OUTWORKED
OUTHUSTLED
OUTMUSCLED

CHIEFS DOMINATE RED DEVILS IN 12-8 WIN
ADAM NYCZ REGISTERS 6 GOALS & 2 ASSISTS
SLUGGISH RED DEVILS LEFT SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS IN UNEVEN EFFORTS

(CLARENCE) It's strange what a difference a day makes! The Clarence Red Devils played-out their latest re-work of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (or should I say Mr. HIDE), as they continue their up and down 2008 season. Coming off their tremendous effort in a 12-11 loss to Niagara Wheatfield on Wednesday, the Red Devils were soundly manhandled by the visiting Iroquois Chiefs by the score of 12-8. The Chiefs simply were the better "team", playing together like a well-oiled machine throughout the contest. In the end, it was the team that was willing to do the little things that was victorious. Clarence had great difficulty with the speed of Iroquois, who were led by Adam Nycz (6g, 3a) and junior midfielder Matt Missel (2g, 4a). The Red Devils struggled once again in the midfield , as the speedy and physical Chiefs continually outworked the home team for important possession of ground balls.

The first quarter started out well for the Red Devils, as the Chiefs looked a little flat coming out of the gate. Sophomore Tom Owen got things started just 38 seconds in, with a beautiful bounce shot past Chief goalie Matt Marks (20 saves). The assist came off a nice feed from captain Dan Barron (1g 1a) who found Owen cutting through the Iroquois defense.

Clarence would score again just a couple minutes later on probably their most impressive play of the day. The ball started in the Clarence zone on the stick of Nick Hoffman. Hoffman struck a perfect pass to midfielder Josh Rawdin who then legged it down towards the Iroquois net. Rawdin drew a defensive slide and quickly dumped the ball to a waiting Dave Colicchia who finished it off to give the Devils a 2-0 lead.

Iroquois coach Tom Kincella took a quick and important timeout that seemed to turn the fortunes back in favor of the Chiefs. After calming down his troops, Iroquois would respond with four unanswered goals to finish the first quarter.

Adam Nycz got things rolling for Iroquois shortly after the timeout. On a great personal effort, Nycz just simply beat his defender from behind the cage. A quick speed dodge allowed Nycz some working room from which he quickly curled to the front of the net for his first goal. Goaltender Ryan Duff (8 saves) didn't have much of a chance and the Chiefs were back in it at 2-1.

Two minutes later, attackman A.J. Woloszynski (3g) scored another for the Chiefs. Heavy offensive pressure by Iroquois during a man up situation led to the goal. Duff held it together for most of the penalty, before getting beat by Woloszynski with just one second left before the penalty release. The game was knotted at 2.

The Red Devils were knocked back on their heels and the Chiefs smelled blood. Just 40 seconds later, Iroquois tallied again as Nycz exposed the Red Devil defense with the same exact move to the front of the net. Again, Duff had little chance and the Chiefs would took the lead 3-2 and never looked back.

The first quarter barrage wasn't quite finished, as Woloszynski tallied with just 1:20 left to play. The Chiefs ball movement looked sharp as Matt Missel found his linemate standing just outside the crease for the quick stick goal. Iroquois had found their offensive groove and it was just a sign of things to come.

Desperate to respond in the second quarter, the Devils hoped to stem the tide with a couple quick goals. However, the Chiefs looked hungry in every groundball situation. The Red Devils looked as though they had satisfied their appetite earlier in the week, as they were unwilling to body-up the quick and relentless Iroquois midfielders. Unfortunately, this trend would weigh heavily on the outcome of the contest.

It would be Iroquois that scored the first goal of the second quarter. If I wasn't so frustrated, I would probably have enjoyed the goal alot more, as it was sweeeeeeeeeeet! The Red Devils again were outhustled by Missel to a groundball. The middie quickly turned it into an Iroquois goal, passing it to the front of the net. Nycz was waiting in traffic, caught the ball and ripped a behind the back shot past Duff that would make Casey Powell smile! Five unanswered for the Chiefs. Score 5-2.

Senior captain Jordan Collins-Hartwig (5g) rallied the Red Devils, scoring the next two goals on pure hustle. The first was a standard JC-H speed dodge down the alley. Dan Barron had the ball behind the cage and quickly spotted an open Collins-Hartwig up top. Pulling the ball down, Jordan dodged through the defensive midfield and beat Marks to make it 5-3.

Two and half minutes later Collins-Hartwig would again beat the goaltender. Clarence was applying heavy pressure when senior Dan Salvatore ripped a hard shot off the pipe. The ball rebounded in front of the Chiefs goal crease where Jordan quickly scooped it up and deposited in the back of the net to pull Clarence to within one.

Refusing to let the Red Devils entertain any thoughts of catching them , Nycz responded once again. The play was simple as he just plainly beat his man on a quick dodge and then bounced the shot past Duff to make it 6-4 Chiefs.

Missel would get into the act several minutes later, using his speed to blow past the defensive middie. Missel's shot went quick and hard to the back of the Clarence net to give Iroquois back their three goal lead.

In hopes to once again lead his team onward, Collins-Hartwig cut the lead to two just before halftime. Nothing special, just hustle and speed. Barron fed the ball up to Collins-Hartwig towards the top of the box. Jordan ran across the top of the Chief defense and let one fly from about 10 yards out. The goal made it 7-5 at the break.

At halftime it was clear that the Red Devils would have to change their ways or else suffer their eighth straight defeat to the Iroquois program. Clarence had once again turned into a team of dysfunction. Very little in the form of communication existed among the players . The offense consisted of individual efforts with no regard to making "a play." By contrast, the Chiefs seemed to be having fun together. Together, Everyone Achieves More. This simple principle would provide all the difference that Iroquois would need in this one.

The third quarter started out on a good note as Dan Barron once again tightened it down to a one goal game. Barron worked hard to the front of the crease area and ripped one home to make it 7-6 Chiefs.

The majority of the third quarter saw back and forth action with two goals being scored late in the interval. With 1:40 left, Adam Nycz showed he can rip it! The velocity of the shot was too much for Duff to even react to. Again the defense struggled to get into proper position and Nycz made the Red Devils pay. Iroquois now led 8-6.

With just under a minute to play in the third, Clarence would pick up a penalty. The resulting Iroquois EMO goal extended the lead to 9-6. Missel would score his second, on a hard, fast laser past Duff. The early quarter momentum that Clarence was hoping to ride into the fourth quarter was all but gone.

The fourth quarter saw the Chiefs open things up a bit on the struggling Devils. Just a minute and a half in, Woloszynski was the beneficiary of a beautiful skip pass across the Clarence crease by Missel. Woloszynski canned it, and Iroquois led 10-6.

Nycz finished off his six goal performance several minutes later. Iroquois picked up a turnover at midfield and quickly moved the ball upfield. The defense was unsettled and Nycz curled around the goal line extended to pop in the eleventh Iroquois goal.

Jordan Collins-Hartwig once again decided to take matters in his own hands. Just 12 seconds after the Iroquois score, the Devils gained possession at set up their offensive set. seeing an opening, Collins-Hartwig fired a bullet from the top left into the bottom near corner. Clarence now trailed 11-7.

Clarence struggled down the final minutes of the game and weren't able to generate enough offensive possesion time to attempt a comeback. Jordan Collins-Hartwig scored the last Clarence goal with just under two minutes remaining. He created space off a speed dodge and once agin beat Marks for his fifth and final goal.

Iroquois scored their last goal shortly after gaining an important faceoff possession. Mike Ciepiela gained control and legged it through the midfield. With little resistance, Ciepiela fired the shot to the back of the net with 1:18 left on the clock. Final score 12-8 in favor of the Chiefs. A well deserved victory built out of old-fashion hardwork.

The effort by the Red Devils was indeed a step back for a program hoping to break through to the next level. It has been an elusive quest, observing marked improvement one day, mixed in with the occassional misstep the next. Just when it seems as if the future looks bright, a frustrating cloud of darkness appears back in the forecast.

...today, I drive in my car past the high school lacrosse fields. I see Tom Owen and Tayler Swanson with their lacrosse sticks, shooting around, working on their game on a day off. A rare smile spreads across my face. A bright light finally pierces through the darkening clouds. It's strange what a difference a day makes!