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Maclay Holds Off Fleming Island In Defensive Struggle 6-3

Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in .
By Mike Zima, Correspondent Maclay Grounds Golden Eagles Dominating at the dot and dredging the alleys, middie Jared Pichard led Tallahassee Maclay to a hard fought 6-3 victory over Fleming Island in the Moe’s Classic Monday at Jacksonville University. On a rare day when it could be said that a player who scored nary a point controlled the game, Pichard won every one of the game’s 13 face offs to deny possession to Fleming Island and further stymied the Golden Eagles’ offense by scooping up five ground balls. The ball seemed to rest in the pocket of a Marauder’s stick the entire time, particularly in the first half when Maclay outshot Fleming Island 21-7 while taking a 4-2 lead. Marauders attack Sam Chase led all players with two goals, converting from close range on assists from Chad Minter and Matt Winegardner. “Fleming had to pay attention to other guys driving,” explained Maclay coach Tyler Hardy. “As a result, the off ball attack found themselves in the right place at the right time, and we were able to get some easy goals.”   Fleming Island 2016 Maclay-Scwarz 2016               One player who did not have it easy was Fleming Island goaltender Ryan Kelly, who was under constant fire. Like a Jedi blocking a photon attack, the senior kept the Golden Eagles within striking distance with 16 saves. “Kelly did a fantastic job,” said Hardy. Jack Hawley, Danny Schreiber and Kirby Gracia scored for Fleming Island, with Gracia’s tally coming after a deft pass from the exterior to the crease by middie Devan Marquis. Fleming Island, now 2-2, travels to Ponte Vedra Wednesday for their first game in the newly aligned District 8. Maclay, undefeated in two games, also plays Ponte Vedra in their next game, hosting the Sharks Friday night. Photo 1: Fleming Island’s Ryan Kelly makes one of 16 saves while teammates Max Michaels (4) and Andy Zima (18) look on. Photo by Ray DiMonda. Photo 2: Tallahassee Maclay’s Garritt Schwarz leans into the box against Fleming Island’s Will Yarbrough during Monday’s action. Photo by Ray DiMonda.