By Jaclynkelli Kronemberg
TopLaxrecruits.com, Posted 4/15/17
MANHASSET, N.Y. – Darien (CT) coach Jeff Brameier knows his Blue Wave always face a major challenge when it plays Manhasset in the annual “Battle of the Sound.”
“The name speaks for itself, ‘The Battle of the Sound,'” said Brameier, whose team improved to 6-0 with Saturday’s 12-8 victory at Manhasset on Long Island. “This was just another battle between two quality programs. It was great athletes out there going after it. It was a boxing match all the way through.”
Darien, second in the C2C Lacrosse North America Rankings, has won the past four games between these perennial powers that are separated by the Long Island Sound. Manhasset fell to 4-2.
Logan McGovern tallied four goals and one assist to boost the Blue Wave and Ryan Cornell posted 11 saves in goal as Darien took a 6-2 halftime lead and held off a rally in the third period.
“We jumped out and got a little bit of a lead; they got it back down to one (6-5), but we responded which was crucial,” said McGovern, a junior attackman committed to Bryant. “At the end of the half we had a good response and at the end of the fourth we had a good response, too.
“You have tip your hat to their goalie, (Brendan) Haggerty (12 saves) was awesome and so was my goalie. There was a lot of great lacrosse out there.”
McGovern scored three goals in the first half to help Darien gain the 6-2 lead. In the third quarter, Manhasset responded with three unanswered goals, pulling within 6-5 with 32.7 seconds left.
But Darien answered with two goals as McGovern made it 7-5 off a Tanner Strub assist and Kevin Lindley (three goals, one assist) converted from Joyce.
“This game went really well,” said McGovern. “We had a lot of chemistry out there. Everyone played well. Ryan in goal always plays well. Arden Cohen shut down their number one guy which was huge.”
Finlay Collins tallied two goals for Darien while Cohen, Quinn Fay, Jake Bieler, Nic Percarpio, Jack Joyce, Blake Sommi and Riley Stewart.led the defense and Strub was 15 of 25 at the face-off X.
“On offense we shared the ball so well and luckily we were able to finish them,” McGovern said. “We definitely look to come down and beat a Long Island team every year.
“Connecticut is definitely not looked at as much as Long Island. We are trying to make Connecticut a lacrosse hotbed.”
John Psyllos tallied four and Steven Schneider had a pair of goals for Manhasset.
“I just told the boys that I’m really proud of them,” said Manhasset head coach Keith Cromwell. “That’s a big time team. I think they are one or two in the country.
“We had it down to one goal and I thought we had some momentum going. There were one or two different plays we would like to have back but this game will makes us better come the long haul.”
Darien 12, Manhasset 8
D: 3-3-2-4-12
M: 1-1-3-3-8
Darien: Logan McGovern 4G, 1A; Kevin Lindley 3G, 1A; Finlay Collins 2G; Brian Minicus 2G; Matt Meyjes 1G; Riley Stewart 2A; Tanner Strub 1A; Nick Percarpio 1A; Jack Joyce 1A
Manhasset: John Psyllos 4G; Steven Schneider 2G; Kevin Mack 1G, 1A; Chris Glynn 1G, 1A; Aidan Mulholland 1A
Saves: Ryan Cornell (D) 11; Brendan Haggerty (M) 12