DAY OF THE DEVILS

RED DEVILS UPSET CLASS A POWER WILLIAMSVILLE NORTH
DISCIPLINED EFFORT REWARDS CLARENCE LAXERS
COLLINS-HARTWIG SCORES THREE GOALS IN SECOND QUARTER

(CLARENCE) Wow, this is getting fun!! The Red Devils pulled off the biggest victory in Clarence lacrosse history, as they beat the Williamsville North Spartans by the score of 9 to 6. After playing well for portions of several recent losses, the team put together a full disciplined effort for 48 minutes. The Red Devils played strong defense, limiting the Spartans to only one goal in the first half. Solid goaltending by Ryan Duff ( 15 saves ) throughout the contest was critical to the team victory. The growth of Jordan Collins-Hartwig ( 3g ) as both a dangerous offensive weapon and team leader has paid large dividends in recent games. To a man, the Red Devils won many of the one-on-one battles against the Spartans. However, no match was more important than captain Nick Robinson's hardwork on North attack specialist Evan Bryant ( 2g, 3a ). Robinson did an incredible job on a player who usually dictates to opposing defenses and is headed on a D-1 scholarship to Hartford next Fall.

The first quarter was a defensive battle as Clarence was the only team able to muster a goal. Senior captain John Syty ripped home a 15 yard blast from the top middle. The goal came as the Red Devils had the extra man after a Spartan penalty. The goal held up as both teams had trouble beating the opposing goaltenders. Both Duff and his North counterpart, goalie Patrick Stasio (15 saves ), each had four solid saves during the first. Nick Hoffman and J.D. Skura again played strong defensively and were important factors in the outcome of the game.

The Red Devil midfielders came alive in the second, winning the groundball battles and generating a fast moving offense that the Spartans had trouble keeping up with. The middies did all the scoring for Clarence during this segment as they dusted off a dose of their second quarter 'magic' to outscore North 5 to 1. Faceoff specialist Mark Bryce has been contributing offensively as of late, and here he was again cutting across the top of the crease. Dan Barron ( 2g, 2a ) hit Bryce with a perfect pass and Mark made it count on an important second goal for Clarence.

The Spartans fought back when middie Nick Stalker fired a shot past Duff from the right slot. The goal was set up on a nice feed from senior Patrick Mulvihill, and the Red Devils led 2 to 1. For the next several minutes a possessed Jordan Collins-Hartwig took control of the game, scoring three unanswered goals. The first goal came off a feed from Syty. Collins-Hartwig beat Stasio on a 10 yard bounce shot from the left slot. The goal put the Devils up 3 to 1 and ignited an offensive frenzy that would prove to be the difference in the game.

Roll............. the Highlight Film! I hesitate to say this is my favorite JC-H goal of the year in fear that he may make it a habit, but it was sweeeeet! Collins-Hartwig continues to entertain the crowd with his athleticism, taking a page from his box lacrosse heroes. Collins-Hartwig fired in his second goal of the game off a nice feed from Jordan Zaprowski ( 1g, 2a ). Collins-Hartwig snared Zap's pass as he cut across the crease. With an impending North D-pole in his face, Collins-Hartwig reacted and quickly ripped a behind-the-back shot past the North goalie. The goal gave the Red Devils a 4 to 1 lead and seemed to deflate an already reeling Spartans squad.

Collins-Hartwig was not finished as he added another minutes later. Jordan took the ball, dodging from behind the net, curled up, and ripped a jump shot from about 5 yards out to beat Stasio once again. The Spartans were looking to regroup at the half when again the Devils struck. With time winding down in the second quarter, Red Devil long stick midfielder Caleb Higgins provided a back-breaking goal against the Spartans. Higgins beat two North defenders at midfield and ran into the Spartan zone uncontested. A confused North defense failed to react to the oncoming Higgins. Caleb made them pay, legging-it right down the middle and ripping a shot in with just 00.4 seconds remaining in the half. A well deserved tally for a great 'team player' who has contributed to the Red Devils success all season.

A stunned Williamsville North team stared in disbelief at the halftime score. However, Spartan coach Matt Smart knows the game and his players well. Clarence knew that they would have to play two solid halves to beat a team of this caliber. They would have to weather the impending storm and play disciplined half of lacrosse to close out the Spartans.

North seemed to get their legs back, scoring the only two goals of the third quarter. Evan Bryant seemed to get his motor running, assisting on both goals. Bryant found midfielder Matt Dinderski just outside the crease. Dinderski popped it in to get the Spartan offense moving. The next goal came off the stick of middie Joey Greenwald. Exploiting a hole in the Clarence defense, Bryant found Greenwald in a similar spot, beating Duff and closing the score to 6 to 3.

The Spartans seemed to have some much needed momentum coming into the fourth. North scored quickly into the quarter. This time, Bryant himself performed the honors ripping a shot in to give the Spartans a three unanswered goals. The score held at 6 to 4 and many sensed that North might be able to overtake the Devils in the fourth quarter.

Clarence struggled early on this season during critical game situations. The rugged early season schedule had primed Clarence for this moment in time. They needed to play smart lacrosse down the stretch to stop the streaking Spartans. Junior attackman Dan Barron has elevated his game in recent weeks, leading his team by example. Barron scored the Red Devils seventh and most important goal, dodging off the right side of the crease, and bouncing the ball past Stasio.

A rejuvanated Red Devils team struck again. Barron stepped up once more with another dodge down the middle of the North defense, again scoring off a bounce shot. Barron's second made it 8 to 4, and Clarence began pulling away from the tiring Spartan team. The final Clarence goal came about minutes later. The play was started on a great clearing play from Higgins. The long pass found an unsettled situation behind the North D-poles and Zaprowski popped it in for a 9 to 4 lead.

North still had life in the waning moments as Mulvihill picked up a goal, cutting off the right slot area. Then, shortly after an injured ankle forced Bryant off the field, he returned in the final minutes. Bryant hobbled back on, taking the ball at the top, running across the top of the slot and letting it rip from about 15 yards out. The goal would be North's last as the Devils controlled the balance of the waning moments.

As the clock ticked off its final seconds the Red Devils celebrated their biggest win of the season. The win was an important step for coach Mike Silverstein and his up and coming lacrosse program. The victory should be a great confidence builder going into the second half of the season.

Next week will be busy as Clarence entertains Jamestown (Mon), Williamsville South (Wed), West Seneca West (Fri) and travel to St. Joes on Saturday.