By Zachary Sweedler
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 5/14/14

AVON, Conn. – Nolan Callahan posted 16 saves and host Avon Old Farms blanked Taft School in the second half en route to a 9-2 victory today in a Founders League first-place showdown.

The win clinched at least a tie for the Founders title for the Winged Beavers (13-3 overall), who are 6-0 with one league game left May 21 at home against last-place Loomis Chaffee. Taft School (11-3 overall) fell to 4-1.

Junior Michael Herring (Virginia) led Avon Old Farms with three goals and three assists and Connor Kelly (Maryland) had two goals and one assist. Jacob Korus added a goal and an assist. Meanwhile, Callahan handled the defense, making an amazing 12 saves on 12 shots in the second half.

The Winged Beavers had lost their last two games to New England West powers Brunswick School (13-7) and Deerfield Academy (10-8), but used the defeats as extra motivation.

“We really rallied; we knew that this was a must win game,” said Callahan. “You know, a league game, a really good opponent and I think we understood how big this game was and everyone sort of rallied behind that.

“I think everyone’s level of focus today was really high. Everyone was ready to play, ready to play hard. Everyone did what they had to do to win that game.”

Avon jumped to a 4-0 lead late in the first period on two goals by Herring and one each by Korus and Thomas Hayes. Taft drew within 4-2 on a goals by seniors Brady O’Donnell (Bryant) and Tim Shield (Vermont).

But Kelly made it 5-2 before the half and then Callahan and the Winged Beaver def This win meant a lot to us because after two losses we really wanted to rebound, and being a big rivalry, us and Taft, I think it definitely assured us to being a great team this year. So it was huge for our team, huge win, and hopefully we keep rolling.”

“I think we go into each game playing a team game mostly, we don’t really pick on one guy to do everything, and that was huge today,” said Kelly. “We didn’t have any top goal scorers, but we definitely spread it around, and that was great. It was definitely a team victory.”

Kelly said the team refocused after the recent losses.

“The Deerfield game was a very tough game for us,” he said. “We definitely fought till the end and mostly what we wanted to go into was start off strong, and that’s what we did today. So, we definitely wanted to rebound because last game we started in the second half and that’s just too late playing against great teams.”

Added Callahan: “I think everyone just put that game out of their mind. We had a lot of mental errors against Deerfield, we sort of shot ourselves in the foot, and I think we worked really hard these last two days in practice.

“I think we all just put our heads down and put the work in the last two days. So, we were ready for Taft, and I think the scoreboard showed that.”

Avon Old Farms 9, Taft School 2

Avon Old Farms 4-1-2-2- 9
Taft School 1-1-0-0- 2

Avon Old Farms
Michael Herring 3g, 3a
Grant Gould 1g
Henry Narlee 1a
Jacob Korus 1g, 1a
Thomas Hayes 1g
Connor Kelly 2g, 1a
Nolan Callahan 16 saves

Taft School
Tim Shield 1g
Brady O’Donnell 1g
Lucas DiPietrantonio1a
Angus Viebranz 11 saves