LETTING LOOSE

RED DEVIL OFFENSE ERUPTS FOR 21 GOALS
COLLINS-HARTWIG & BARRON COMBINE FOR 9
CONNOLLY SETS TEAM FACEOFF RECORD

(NORTH TONAWANDA) The Clarence varsity lacrosse team erupted for 11 first quarter goals en route to a 21-1 pasting of the North Tonawanda Lumberjacks. After two games in which they struggled to find themselves offensively, the Red Devils displayed the firepower that they have been accustomed to for the past couple seasons. Leading the charge were captains Jordan Collins-Hartwig (5g, 1a) and Dan Barron (4g, 3a). The NT defense struggled all afternoon with the quicker and more experienced Clarence attack. The contest was clearly decided after the first 12 minutes, making way for the Red Devil reserves who competed for much of the last three quarters. Ryan Connolly and his wingmen broke the team record for faceoff wins in a game, registering 19. The previous record of 15 was held by Adam Westenfield against Iroquois in 2004.

The scoring began two minutes into the contest as Collins-Hartwig started the onslaught with a 10 yard laser into the corner of the net after his patented shoulder fake dodge. This would set the tone for the day as a confused Lumberjack defense spent much of the first quarter running around in circles in their own zone. One minute later, Dave Colicchia (2g, 1a) got into the act, cutting through the defense and finishing off a nice pass from Barron for a 2-0 Red Devil lead. Colicchia played well throughout, creating several offensive opportunities for his teammates.

Fifteen seconds later, attackman Jordan Zaprowski (3g, 2a) put the Devils up 3-0, dodging from behind the net and rifling it past the NT goalie. Zaprowski had an all-around great day, scoring, feeding and riding with new-found energy.

Barron and Collins-Hartwig hooked up again just 20 seconds later as the Clarence offense seemed to be hitting on all cylinders. Collins-Hartwig would beat the goalie once again as he finished off a Barron feed, cutting quickly to the net and burying his opportunity. the Red Devils took a 4-0 lead.

Barron would pick up his first goal of the day 40 seconds later on a nice play by Ryan Connolly (1g, 1a) who fed Barron at the top of the box. Barron turned and unleashed a rocket that found its way through to the back of the net. Clarence 5-0 with just under 7 minutes to play in the first.

Collins-Hartwig continued his dominance of the NT middies 20 seconds later. At times it seemed as though the senior midfielder and his attackman could pretty much score at will. This time, Zap was the setup man from X, finding Collins-Hartwig open in front of the net. Jordan let fly from about 15 yards out and upped the score to 6-0.

Two minutes would pass before Clarence would score another. Barron would get his second of the day on a nifty pass from sophomore Tayler Swanson (1g, 2a) Always the finisher, Dan made it count and the score rose to 7-0.

Zaprowski would score the next two goals of the game. The first was a carbon copy of his earlier goal as he simply dodged his way from behind the net and buried the shot off a nice roll to make it 8-0. His next tally would come a minute later on an opportunistic goal in front. Zap would roll up from behind the net to scoop up a rebounded shot that hadn't been collected up by the goalie. Jordan's quick hands made it 9-0 Red Devils, with just over three and a half to play in the first.

Colicchia would add his second of the day about a minute later. A sagging NT defense failed to challenge the attackman. Seeing the opportunity, Click took the ball and ran hard towards the right side of the goaltender. The Lumberjack defense slid, but obviously too late, as Dave ripped the shot into the net from about 10 yards away. 10-0 Clarence.

The next goal came from a nice bit of work off a ride in the corner of the NT zone. Zaprowski pressured the NT Dpole into a weak clearing pass behind the net. Seeing the opportunity, Colicchia intercepted the pass and immediately sent to ball to Barron in front of the net. Barron fired in his third of the afternoon with just 37 seconds to play in the first quarter.

As the clock wound down on the first quarter, the score stood at 11-0 in favor of the visitors from Clarence. The rest of the contest wouldn't be played at quite the sme intensity. The damage had been done.

The second quarter scoring began just over a minute in. Jordan Collins-Hartwig popped in his fourth of the day. Zaprowski fed a nice pass from X to a waiting Collins-Hartwig who stood alone just outside the NT goal crease. The quick goal looked as if the second quarter would be a carryover of the first 12 minutes.

However, the Lumberjacks would finally get on the board about three minutes later. The play developed in the midfield. NT middie Bemiscurfer legged hi clear down the center of the field and let one fly at the Clarence goal. The ball took a high bounce that fooled goalie Sean McCarriagher and bounced up under the crossbar for the NT goal. The Devils now led 12-1.

In response, the Devils would score three more goals before halftime. This time, the second midline inflicted the damage. The first of these goals was scored off the stick of senior middie Dan Salvatore. Salvatore made a quick move to free himself up for the shot and let rip a beauty past the NT goalie. The quick, hard shot made it 13-1.

Next, sophomore Tom Owen (2g, 1a) picked up his first of the day on a quick dodge and 10 yard torpedo that found its way through a scrum of defenders in front and past the goaltender for a 14-1 lead. About a minute later, Owen and Salvatore would team-up for Clarence's final goal of the half. Owen found Salvatore alone off the top left side. Salvatore gathered in the pass and fired it in to build up a 15-1 lead.

Several players were given their opportunity to show their "stuff" in the second half. Much of the second half consisted of ground ball scrums and transitions up and down the field. Their was only one goal scored in the third quarter, as Dan Barron finished his day off with his fourth goal. It would come off a nice feed from Collins-Hartwig. Barron unleashed a perfectly placed shot in the top corner of net past the goaltender to make it 16-1.

The fourth quarter saw five more goals by the Red Devils. Jordan Collins-Hartwig would finish off his scoring just 23 seconds in, as he picked up the ball and was all alone on the goalie. Jordan finished it off, and his day was done. All said; 5 goals and 1 assist on the day.

Two minutes later, Tayler Swanson scored by firing a 10 yard shot past the goalie off a feed from Barron at X. Next, Ryan Connolly made it 19-1 on a 15 yard shot from the top. Connolly had several opportunities earlier in the quarter and was finally rewarded with the goal.

The next play was probably the most impressive offensive goal of the day on a tic-tac-toe passing play that went from Barron to Swanson and then to Owen who fired it in to make it 20-1. The last goal of the contest was scored with just under three minutes to play as Alex Maglio picked up his first varsity goal from just about 5 yards outside crease.

As the horn sounded, the Red Devils had hammered the hosts 21-1. The NT program is working hard to get better and should be much improved in the coming years. The coaching staff and players should be commended for playing hard throughout the contest. As we always say, it wasn't that long ago that Clarence was in that same position.

The Devils will not play until after the spring break, as they get into three-games-a-week action starting with Lockport on April 21st. The Lions are playing well this year and will prove to be a big challenge. Hope to see all our fans travelling down to Lockport to catch all the action!