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COLLINS-HARTWIG TALLIES 6 GOALS IN WIN OVER NICHOLS
DUFF SOLID IN NET - SAVES 16 SHOTS
ROBINSON ONCE AGAIN IMPRESSIVE IN SHUTDOWN ROLE

(CLARENCE) The Clarence Red Devils went back to business on Thursday, defeating the Nichols Big Green 12 to 7 in non-league play. The team would have to do without the services of middies John "formerly known as Jon" Syty and Mark Bryce who are both resting upper body injuries. The game was fairly tight up through halftime. However the Red Devils exploded for 8 goals in the second to pull away for their eleventh victory of the season. Jordan Collins-Hartwig and Dan Barron were key offensive figures, combining for ten of the twelve goals. Ryan Duff was once again brilliant in net collecting sixteen saves, nine of which came in a barrrage of Nichols shots in the second quarter.

The first quarter was a back and forth affair. Nichols jumped out 1 to 0 early on a goal from Peter Randaccio ( 2g, 1a ). The goal came off a nice feed from Mike White ( 1g, 1a ) who fired the pass from the X position.

The Devils responded a couple minutes later with a goal from Jordan Collins-Hartwig ( 6g ). Collins-Hartwig was again an important component in the Clarence offense. His steady quiet leadership has been a big part of the team's success in 2007. Jordan picked up the first of his six goals off a rebound. Barron made a nice pass over to Dave Colicchia ( 1g, 2a ). Click's shot was blocked by the goaltender. However, the ensuing rebound bounced out to a cutting Collins-Hartwig, who drove it into the back of the net. Just about a minute later, the Devils scored another. Dan Salvatore picked up the goal, firing a guided-missile past the goalie from 15 yards out in the right slot. Salvatore played another solid game for Clarence, creating several shot opportunities with a more powerful dodging style towards the net.

Nichols fought back late in the first quarter. Clarence was man-down after a slashing penalty. The Big Green EMO went to work. Randaccio found White off the side of the crease. On an extremely athletic effort, White lunged through the Devils defense, and fired a diving shot past Duff to even it at two goals apiece. Less than a minute later, Randaccio would put Nichols ahead. This time attackman Kyle Gray ( 2g, 2a ) created the play behind the net at X, dodging and then firing a pass to a cutting Randaccio. Peter buried his chance, and Nichols led 3 to 2.

With just over two minutes remaining in the first, Clarence would knot the score at three. Colicchia would be the beneficiary off a nice assist from Barron. Click found a seam in the Nichols defense, collected the pass, and buried his opportunity. As the quarter ran down, the Red Devils knew that they would have to kick it into high gear for the second.

The Nichols boys lacrosse team has had a difficult season. However, recent wins against Grand Island and St. Joes had added a degree of confidence throughout the team. They knew that the second quarter would be critical if they had any hopes of upsetting the Red Devils. Nichols would deliver, playing their best lacrosse of the day. However, the one thing that they didn't count on was Clarence goalie Ryan Duff. Duff was unbeatable in the second, facing everything the Big Green could throw at him. Two man-down situations and nine saves later, Nichols had nothing to show for their efforts. Defender Nick Robinson was at his best, battling Mike White throughout the contest. Robinson has been the most steady player for the Red Devils throughout the year. Game in and game out, he has been asked to cover the best offensive attackman the opposition has to offer. Many will be first-team all-ECIC and possibly All-Americans. Robinson has my vote. His relentless defense work on Mike White was textbook, and a big reason he registered only one goal. White is an outstanding player in his own right, however, so is Robinson.

The only goal scored in the second half came off the stick of Collins-Hartwig. The play developed on a nice play from Jordan Zaprowski ( 3a ). Zaprowski made a great feed to Collins-Hartwig who fired it past the goaltender from about 8 yards off the right crease area. The halftime score showed the Red Devils with a slim 4 to 3 edge. However, Clarence would get things rolling in the third quarter to pull away from Nichols for good.

Sophomore Ryan Connolly, brought up to replace the hole in the midfield, did a marvelous job in his first varsity game. Connolly dominated in faceoffs, winning 10 of 17 and fought hard to pickup 5 groundballs on the afternoon.

Caleb "The Artful Dodger" Higgins was once again a difference-maker in the middle. Like the legendary Dickens character of Oliver Twist fame, Higgins lays in wait for unsuspecting midfielders, only to pick their pockets as they try to race past. In addition to his takeaways, Higgins picked up six groundballs and was a force defensively.

Barron and Collins-Hartwig provided the necessary offensive leadership to "close the deal" in the final two quarters of play. Barron got things started in the third with a nice shot off the front of the crease. Zaprowski sent a pass to Barron, who in turn faked a dodge across the defense. Freezing the defender for a brief moment, Barron turned and fired a 10 yard shot past the goalie to put Clarence up 5 to 3.

Nichols fought back as midfielder Drew Winkel found the back of the net on a nice bounce shot that beat Duff from 10 yards off the left slot. The goal brought the Big Green back to within one and hopes of keeping this game close to the end.

Clarence had other ideas as Jordan Collins-Hartwig went on a tear scoring three unanswered goals in the last five minutes of the third quarter. The first goal was off an aggressive dodge down the middle of the Nichols defense. Beating his defender, Collins-Hartwig found a little room and zipped through, firing a shot in for the score. The goal reaffirmed control of the game to the Red Devils and they never looked back.

Jordan's next goal came on a great individual effort. Nichols was flagged for a minute and a half for two infractions on one of their defensemen. The Nichols goalie made a nice save on the Red Devil's first EMO shot. However, a poor clearing attempt by the netminder hung up in the air long enough for Collins-Hartwig to intercept. Jordan quickly ran the ball back into the zone and unleashed a hard shot that found nothing but net.

Two minutes later Collins-Hartwig struck for his fifth and most impressive goal of the game. It was one of those "jaw-droppers", adding yet another to Mom's highlight film. Colicchia began the play on a nice pass to Jordan. Collins-Hartwig was being pressed along the crease by two Nichols defenders. With a burst of speed, Collins-Hartwig twisted, spun and turned through the Nichols defense like the Tasmanian Devil. Finally clearing through the defenders, Collins-Hartwig ripped it into the net. The Clarence bench could only sit back, smile and shake their heads! The three goal outburst left Nichols stunned and in a 8-4 hole going into the final quarter.

One minute into the fourth, Collins-Hartwig would net his sixth and final goal of the afternoon on the run. Most Collins-Hartwig goals are off a quick dodge. This was no different, as he ran down the right slot past his defender and ripped a spectacular shot into the net. The goal gave Clarence a five goal cushion.

The Devils picked up a couple penalties in the fourth, one of which led to a man-up goal for the Big Green. Kyle Gray closed the gap to 9 to 5, scoring from the right crease as the Red Devils struggled to settle their defense. Less than one minute later, Nichols would score another. Midfielder Will Gisel made a great shot as he beat the Clarence defense on a cut through the middle. Gisel buried it from about 5 yards in front, and Nichols looked to make a late run at the Red Devils.

Dan Barron played his best down the stretch. Unwilling to allow Nichols any hope, Barron went on a bender, scoring three goals in a six and a half minute span. Barron's first goal came off a great effort by Dan Salvatore. Salvatore fought and won a groundball battle at midfield, ran it into the Nichols zone, and fired a pass down to the open Barron. Dan popped it in from the left crease area, restoring a four goal lead. About three minutes later, Barron struck again, on a pretty goal. Zaprowski fed from behind and fired a pass to Dan in the right slot area. For a brief moment the ball looked as though it would sail over his head and out to the midfield. However, Barron stretched out and snagged the pass. His great lacrosse sense kicked in, as he took the ball from a high position and quickly fired a low, hard shot. The high to low change-up beat the Nichols goalie, and the score stood at 11 to 6.

With three minutes left in the contest, Nichols would score their final goal. It came a few seconds after the end of a man-down situation expired for the Devils. Gray picked up his second of the game on a nice cut through the Red Devil defense. Randaccio fired a beautiful pass into Gray, who then quicked it in for the goal.

The last score would again be off the stick of Barron. Dan finished off the Big Green on a signature dodge. Barron gained a step on his man, dodging down the left slot, and fired a skillful shot off the run past the goaltender. The 12 to 7 outcome once again showed the extreme confidence of the Red Devils are now playing with. Nichols played good lacrosse and forced Clarence to find itself and battle for much of the game. Hats off the the Big Green and their coaching staff for their hard play throughout the contest.

The playoff picture was made clear this week, as Clarence will host its first-ever home playoff game next Friday ( 5/25 ) against Williamsville North. The Spartans will be in high gear, looking to avenge their earlier loss here on May 4th. The game is a #4 vs #5 matchup. It has all the makings of a real "barnburner." The Red Devils will have to be ready, as the revenge card plays big in this one. We hope to see a large, partisan crowd in support of the cause. Mark it down on your calendar!

First things first. Clarence plays their last regular season game "under the lights" at 8:00 on Tuesday night over at Iroquois. It is a great way to experience lacrosse, and should be a nice experience for the boys. Imagine... game on the football field...under the lights...hmmm...I think they're on to something out there!