By Tom Peace
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 5/11/13
TOWSON, Md. – Senior Stephen Kelly won 13 of 20 face-offs and scored two goals while setting up several more to spark host Calvert Hall defeat St, Paul’s School, 10-8, Friday in the first round of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference playoffs.
The fourth-seeded Cardinals (11-5, 7-3 league) advance to meet top-seeded Boys’ Latin – the top-ranked team by TopLaxRecruits.com – in the semifinals Tuesday at Towson University.
The other semifinal matchup will feature No. seeded McDonogh vs. Loyola Blakefield, which surprised third-seeded Gilman School, 17-14.
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Kelly – who also had one assist – helped stake the Cardinals to a 7-3 lead early in the second half by winning two face-offs that led to fast break goals by Jordan Germershausen (two goals, three assists) and Andrew Fanshaw (two goals).
St. Paul’s pulled within a goal three times, the last on a tally by sophomore midfielder Alex McGovern with 5:18 to play. But Kelly iced it himself with 1:04 to play.
“Some calls may go against you, but you have to buckle down and stay focused and keep plugging,” said Kelly about the mentality of the face-of specialist. “I was able to do that, especially at the end, and get our team possession.
“We were able to capitalize on that. Now we’re in the semis against an absolutely great BL team. We are fired up to get another chance at them.”
Timmy Kelly added two goals and an assists and Johnny Belz scored twice for Calvert Hall.
Cards coach Bryan Kelly praised his team’s defense, which lost senior starter Garrett Epple in Tuesday’s regular-season finale against Loyola Blakefield.
He was replaced by senior Jack D’Angelo, who teamed with Tyler Mayes, Erik Evans, Michael Lanahan and Matty Brashears to provide strong defense for freshman goalie Joe McSorley (eight saves).
“I thought defensively our guys did a good job,” he said. “We lost Garrett, but the guys stepped up.
“We’re excited to move on. There is no pressure on us. BL is undefeated; we feel like all the pressure is on them.”
Kelly also praised St. Paul’s, a team that won only three games last year.
“The future is bright for St. Paul’s,” he said. “Those guys kept battling.
“Stephen Kelly was the man; he just took over and we scored three or four goals off transition from the face-offs. Those guys kept battling. Fortunately they never tied the game.
Mikey Wynne led the Crusaders with two goals and two assists and Carter Flaig added two goals and an assist while Alex McGovern scored twice.
“It’s always disappointing,” said St. Paul’s coach Rick Brocato.” We felt like we could be in the game, and we were. But we didn’t play particularly sharp. I do give them a lot of credit. I think their seniors really stepped up and made some big plays.”
Brocato, nonetheless, was proud of his team’s resurgence this year.
“There are so many positive things in going from 3-15 to 15-5 and making the playoffs when nobody gave us a shot,” he said, “I love this team and they have proven they had a lot of grit and resiliency.
“They were willing to work and do what the coaches asked them to do. They accomplished a lot. It’s been a joy to coach them this year.”
St. Paul’s
Mikey Wynne 2g, 2a
Carter Flaig 2g, 1a
Alex McGovern 2g
Henry Riehl 1g
Ben Linkous 1g
AJ Barretto 13 saves
Calvert Hall
Stephen Kelly 2g, 1a
Timmy Kelly 2g, 1a
Johnny Belz 2g
Andrew Fanshaw 2g
Jordan Germershausen 2g, 3a
McSorley 8 saves
Loyola Blakefield 17, Gilman School 14
Devin McNamara had three goals and five assists, Alex Roesner scored five goals and Acie Newton made 18 saves as the sixth-seeded Dons (11-8) shocked the third-seeded Greyhounds (12-4).
Zeke Morrill led Gilman with four goals.
Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs
First round
Friday, May 10
Loyola Blakefield 17, Gilman 14
Calvert Hall 10, St. Paul’s School 8
Semifinals at Towson University
Tuesday, May 13
No. 2 seed McDonogh (ranked No. 6 by TopLaxRecruits.com)vs. No. 6 Loyola Blakefield
No. 1 Boys’ Latin (ranked No. 1) vs. No. 3 Calvert Hall
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