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By TIM IRVING
Jack Faiola isn’t a great lacrosse goalie by accident.
“I watch film every day until game day, just watching their attack and their middies and watching everyone’s shot, how it’s placed, where they like to shoot.”
The Canandaigua junior made 18 saves as the Braves improved to 6-1 with a 9-5 victory over Fairport on Wednesday.
Faiola and his defense shut down the Red Raiders in the first quarter, taking a 3-0 lead on goals by Braden Gioseffi, Nate Sheridan and Elliott Morgan but Fairport got very few shots off against the Braves defense, led by Yale commit Eric Platten.
“I’ve gotta give a lot of credit to Kyle Stanney, our defensive coach. Right from the beginning we said, we’re gonna build defense, defense is what it’s all about,” head coach Deven York said.
In the second quarter, Faiola made some big saves, a couple in one-on-one situations in front of his crease.
“9 out of 10 times, the attackman is supposed to score and I just hold my ground and just stay calm when they’re in tight and react to the ball, “ Faiola said.
“He’s got laser focus, the way he prepares. Just look at his eyes, he’s so dialed in on the ball, it’s awesome having him,” York said.
Senior Jaxon Grant scored for Canandaigua after Chase Rizzo got Fairport on the board in the second quarter.
With four minutes left, Sheridan made a move and netted his second of the game.
Kyle Gould got one back but face-off specialist Luke McCrobie won the ensuing draw and scored to leave a 6-2 halftime score.
Late in the third, Sheridan set up Morgan in front and the Braves turned up the pressure on Fairport’s defense and a strong ride led to Sheridan getting a steal and a goal for an 8-2 lead heading to the fourth.
“I said to my coaches, I’m tearing up, these boys are growing up before my eyes and they’re really growing,” York said of his younger middies. “I always say, you’re playing for your seniors just like you’re gonna want the young guys to play for you someday.”
Gould scored twice for the Red Raiders (4-1) in the fourth quarter to finish with three goals and Sheridan scored three to lead the Braves while Morgan, a St. Joseph’s signee, added two goals.
Both York and Fairport coach Mike Torrelli admit there are no easy weeks in Section V lacrosse. Canandaigua travels to St. Joseph’s in Buffalo this weekend to face the host school and 25-time Michigan State Champion Brother Rice.
York says, “I’m a softie, I hate not playing everybody and I wish I could get everybody in every game and I look down the line and I don’t see a game like that, there ain’t no easy ones.”
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