Ponte Vedra Pulls Away in 4th Quarter to Beat Oak Hall 11-9 and Advance to State Semifinal
Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in Featured Posts, Florida Lacrosse News, High School, Northern Boys.
from FLN Correspondent Tom Congdon
In Region 1 on Friday night, Ponte Vedra Sharks (18-5-1) traveled to Gainesville to take on the Oak Hall Eagles (16-3) to determine which of the four teams would advance to the State Semifinals in Boca Raton next Friday. Ponte Vedra had beaten Oak Hall earlier in the season 13-7.
The game opened with a fury. On the first faceoff, junior attackman Ryan O’Leary (#5) makes his presence known with a big hit on the far sideline. At 9:37, Walker Azzaro (#12) scores for the Ponte Vedra. Assisted by Carter Parlette (#22 – Syracuse commit). At 8:32, Brad Vincent (#4) dodges down the left alley and finds Jaxson Lamb (#1) for an Eagles score. On the ensuing faceoff, FOGO specialist Jimmy Burns (#8) wins the faceoff runs down the right alley, fires, and scores. Ponte Vedra reclaims the lead 2-1.
Around 3 minute mark, Ponte Vedra patiently works the ball on offense. They seem to be testing the interior of Oak Halls’ defense with dodges down the middle. At 2:50, the Sharks strike again. At 1:41, midfielder Carter Parlette (#22) scores on a nice dodge against his defender. Ponte Vedra leads 4-1. With 56 seconds left in the first quarter, a side-arm bullet by Jack Dowd (#1) increases Ponte Vedra’s lead by four (5-1).
At this point in the game, the Sharks are winning all of the face offs, playing solid defense, and the working the ball well on offense. With under 30 seconds in the quarter, the momentum changes. An errant pass by Ponte Vedra creates a fast break opportunity for Oak Hall. The Eagles take it down the field and score with 16 seconds left in the quarter. The first quarter ends with Ponte Vedra leading 5-2.
The second quarter heats up. Oak Hall is now taking charge. At 10:36, Jaxson Lamb (#1) attacks and fires, but Ponte Vedra’s goalie, Wyatt Schupler (#13) makes a great save (the first of four great saves on Lamb alone this night). Oak Hall continues to press. At 9:40, Kyle Cox (#32) dodges toward the goal from the left side and slides under two D-poles for a score. The Eagles inch closer. With momentum on their side, Cox (#32) scores again. The play was set up by Brad Vincent (#4) dodging down the right alley and finding Cox sitting atop the crease for a score. Ponte Vedra’s lead is cut to one (5-4).
At 8:34, defenseman Tommy Zitello (#7) is called for a slash. Man up, Oak Hall is on the attack. At 7:40, Jaxson Lamb (#1) unleashes a shot, but Schupler (#13) again makes another great save for the Sharks. At 5:22, Oak Hall ties the game up (5-5). Midfielder Chris Keel (#0) dodges across the top of the box, dashes down the left alley, and fires 12 yards out. The ball zips over Schupler’s left shoulders for a score. Sharks’ midfielder and Naval Academy commit Dylan Hess (#40) answer back and breaks the tie at 2:24.
With a minute left in the half, Ponte Vedra’s defense creates a turnover. Midfielder Parlette (#22) recovers a ground ball and takes it down the field. He passes to Walker Azzaro (#12) who scores to put Ponte Vedra ahead 7-5 at 1:02. Oak Hall threatens with seconds left in half, but Schupler (#13) makes another big save.
Ponte Vedra opens the third quarter with a score at 10:25 to increase their lead by three (8-5). Parlette (#22) starts high on the left side of the field and quickly works his way towards the heart of Oak Hall’s defense. Oak Hall slides to cover his advance, which leaves Azzaro (#12) alone on the right wing. Parlette throws the skip pass to Azzaro, who fires and scores.
At 6:55, Ponte Vedra is called for a penalty. Oak Hall takes advantage of the extra man situation. Ryan O’Leary (#5) fires a blast and scores. At 4:53, Oak Hall is on the attack. Schupler (#13) who’s already made two big saves on Lamb (#1) in the first half, makes two more against Lamb, both one-on-one saves on the crease. Schupler waves he arms upwards. BRING IT ON! What a night for Schupler.
At 2:23, Oak Hall is pressing hard. Brad Vincent (#4) fires from atop of the box, but his shot hits the post. At 2:00, Ponte Vedra is called for 30 seconds. At 1:42, Lamb (#1) scores an extra man goal with a blast from the atop of the box to pull the Eagles within one (8-7).
With under a minute in the quarter, defenseman Freddie DiMarzo (#2) strips the ball and runs up the sideline. As he penetrates Oak Halls defensive zone, he passes to Jack Burke (#24) sitting near the crease. Burke fakes, shoots, and scores with 36 seconds left on the clock. PV up 9-7.
Ponte Vedra finds itself man down shortly after the start of the fourth quarter. At 11:07, O’Leary (#5) fires from the top of the box for a goal. Oak Hall is only down by one (9-8). At 8:08, Ponte Vedra answers back. Parlette (#22) passes to Hess (#40) on the right wing. Hess dodges inward and fires overhead for a score. Sharks up 10-8.
Under six minutes in the game, Oak Hall is on the attack; however, cannot hold onto the ball. A turnover creates a fast break opportunity for Ponte Vedra. Hess (#40) dashes up the field and finds Azzaro (#12) on the right crease for a score. Sharks increase their lead by three (11-8). At 4:57, Oak Hall creates their own fast break but Jacob Hicks (#9) cannot connect on his shot.
With under five minutes left in the game, the Eagles press the action; but in doing so turn the ball over in three straight possessions. Doesn’t look good at this point. Ponte Vedra gains offensive possession at the three-minute mark, and slows it down. Oak Hall doubles on defense and earns a turnover. With 44 seconds left in the game, Lamb (#1) scores for Oak Hall, but it’s far too late in the game to overcome Ponte Vedra’s lead. The Sharks wins this one 11-9 and will play Bishop Moore (18-2) in the State Semifinal in Boca Raton next Friday.
Great game to watch. Ponte Vedra played well in early and late in the game. Oak Hall’s worked it’s way back into this game with solid play. Senior attackmen Jaxson Lamb (#1) and Walter Azzaro (#12) led their teams with 3 goals each. Momentum changed at the end of the first quarter when Oak Hall scored under a minute left on the clock; however, passing miscues late in the game hurt Oak Hall’s offensive opportunities. Overall, excellent defense by Ponte Vedra. Both Tommy Zitello (#7) and Maximus Schalit (#9 – Notre Dame commit) played extremely well for the Sharks, creating turnovers and fast break situations. They will, however, need to limit their number of penalties against Bishop Moore. It was a great night for Wyatt Schupler (#13). 10 saves (half of which were against attackman Jaxson Lamb (#1)). Schupler is committed to play for West Point next season.
Looking forward to the State Semi-Finals next weekend! For photos of the game, feel free to visit “LacrosseTom” on Facebook (public page; no invite needed).
At 8:34, defenseman Tommy Zitello (#7) is called for a slash. Man up, Oak Hall is on the attack. At 7:40, Jaxson Lamb (#1) unleashes a shot, but Schupler (#13) again makes another great save for the Sharks. At 5:22, Oak Hall ties the game up (5-5). Midfielder Chris Keel (#0) dodges across the top of the box, dashes down the left alley, and fires 12 yards out. The ball zips over Schupler’s left shoulders for a score. Sharks’ midfielder and Naval Academy commit Dylan Hess (#40) answer back and breaks the tie at 2:24.
With a minute left in the half, Ponte Vedra’s defense creates a turnover. Midfielder Parlette (#22) recovers a ground ball and takes it down the field. He passes to Walker Azzaro (#12) who scores to put Ponte Vedra ahead 7-5 at 1:02. Oak Hall threatens with seconds left in half, but Schupler (#13) makes another big save.
Ponte Vedra opens the third quarter with a score at 10:25 to increase their lead by three (8-5). Parlette (#22) starts high on the left side of the field and quickly works his way towards the heart of Oak Hall’s defense. Oak Hall slides to cover his advance, which leaves Azzaro (#12) alone on the right wing. Parlette throws the skip pass to Azzaro, who fires and scores.
At 6:55, Ponte Vedra is called for a penalty. Oak Hall takes advantage of the extra man situation. Ryan O’Leary (#5) fires a blast and scores. At 4:53, Oak Hall is on the attack. Schupler (#13) who’s already made two big saves on Lamb (#1) in the first half, makes two more against Lamb, both one-on-one saves on the crease. Schupler waves he arms upwards. BRING IT ON! What a night for Schupler.
At 2:23, Oak Hall is pressing hard. Brad Vincent (#4) fires from atop of the box, but his shot hits the post. At 2:00, Ponte Vedra is called for 30 seconds. At 1:42, Lamb (#1) scores an extra man goal with a blast from the atop of the box to pull the Eagles within one (8-7).
With under a minute in the quarter, defenseman Freddie DiMarzo (#2) strips the ball and runs up the sideline. As he penetrates Oak Halls defensive zone, he passes to Jack Burke (#24) sitting near the crease. Burke fakes, shoots, and scores with 36 seconds left on the clock. PV up 9-7.
Ponte Vedra finds itself man down shortly after the start of the fourth quarter. At 11:07, O’Leary (#5) fires from the top of the box for a goal. Oak Hall is only down by one (9-8). At 8:08, Ponte Vedra answers back. Parlette (#22) passes to Hess (#40) on the right wing. Hess dodges inward and fires overhead for a score. Sharks up 10-8.
Under six minutes in the game, Oak Hall is on the attack; however, cannot hold onto the ball. A turnover creates a fast break opportunity for Ponte Vedra. Hess (#40) dashes up the field and finds Azzaro (#12) on the right crease for a score. Sharks increase their lead by three (11-8). At 4:57, Oak Hall creates their own fast break but Jacob Hicks (#9) cannot connect on his shot.
With under five minutes left in the game, the Eagles press the action; but in doing so turn the ball over in three straight possessions. Doesn’t look good at this point. Ponte Vedra gains offensive possession at the three-minute mark, and slows it down. Oak Hall doubles on defense and earns a turnover. With 44 seconds left in the game, Lamb (#1) scores for Oak Hall, but it’s far too late in the game to overcome Ponte Vedra’s lead. The Sharks wins this one 11-9 and will play Bishop Moore (18-2) in the State Semifinal in Boca Raton next Friday.
Great game to watch. Ponte Vedra played well in early and late in the game. Oak Hall’s worked it’s way back into this game with solid play. Senior attackmen Jaxson Lamb (#1) and Walter Azzaro (#12) led their teams with 3 goals each. Momentum changed at the end of the first quarter when Oak Hall scored under a minute left on the clock; however, passing miscues late in the game hurt Oak Hall’s offensive opportunities. Overall, excellent defense by Ponte Vedra. Both Tommy Zitello (#7) and Maximus Schalit (#9 – Notre Dame commit) played extremely well for the Sharks, creating turnovers and fast break situations. They will, however, need to limit their number of penalties against Bishop Moore. It was a great night for Wyatt Schupler (#13). 10 saves (half of which were against attackman Jaxson Lamb (#1)). Schupler is committed to play for West Point next season.
Looking forward to the State Semi-Finals next weekend! For photos of the game, feel free to visit “LacrosseTom” on Facebook (public page; no invite needed).
