Jupiter’s brand new turf field was broken in last night in a fitting way.  A crisp game, played at a high level, in front of a nice Wednesday night crowd.  Jupiter’s senior leadership and experience won this game in the end as they finished better than the younger Stoneman team did in the second half.  The faceoff battle was pretty even and the teams combined for only 22 turnovers between them.  What made the difference was that in the third quarter Jupiter was able to take advantage of their EMO chances and in the second half Stoneman was only able to hit the cage with 7 of their 20 shots at goal.  Both goalies, Viper Scheele of Jupiter and Jason Wyner of Stoneman played terrific games and both All-American defenders, Connor Alexander and AJ Ferraro, both D1 recruits, showed why they will be playing next season for traditional powerhouse programs.  

  Both coaches should take away a good feeling from this one.  For Jupiter’s Danny Loftus, another quality win; and one where the team overcame a rare low-point game from All-American attackman Zach Crotty, who was held to one assist.  Sean Denes stepped up and produced a hat trick, all unassisted, as he was the first Jupiter player to find a way to generate offense against the stingy SD defense.  And as the game went on the team was able to penetrate with passes.  Peter Cox was able to take advantage of the collapsing SD defense to get off two step down shots from up top to help the team take control in the second half.  For Stoneman’s Ryan Burton the takeaway is that his team has now proven twice in the early season that it also is a contender for a playoff run.  They started strong, showing no fear of the challenge in front of them, and pretty much played evenly with the #2 team in the state on the road.  Clean up a few things (the offsides in the 3rd was really the turning point, but easily correctable) and this game goes down to the wire. Stoneman scored the only goal of the first quarter as Austin Figas went down the right alley and found the far upper corner at 4:37.  Only one turnover for each team and the goalies both made key stops.  The second quarter started with Stoneman jumping out quickly to a 3-0 lead.  Tyler Gaffney finished off a fast break at 11:12 as he took AJ Ferraro’s 25-yard bullet pass while cutting in from the left wing and Gaffney finished high.  Just 32 seconds later Blake Israel sent the lead to 3-0 unassisted on a right alley dodge as he went between Scheele’s legs from ten yards out.  At 9:29 Jupiter got on the board on EMO, as Davis Yates took a crease feed in front from Jesse Foertmeyer and shot into the left top corner to cut it to 3-1.  The teams went back and forth for the rest of the quarter until Sean Denes cut the lead to one with 1:19 left as he dodged and re-dodged the left wing and got to the crease, hitting the net on the short side and the teams went to halftime with Stoneman leading 3-2.  

  Jupiter controlled play in the third quarter due to a number of penalties and Stoneman’s possession issues (a number of offsides, including a rare double offside call) forced Stoneman to play shorthanded for a good deal of time.  Jupiter took advantage of the possessions (they won the early faceoffs in the quarter too) to outscore Stoneman 5-2 in the third to go in front 7-5. Denes started the third at 11:07 as he took advantage of a scramble to the left of the cage and found the high right corner.  At 10:06 Foertmeyer gave Jupiter their first lead unassisted as he curled from behind the left side and fired into the high short side for 4-3.  Stoneman got that back right away as Israel performed his won curl around the net and went low at 9:10 for 4-4.  At 6:52 Jupiter went back in front as Denes replicated his first goal on another right alley dodge for 5-4.  Just 11 seconds later SD tied it as Israel (who breaks ankles as well as Allen Iverson) cut quickly to the middle from the right and fired low from 10 yards out for 5-5.  But the EMO’s kicked in and at 4:50 Michael Dean took advantage by cutting towards the left of the cage and took a perfect Foertmeyer feed and finishing in top left corner for 6-5.  At 1:51 Cox was able to walk in and step down from straight on, also on EMO and the quarter ended at 7-5.  

  Jupiter stretched the lead to 3 at 7:30 as Cox took Zach Crotty’s behind the net feed on the top right wing and again stepped down, hitting the top left corner with a bullet. Stoneman got back to 8-6 at 6:31 as they took advantage of their own EMO, as Max Buckner took a left wing feed from Israel in the middle, wheeled to the right and fired to the low left corner.  But Jupiter was able to control the late possessions and two late goals sent the final score to 10-6.  Foertmeyer scored at 2:44 as he face dodged the right alley and Jake Lolmaugh capitalized on a loose ball with 1:40 to go, hitting an open net to end the game. Jupiter returns to action on Saturday as they host Oxbridge in a Palm Beach Revolution derby and Stoneman host district rival Pine Crest on Friday. And a shout-out to Annie’s, where I always try to get my pre-game food!  Chicken Francaise, Yams and Brussel Sprouts with a slice of cheesecake for about eight bucks! Add a Dr. Brown’s Cream Soda and I was a happy camper . . . wonder if they do Vichysoisse too?  

    Team Statistics   Faceoffs:  Jupiter 10 – Stoneman 9 Shots:  Jupiter 37 – Stoneman 35 Shots on Goal:  Jupiter 20 – Stoneman 15 Turnovers:  Stoneman 13 – Jupiter 9 Penalties:  Stoneman 8 – Jupiter 6   Individual Statistics   Jupiter Sean Denes  3G Jesse Foertmeyer  2G/2A Peter Cox  2G Davis Yates, Michael Dean and Jake Lolmaugh  1G each Zach Crotty  1A   Stoneman Blake Israel  3G/1A Austin Figas, Tyler Gaffney and Max Buckner  1G each AJ Ferraro  1A   Jupiter goalie Viper Scheele had 9 saves and Jason Wyner 10 saves for Stoneman   Thanks to Coach Loftus and Coach Burton for talking to me before and after the game!   And on to Boca Raton tonight as they host Columbus Catholic.  Will actually have to break out the long pants tonight . . .