See more photos by Chris Cecere here
By TIM IRVING
“Our philosophy is to attack in the gray.”
Canandaigua senior Sam Bennett followed coach Deven York’s mantra to the letter, scoring six straight goals in an 11-2 victory over Pittsford.
“Traditionally in lacrosse, we say, wait to attack until we’re set, until we have our shape. What we’ve been really pushing this year is to have a green light whenever you feel like the defense isn’t really settled in,” York said in explaining “the gray.”
Matt Belles got the Braves (7-0) on the board just over three minutes into the game. Two minutes later, Jaxon Grant fired home a shot from the left wing and Cam Tallman scored in transition and just past the midway point of the first quarter, Canandaigua had a 3-0.
The Panthers struggled to get set up on offense and then Bennett started his run with 4:11 left in the first quarter. With 48 seconds left, Pittsford lost Bennett in front and Tallman fed him for his second goal and a 5-0 Canandaigua lead after one quarter.
Off the second quarter faceoff, Elliott Morgan sprinted into the Panthers zone and hit Bennett for the hat trick. Next faceoff, Dom Comella fed Bennett and 32 seconds into the quarter, the Braves’ lead was 7-0.
“He’s just got such a quick first step, “ said York of Bennett. “He just kept taking advantage of those situations when the defense wasn’t set.”
He scored twice more in the second, one rolling from left to right in front of the goal and another scooping up a ground ball with ten seconds left in the half for a 9-0 lead at the half.
Early in the third quarter, Morgan scored his second of the game for a 10-0 lead.
Pittsford got on the board with 2:13 left in third on a goal by Ben Steingass.
Braves’ goalie Jack Faiola made eight saves, including a stop at the buzzer at the end of the half.
“Jack is unbelievable, he’s such a good goalie. He works so hard at it and it’s been a dream of his since he was little,” says York of the sophomore who has a 76.7 save percentage.
Never an easy game in Section 5, Canandaigua’s remaining schedule features games against Fairport (5/21). McQuaid (5/24), Webster Thomas (5/26) and rival Victor (5/31).
York says, “700 days, the last time we played was that Sectional Final (7-6 loss to Victor), so, absolutely, it’s a motivated group.”
Leave a Reply