TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 3/25/13
Staff Report
After losing tight games to national power Gonzaga (DC), Episcopal Academy (PA) and Malvern Prep (PA), perhaps the last thing Bullis School’s boy’s lacrosse team wanted to see Saturday was the sight of the powerful Hill Academy of Ontario, Canada.
But the Bulldogs (2-3) earned a dramatic victory Saturday when they rallied from a 7-4 fourth-quarter deficit to beat Hill Academy, 8-7 in overtime on a goal by senior Mitchell Goldberg (Richmond signee).
Bullis won it on the first possession of the OT period after junior Joe Stuckey (11 of 16 at face-off X) won the draw.
“Our schedule has definitely not been friendly,” said Bullis coach Bobby Pollicino. “Mitchell was able to find a seam in their zone and let it go. Now we play at McDonough (MD) on Wednesday, so it won’t get any easier.
“It’s a great win for us. They’re very talented team. For as many games as they have played, their kids play hard. There is no quit in those kids; you hope something rubs off on your own team.”
Hill Academy, ranked No. 11 this week by TopLaxRecruits.com, finished 8-3 in its whirlwind 15-day swing through Maryland and Virginia. A day earlier it fell to No. 1 Boys’ Latin (MD), 11-10. The game against Bullis School was Hill’s fifth in five days,
“They are phenomenal in transition,” said Pollicino. “They got up, 3-2, and the end of the half with two second-period goals and yet it seemed we outshot them 15-5.”
Hill led, 5-2 and then 5-3 after three periods and then went ahead 7-4 in the fourth until freshman Steven Shollenberger (two goals, two assists) and freshman Nicky Petkevich scored to make it 7-6. Senior Kyle Nemeroff (two goals) then tied it with a few minutes to play.
Sophomore Drew Petkevich (Penn State commit) added a goal and an assist and Bullis senior goalie Brandon Burke made 10 saves.
Bullis, which went 14-4 last year and fell to Landon School (MD) in the DC IAC finals, is looking to go back to the championship game this season.
“For every team the ultimate goal is to play in your championship game,” said Pollicino. ‘The IAC is always tough. Every game is a battle regardless of the records going into the game – whether the foe is St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, Georgetown Prep, St. Albans, Landon or Episcopal.
“You’ve got to bring your game or you’ll find yourself on the losing end.”
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