By Tom Peace
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 3/26/13
BALTIMORE – Undefeated Boys’ Latin scored the game’s final three goals in the final 90 seconds of play to pull out a 9-8 victory today over Culver Academy (IN) in a battle of teams ranked by TopLaxRecruits.com.
The No. 1-ranked Lakers (6-0) tied the game with 1:30 to play on a goal by Ben Pridemore. Colin Heacock (three goals) then tallied the game-winner with 52 seconds to play and added the insurance tally just 17 seconds later.
Keegan O’Connor had four goals to pace the Lakers and Christian Knight was a key in the cage in the second half.
Dawson McKenzie led 15th-ranked Culver (2-1) with four goals and Dean Ferris added a pair. Michael Calvello was strong in goal.
“It was eerily similar in my mind to last Friday’s game (10-9 win over Hill Academy),” said Boys’ Latin coach Bob Shriver. “We kinda let #15 (Zach Currier, headed to Princeton) dictate the game; what a sensational player that kid is.
“Look, we got behind and we showed a little moxy. I was really happy with the way it finished obviously, Christian Knight made three colossal saves in the fourth quarter; he made 3 one-on-one saves on the doorstep that obviously gave us a chance.”
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The game featured seven ties. Culver led by two goals, 7-5, early in the fourth period.
“We played pretty good defense in the first half and then Christian (Knight) bailed us out towards the end of the game,” said BL senior defenseman Mac Pons. “Our middies and attack started to click and started rolling in the second half.
“It’s always nice when you overcome a fourth quarter deficit, we did against Hill, it helps you for the MIAA season cause you know you’re going to face tough teams and you’re going to face adversity so that helps a lot towards the end of the season.”
Pons was impressed with Culver, which had defeated Episcopal Academy (PA) Saturday and Calverton School (MD) on Sunday.
“They’re a great team,” Pons said. “They have a couple Canadian kids that are really good.
“Number 21 (Johns Hopkins recruit Joel Tinney) is probably the best player I’ve played against; he’s strong, he’s quick, he’s got a great shot. No. 15 (Currier) is a bruiser, he is a big boy. And No. 24 (Riley Thompson) from behind the goal; he is quick, and No. 10 (Notre dame-bound Pierre Byrne) is pretty quick as well and he is a good finisher.”
“We did come out a little sluggish and did look a little tired. Coach Shriver said at halftime that (the first half) was our practice that we missed yesterday. But we got it together in the second half and got the win.”
Boys’ Latin (MD) 11, Culver Academy (IN) 9
BL 0-2-3-6-11
CA 1-1-3-4- 9
BL- Keegan O’Connor 4, Colin Heacock 3, Shack Stanwick, Casey Rees, Tal Bruno, Ben Pridemore.
Culver: Dawson McKenzie 4, Dean Ferris 2, Pierre Byrne, Zach Currier (Also had 5 GB’s), PJ Bogle