Cherokee rallies to defeat Eastern
It started raining harder at halftime. For Cherokee, it was like a splash of cold water in the face. "We just came out with more intensity in the second half," senior attack TJ Ahern said. "We were much more focused."
It started raining harder at halftime.
For Cherokee, it was like a splash of cold water in the face.
"We just came out with more intensity in the second half," senior attack TJ Ahern said. "We were much more focused."
Cherokee pulled away from a 3-3 halftime tie and scored an 8-6 victory over Eastern yesterday in an Olympic American boys' lacrosse game in the driving rain in the Chiefs' football stadium.
Ahern and senior attack Frank Garvey scored three goals for Cherokee (2-1, 1-0), the No. 4 team in the Inquirer Super Six.
Nick DiNote scored two goals and goalie Dylan Florig made 12 saves for Eastern (2-2, 1-1), the No. 6 team in the Super Six.
"We're coming along," Eastern coach Steve Picot said. "We have a real young offense, and we're getting better and better. Defensively, to hold a potent offense like Cherokee to eight goals, that's a pretty good performance."
Cherokee got good work from senior middies Devin Thomas and Bob Thorp. Lenny Fox added two goals for the Chiefs.
Mike Jevic's steal and goal pulled Eastern into a 3-3 tie late in the second quarter.
"It's a big rivalry game and we knew it would be a tough game," Thorp said.
"We play with a lot of their guys in the summer, so we knew they would come out hard."
Cherokee controlled play in the third quarter, outscoring Eastern by 3-0. Garvey scored two of his goals and Ahern added another as the Chiefs took a 6-3 lead.
"We came out stronger in the second half," Garvey said. "We were going to the net, being sharper with our passes."
Fox's second goal early in the fourth quarter gave Cherokee its largest lead at 7-3.
Eastern rallied behind DiNote and Mike D'Olio to pull within 7-5 with about two minutes to play. But Cherokee's defense stood firm in front of goalie Ryan Olson and Garvey's third goal with 1 minute, 5 seconds remaining gave the Chiefs some breathing room.
"We've got the talent, we just have to play with intensity," Thorp said. "We played a lot harder in the second half and that was the difference."
Eastern 2 1 0 3 - 6
Cherokee 2 1 3 2 - 8
Goals: E–Nick DiNote 2, Derek Mettalo, Dylan Fox, Mike Jevic, Mike D'Olio. C–TJ Ahern 3, Frank Garvey 3, Lenny Fox 2.
Saves: E–Dylan Florig 12. C–Ryan Olson 6.