Road Warriors come home
By Jim Krencik
Sports Editor
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Joe Gomez scored four goals in the Golden Eagles 11-6 win over Keuka. (Photo By Jim Krencik, SPORTS EDITOR) |
The College at Brockport men’s lacrosse team was close. They had the ball and only a one-goal deficit. The momentum was there. But a sturdy Oswego defense held, and the Lakers went down the field, buried another goal and sent the Golden Eagles home with a 11-9 loss in their first SUNYAC game of 2008.
Pat Reilly had a hand in all but one of Brockport’s goals, scoring four times and setting up four others. His eight points were only one short of his school record.
“Pat had a lot of nice goals,” Brockport head coach Ben Wineburg said. “He’s a good shooter and he’s good at setting other players up.”
On the other side of the field was Garrett Allwes, who turned in a strong goaltending performance, defending the goal with intensity and hustling to prevent multiple Oswego second-chance opportunities.
“His play was a highlight of the game,” Wineburg said. Wineburg isn’t the only person noticing Allwes’ strong play, as he was also named SUNYAC Goaltender of the Week prior to the Oswego game.
While Brockport did well to match the physicality that the Lakers presented, it was mental errors that cost the Golden Eagles.
“We need to play smarter,” Wineburg said. “Our mistakes hurt us. We gave them some easy opportunities and missed on some of our own.”
The Oswego loss certainly stings, but the disappointing end of that game was also the end of a month-long stretch of road games that saw the Golden Eagles trek across the state to compete.
Brockport has won five out of the seven road games this season, including a 11-6 win over Keuka Storm played at the Rochester Insitute of Technology Wednesday, April 2.
Joe Gomez had an offensive explosion against Keuka, scoring twice in each half to lead the Golden Eagles to victory. Brockport scored seven goals in the third quarter.
The Storm had a 5-2 lead at halftime but the Golden Eagles surged into the lead. Brockport allowed only one goal in the second half to clinch the victory.
The first opponent to visit Bob Boozer Field in 2008 is the Geneseo Knights, who have only one blemish on their record, a one-point loss at Hamilton.
“They are young too,” Wineburg said of the Knights. “We will need to improve and avoid mental mistakes, but we can win this one.”
Wineburg said his team is ready to play and excited to do it here. Excitement will have to turn into solid play if Brockport wants to beat Geneseo, but the road-tested Golden Eagles can do it.
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