JV Lax ends season on high note

The Bishop Ireton JV Men’s Lacrosse Team played three games in a row and finished the week with a loss, tie and win to end the season.

Shorthanded due to injuries, the BIJVMLax Cardinals traveled to Pope Paul IV on Wednesday to face the Panthers. Cardinal sophomore defenseman Mike Manaro suffered a concussion early in the 1^st quarter when he was struck in the head with the ball. The Cardinals played on with only 3 substitutes and trailed 8-0 at the half. In the 3^rd quarter frosh middie Max Hanson fed fellow freshman midfielder Tom Coleman in the crease for the only Cardinal score. The Cardinals fell 14-1.

The Cardinals returned to Fannon Field on Thursday to host the visiting Saint John Paul the Great Wolves. SJPG scored early in the 1^st quarter before lightning stopped play. After a 30 minute delay, play resumed. One minute later, Hanson dodged from X to score and tie the game. Two seconds later, another lightning bolt in the vicinity stopped the game for good. The Cardinals tied the Wolves 1-1 in a weather-shortened contest.

On Friday the Cardinals welcomed the Benedictine Cadets to Fannon Field. Freshman Attackman Andrew Simoes scored the first Cardinal goal in an unsettled situation to take the lead at 9:36 in the 1^st quarter. 32 seconds later classmate Defenseman Alex Winstanley caused a turnover, scooped up the ground ball, ran a one man clear, shot and scored to extend the lead to 2. The Cadets answered with a goal at 7:37. 31 seconds later attackman Pat McCambridge scored on a high to low right handed shot. Two minutes later another freshman, midfielder Ethan Coleman fed McCambridge for another goal. Simoes fed Hanson dodging down the crease for another goal at 4:18. The defense faced three man down situations in the quarter, including a 2 man down period, but did not allow a short handed goal. BI led 5-1 after one quarter.

The Cadets added one goal in the 2nd quarter. The Cardinals put themselves in another man down situation but again, refused to allow a goal. BI led 5-2 at the half.

At the start of the second half, both teams agreed to play a 20 minute running clock to ensure playing a complete game. BI held Benedictine scoreless in the 2^nd half. At 17:30 in the 2^nd half, Tom Colman fed McCambridge for a goal and the hat trick. Hanson scored unassisted at 8;31 and played an excellent game on both sides of the ball. Hanson also won a majority of the faceoffs.

At 6:55 Ethan Coleman added another assist, this time to his brother Tom in the crease. Simoes found Tom Coleman in the crease again at 1:30 to close out the Cardinal scoring and seal a 9-2 victory. Carninal Long Stick defensemen sophomores Tyler Ledbetter and Declan Sofield played another solid game supported by 9th grade defensemen Alex Winstanley and chris Giaetto. Goalie Liam McHugh played another solid, multi-save game to close his JV season.