DEVILS WHACK THE JACKS

RED DEVILS STEAMROLL LUMBERJACKS 20 TO 2
TORNABENE NETS TWO GOALS & 2 ASSISTS IN VICTORY
STRONG CLARENCE DEFENSE LIMITS NT TO SEVEN SHOTS

(CLARENCE) The Red Devils jumped out to a fast start and never looked back, as they pounded the visiting North Tonawanda Lumberjacks 20 to 2. This game was never in question as Clarence controlled play throughout the contest. The offensive output came from several sources as the Red Devils took care of business once again. The game was well in hand by halftime, and many of the players were given a chance to show their versatility at different positions. The Lumberjacks, in just their second year of varsity lacrosse, did their best to battle against the Red Devils but generated very little offense against the tough Clarence defense. Coach Silverstein knows it wasn't that long ago when his fledling lacrosse program was similar to the North Tonawanda team. However, times have changed and the Red Devils have developed into a team to be reckoned with in WNY.

Clarence controlled most of the play in the first quarter, scoring five unanswered goals. Captain John Syty ( 2g ) got things started, taking a nice pass from Dan Barron ( 3g, 3a) and ripping it from about 10 yards away. Barron increased the lead to 2 to 0, dodging from the back of the net and firing a hard shot past the NT goalie. The third Red Devil score came of the stick of Jordan Collins-Hartwig ( 2g, 2a ). Collins-Hartwig found and opening off the left slot and drove a quick bounce shot in from about 8 yards out. The onslaught continued as Barron ran a ball into the zone and found arttackman Jordan Zaprowski ( 2g, 1a ) alone in his favorite spot off the right crease. Zap ripped it in to make the score 4 to 0 in favor of Clarence. The final goal of the first quarter was Barron's second of the day. Dan made it look easy, choosing his spot and then blowing a 15 yard shot past the defenseless goalie. Barron's tally made it 5 to 0 after the first 12 minutes.

The second quarter saw more of the same as the Red Devils pelted the NT net with shots, scoring a total of seven goals. Syty and Barron hooked up once again. This time Clarence was on their extra man offense after a Lumberjack was flagged for pushing. The Red Devils cashed-in on the man advantage as Barron found Syty in front. John fired it in from 5 yards out and the Devils were rollling. Dave Colicchia scored next on a nice passing play. Dan Salvatore ( 1g, 2a ) spied Click cutting through the Jack defense. Click took the feed and quick-sticked one home to put the Devils up 7 to 0.

The Lumberjacks finally got on the board midway into the second quarter. Operating man-up after a Clarence unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, Eric Huk finally beat the Red Devil defense on a shot from the right crease. The assist came off a fine pass from John Plunkett.

Clarence struck back minutes later on a nice goal by Chris Tornabene ( 2g, 2a ). Tornabene fired it in off a beautiful cut in front of the NT goal. 'Bene's goal made it 8 to 1 in favor of the Devils. Not to be outdone, junior middie Mark Bryce ( 2g ) extended his scoring streak to three games on a low, hard bounce shot off the right slot. On the next possession, Barron scored his third goal of the game. Barron looked as though he was performing a physics experiment. Question: How slow can you shoot a lacrosse ball and still have it travel to the back of the opponent's net? The velocity was never measured, however the answer was: Sloooooow! Barron's lazy shot made it 10 to 1. The scoring continued for Clarence as Zaprowski fired in his second goal of the game from about 10 yards out off the right slot. Finally, sophomore middie Josh Rawdin closed off the scoring in the first half. Using his speed, Rawdin found an opening and drove down the right slot. Josh's shot blew past the NT goaltender and the Devils took a 12 to 1 lead at the half.

Welcome to Topsy-Turvy Land. With the game well in hand, Coach Silverstein experimeted with some positional changes in the second half. The D-poles were given license to run, trading down their big sticks for the shorter, more lethal variety. Some of the short stick specialist got their chance to see how the other half lives. Many discovered a newfound respect for their defensive-minded teammates. ( O.K., I admit it. Zaprowski, you're not that bad with a D-pole. I should have listened to Bryce! )

The third quarter was more of the same as the Devils controlled the ball for much of the time. The Clarence offensive reserves were able to get in some much needed game experience. The Red Devils scored six more goals in the third quarter, many from unusual sources. But first, Mark Bryce scored his second goal of the game off his some old fashion hard work. Bryce was digging around in front of the crease when a ball popped loose. Bryce quickly beat the NT defenders to the ball and fired home a shot just outside the crease area. Next, junior midfielder Dan Salvatore showed off his shooting skills, ripping a laser from 15 yards out and building the Clarence lead to 14 to 1. Junior midfielder Tyler McCoy and newcomer JJ Hughes both played strong games combining for five groundballs on the day.

Due to the substitution patterns, offensive play became more dysfunctional as the game wore on. However, Caleb Higgins showed that he has the ability to run the Clarence offense and create nice plays with a short stick. Sophomore Mark Lopian scored the next Red Devil goal off a nice feed from Higgins. Lopian used his speed to free himself up, pulled in the pass and then fired it home for his third goal of the season. The next goal was Collins-Hartwig's second of the day. The play developed as middie Josh James drove into the NT zone and fired a hard shot at the goaltender. The ensuing rebound bounced out to the waiting Collins-Hartwig who ripped it home to make it 16 to 1.

Tornabene followed up with his second goal of the game. The play developed on top as Ryan Duff ( 1g 1a ) lofted a long pass to Tornabene in front of the net. Both Chris and the NT defender went up for it and Tornabene's stick slightly deflected the ball past the Lumberjack goalie.

The next goal went to NT, as Clarence goalie Dan "Swiss Cheese" Barron performed another physics experiment. Question: How far and fast can a lacrosse ball travel on an attempted clear using a goalie stick? Answer: Not very! Barron's attempt to clear the ball out of the Clarence zone backfired as the ball rolled off the back of his stick and into his own goal. Barron's smile told the story, and the Lumberjacks were awarded their second of the game.

The last goal of the third came from an unlikely source. Coach Silverstein sent out backup goalie Jeff Smith with a short pole midway into the quarter. Smith was a "little tornado of terror", running and scrapping his way around the NT zone. His efforts were finally rewarded as Smitty beat the NT goalie, firing a hard shot off the right crease area. The goal made it 18 to 2 with the last quarter remaining.

Two goals were scored in the final stanza. Both by the Red Devils. The first goal came off the stick of Ryan Duff. Duff known for his spectacular goal stopping ability showed that he too can wield a short stick. Higgins made a beautiful skip pass across the NT D-poles. Duff snared the pass and slammed it in for his first (and maybe last) goal of the season. Finally, after studying how both Smith and Duff went about their business, middie Neal Stalker got his first goal of the season. Stalker, a workhorse midfielder, has been impressive as the season has progressed. Neal has done many of the little things to help make the Devils successful. After repeated opportunities, Stalker finally cashed-in on a much deserved goal. The shot was a beauty from about 15 yards off the right slot area. The carnage was at a merciful end. Clarence 20, North Tonawanda 2.

Hats off to the Lumberjacks and their coach Ed Carter. The NT boys played hard and are working on making lacrosse an important sport in their community. They played for the fun of the game, and avoided taking frustration penalties that marred a local game this past week.

The Devils are back in action on Monday as the Jamestown Red Raiders come to town for an important league matchup. Clarence has moved up to #12 in the local Laxpower poll. Hopefully a sign of good things to come!