward:
The Navy defense took over, shutting down the high powered Bison offense who came in averaging 14.62 goals a game, to zero in the quarter.
Skalniak did the work for Tolker’s 22nd that broke a Navy scoreless string of 17:00.
Dane Swanson (2g,1a) added the fifth Navy tally to end the half with a 5-2 score.
Third Stanza:
Bucknell ended their nearly nineteen minute scorel myess run with Alston Tarry doing the work for the 12th from Jack Feda (1g).
The Bison liked the goal so much they added two more.
Andrew Stanzel hit for his first with Wellford putting home a pretty feed from Dutch Furlong (1a).
The Bucknell fortunes would change when the Middies unveiled a two quarter, seven goal outburst
Nick Cole (1g,1a) was the beneficiary of a Hewitt assist. Jon Jarosz (1g) added an unassisted tally to close the third with Navy beginning to sail, 7-5.
To the Fourth
The Navy deluge picked right back up fueled by Cole helping on the 20th from Swanson.
Tolker played assist man for Hewitt’s 28th, Hewitt hit net again at 2:55 before Sam Dracobly (1g,1a) pushed it to a 11-5 game.
Dracobly set up Nick Barry just twenty six ticks later before Brandon Lundy (1g) ended the deluge with :59 on the game clock to end the 25:33 Bucknell scoreless drought.
With just 00:01 showing, Will Schiffenhaus (1g) put the exclamation on the Navy 13-6 victory.
“There’s no surprise that I’m blessed to have two of the best assistant coaches in the country,” added Amplo. “John Orsen has done a magnificent job with this young defense and getting them to be able to play at their best at the end of the year. After two tough couple of weeks against some really good opponents, I think he’s done a great job just getting back to the fundamentals and then building that defense.”
Facts:
• Navy had the edge in shots, 48-42 and of course, 25-22 on goal
• Turnovers were 17 for Navy and 15 for the Bison
• Navy dominated in the ground ball department, 41-33.
• Navy also won the face off battle, 13-9 with a group effort led by, Nate Hammond who went 10 of 16 while nabbing 6 ground balls.
• Bucknell’s Jack Van Slyke turned away a dozen Middie shots while Navy’s Pat Ryan fell one save shy of his career high with 16 saves with 13 coming in the second half
• How good was the Navy defense? The trio of Furlong, Davis and Tarry each have 50 points or more. They were held to 1 goal and three assists on 18 shots
• Navy’s Tolker becomes the 14th Middie Freshman with 30 or more points.
• By virtue of the Army win, Navy is the #5 seed entering the Patriot League playoffs and will face #4 Lehigh, May 3rd at 7PM. ESPN+ will provide coverage of tilt as well as the 3pm match up between #3 Loyola and #6 Bucknell.
Boston U. and Army have a first round bye.
Big Win For Navy
Kevin has followed and promoted the game of lacrosse since May 19, 1974.
The same day the Philadelphia Flyers won the Cup, the Philadelphia Wings were introduced to Neibauer and Philadelphia.
Kevin has covered many sports, including baseball, football, basketball, and.. lacrosse. A former licensed football referee and baseball umpire, Kevin brings a unique insight to his game coverage.
A published writer in JustHockey Magazine, Kevin covered the American Hockey League as well as a monthly story on a pugilist where Kevin used the pen name, The Rink Rat. Neibauer turned his attentions to lacrosse for a few years and does his part, whether podcasting or writing to grow the game. Kevin branched out to his roots and currently provides insight for all Philadelphia teams for Edge of Philly as well as his full-time duties with LaxPhilly.
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