Above – Ben Cannon wins a face off for Fleming Island
By Mike Zima, Correspondent- All Photos by Ray Di Monda
Devan Marquis runs away from a Mustangs defender
Hayden La Vangie and Devan Marquis combined for 11 goals as Fleming Island cruised to a 15-3 victory over Mandarin in a District 5 semifinal at The Bolles School in Jacksonville Tuesday night.
“Those two guys move well together,” said Fleming Island coach Jeff La Vangie. “They have a nice two-man game.”
The duo scored seven of the Golden Eagles’ eight first half goals, enabling Fleming Island to hold an 8-3 advantage at the intermission. Working in tandem, they both had assists on two goals scored by the other.
Ryan Kelly makes one of his ten saves against Mandarin Tuesday
Midfielder Will Yarbrough added two goals for Fleming Island, while juniors Danny Schreiber and Sam Barrington each also found the net. Goaltender Ryan Kelly made 10 saves and shut out the Mustangs in a dominant second half. The Golden Eagles outshot Mandarin 39-18.
Fleming Island’s Hayden La Vangis is congratulated by Devan Marquis after a goal Tuesday
A two-man shorthanded goal by the Golden Eagles was pivotal. With the Golden Eagles leading 2-1, penalties against Fleming Island on consecutive possessions had the Mustangs poised to tie the score. Instead, Fleming Island’s Chase Wilson forced an errant Mandarin pass, allowing Marquis to take possession in his own end when play resumed. The junior then evaded a double team and sprinted to the right side of the box. Ahead of the nearest Mustangs midfielder, Marquis continued his advance and flicked a pass to La Vangie when finally pressed by a defender. La Vangie, who led all scorers with seven goals, slipped a quick shot over Mandarin goaltender Brent Gordon’s shoulder, and the Golden Eagles’ led 3-1.
The last two games between these foes, both won by Fleming Island, had been decided by a single goal. Tuesday, Fleming Island solved Mandarin goaltender Brent Gordon, who had held the Golden Eagles to five goals while making 13 saves when the teams played at Mandarin last month.
“We moved the ball a lot better and we finished a lot better tonight,” La Vangie explained. “This was one of our better games.”
The Golden Eagles, now 12-4, advance to the district final against Bolles on Friday at Bolles. Fleming Island has never beaten the Bulldogs in boys lacrosse, a fact that does not escape La Vangie.
“It would mean everything to this program,” he said of a win. “They’ve got great coaches and great players. We have got to go out and execute.”
Casey Connell, Jared Kane and Aaron Adams scored goals for Mandarin, which closes out its 2015 campaign with an 8-7 record.
