The St.Joseph’s Hawks (14-4) had the task of facing the Yale Bulldogs (12-4) in the Opening round of the NCAA Championship Tournament in Reese Stadium in New Haven, CT. A taut back and forth for nearly 60 minutes saw Yale move on with an 18-16 victory.
Balanced Bulldogs scoring was a recipe that made the difference with 10 players hitting net. The Hawks countered with 7 players hitting the goal sheet.
Kevin M. Neibauer.
LaxPhilly– A Division of the Edge of Philly Sports Network.
And, Here We Go..
Levi Anderson (3g) put the Hawks on the board with a minute and two seconds played. Leo Johnson (4g,2a) answered off a Matt Brandau assist at 11:07 followed with Chris Lyons setting up Johnson for his 33rd with 10:12 remaining. Tucker Brown (3g) said, “oh yeah,” and posted back to backs of his own for his 41st and 42nd. The two in a row continued but, Yale broke it up with solos from Chris Lyons (3g,3a) at 2:43 followed by Patrick Hackler (1g) that ended the opening quarter.
End of First, 4-3 Yale.
Second Stanza:
The goals started to come fast and furious started by the Hawks Matt Bohmer (3g) putting home a pretty transition feed from Matt Popeck (1a). The Bulldogs would bite back on a Christian Cropp (1a) pass that Brad Sharp (1g, 3a) deposited behind Hawks goalie, Robbie Seeley.
St.Joe’s went on a run fueled by Colin Reich doing the work for Carter Page (2g), Shane Fable (2a) hitting Anderson for his 32nd with Matt Bohmer (3g) putting the visitors in front.
Matt Brandau (4g,2a) interrupted the outburst but, Brown (43rd) and Anderson (33rd) kept the Hawks lead intact. Lyons and Brandau ended the half with markers at 1:48 and 1:21.
End of the Half, Bulldogs in Front, 9-8.
30 Down, 30 to Go
Fireworks would continue with a combined 11 goal third. Jack Monfort (1g) kicked things off for Yale. Lyons followed fifty eight seconds later. Page stopped the mini run with his 51st with help from Fable.
Brandau buried his 55th with Levi Verga (2g) having an answer fourteen seconds later. It took just :33 for Brian Tevlin (1g,1a) who countered for Yale.
Leo Johnson and seven seconds after Johnson, James Ball (1g) made it two Bulldogs goals in a row. Austin Strazzulla (1g) stepped up to keep the battle raging. Thomas Bragg (1g) for Yale and the Hawks Colin Reich (2g,1a) pulled the curtain down on the furious third
End of Third, Yale up, 15-13.
Wind it Out Time:
Things simmered in the fourth with Verga and Bohmer making it three St. Joe’s tallies in a row. Johnny Keib (1g) put home a Johnson feed followed by Brandau potting his 56th to offset the St. Joe uprising. Reich made it a one goal game with 3:37 to play but, Tevlin hit Johnson to cement the 18-16 Yale winner.
“We pride ourselves on playing hard and that was one of the hardest games we have ever had to play,. St. Joe’s made it tough with their sub game and we knew it would be a formidable challenge, but our guys answered the call.” Bulldogs Head Coach, Andy Shay.
More Things:
• Turnovers had the Hawks with 13 compared to the 21 for the victors. Face offs had the edge to The Hawks, 22-15. Zach Cole won 22 with 12 ground balls and an assist.
Ground balls went the way of St.Joe’,35-33. Shots were 45-42 the way of the Hawks with a 32-27 Hawks advantage.
• Yale moves on to face Princeton on May 21.
Yale Moves On
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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