It’s Fleming Island Over Creekside 11-6
Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in Uncategorized.
By Mike Zima, Correspondent
Junior Devan Marquis scored three goals to lead a balanced attack as Fleming Island downed Creekside 11-6 in the nightcap of the Moe’s Classic at Jacksonville University Monday night.
Five different Golden Eagles found the net as Fleming Island overcame an early 2-1 deficit to lead 5-3 at halftime. Overall, the eleven Fleming Island goals were scored by seven different players, including just one from leading scorer and Jacksonville University commit Hayden La Vangie.
“That’s the definition of our team this year,” said Fleming Island head coach Jeff La Vangie. “We don’t have to rely on one guy.”
The critical stretch came after Creekside middie Julian Bonilla tunneled a bounce shot under the pole of Golden Eagles goalie Ryan Kelly to cut the Knights’ deficit to one goal early in the third quarter. From that point to the 8:00 mark of the fourth, Fleming Island seized control with five consecutive goals. Two of Marquis’ tallies came during the run, which was ignited by a Chase Wilson steal that led to a fast break converted by sophomore Jack Hawley. Patrick Schreiber provided the death blow. Reaching high to steal an attempted clearing pass, the freshman stared down Knights goalie Graham Gaver from point blank range and fired a laser just under the bar to Gaver’s stick side, stretching the Golden Eagles’ lead to 9-4. Schreiber had two goals on the night.
“A heady play,” La Vangie said of Schreiber’s steal and conversion. “He keeps getting better every day.”
Senior Christian Schlagbaum led the Knights, now 1-2, with two goals, while Gaver made ten saves.
A change at faceoff was crucial for Fleming Island. The Knights’ Bonilla had controlled eight of nine ball drops in the first half. Jake Funyak took the majority of the second half faceoffs for the Golden Eagles in the second half, and the senior battled his way to three consecutive faceoff wins against Bonilla, allowing Fleming Island’s offense extra opportunities. “Sometimes, when things aren’t going well, you stick some wild cards in there,” explained La Vangie, whose squad improved to 3-0 on the young season.
The Golden Eagles return to action Wednesday at Matanzas, while Creekside awaits a visit from Ponte Vedra on Friday.