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Carlisle
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 News: Boys' Lacrosse: Herd falls to Blue Streaks |
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Sunday, April 15
Boys' Lacrosse: Herd falls to Blue Streaks
By Tom Ash, April 13, 2007
For just under five minutes Friday, the Carlisle boys' lacrosse team led the No. 8 team in the state 2-1.
"We played them last year, so we had to go in ready and keep our focus," said Thundering Herd senior defender Jordan Kepner.
Unfortunately, the Manheim Township Blue Streaks recovered from the first-quarter deficit to take a 6-4 victory under the lights at Ken Millen Stadium.
Last season, Carlisle managed a 10-9 win over the Blue Streaks in regular season play, but lost an 11-8 decision to Manheim Township in the postseason.
Whether it was a product of that regular season victory last year, or the three-game winning streak they had heading into the contest Thursday, the Thundering Herd walked on the field knowing they had a legitimate chance to take down the Blue Streaks (11-0), who are ranked No. 8 in laxpower.com's regional ratings. In the same poll, Carlisle (3-2) was ranked No. 56.
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"We weren't intimidated at all," said Thundering Herd senior defender Justin Malenich. "We came in ready and we knew what we were up against."
"We get better every game," said Carlisle attacker Tim Margeson. "(The Blue Streaks) were scared."
Manheim Township didn't seem too scared in the first quarter when Blue Streak Tim Stratton put his team on the scoreboard only 41 seconds into the game, but the Thundering Herd quickly took the wind out of Manheim's sails when their defense forced two turnovers, each resulting in goals from Margeson and junior attacker Colin Shevlin, respectively.
Carlisle preserved that momentum throughout the remainder of the first quarter, but the momentum shifted at the beginning of the second when Thundering Herd sophomore Chase West was given a three-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for using an illegal crosse. Manheim quickly took advantage on the power play, with Blue Streak John DuBois netting the Blue Streaks' second goal of the game 46 seconds into the second quarter.
A strong effort from the Carlisle defensive squad, and an eight-save effort from Thundering Herd senior goalkeeper Andrew Dymski in the second quarter kept Carlise in the game 2-2 heading into the half.
"We're a young team, and we've taught ourselves not to give up," said Malenich. "Our biggest strength is our competitiveness."
"I knew if I could make those stops, (my teammates) would stick goals in the net," said Dymski. "I felt we were in the game the whole time, and we couldn't let off."
The Thundering Herd's chance of victory started to slip away early in the third quarter, when DuBois and Zielinski each scored goals for the Blue Streaks in the first four minutes of the second half, DuBois' goal coming from a long solo shot directly in front of the Carlisle goal.
The two teams exchanged scores in the last half of the third quarter, and again in the fourth, but the Thundering Herd couldn't keep up with Manheim's offense, with the Blue Streaks outshooting Carlisle 16-6 in second-half play.
The result of Friday's game was a loss for the Thundering Herd, but the team found some consolation in the fact that they were able to keep up with unbeaten Manheim Township, at least for three quarters.
"A loss is a loss, it doesn't matter against who," said Carlisle defensive coach Ben Loucheim. "But it is great to compete against a good team and to learn from it. We knew coming in we could compete."
"I'm real proud of my players," said Thundering Herd head coach Steve Kidder. "I asked them to make progress, and they did.
"I'm not a believer of moral victories, but the boys progressed so I'm pleased."
As for the Carlisle players, they remain just as confident now as they were when they took the field that they will make the postseason this year, and the team's 3-2 start is better than last season, when the Thundering Herd posted a 2-3 record through their first five games.
"We'll beat (the Blue Streaks) in the playoffs (this season)," said Margeson.
"If we can hang with (Manheim Township), we can hang with anyone," said Thundering Herd sophomore defender Richard Bullis.
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