
Patient Fleming Island Tops Palm Coast Matanzas
Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in Uncategorized.
Above: Fleming Island’s Patrick Schreiber (5), shown here in action earlier this season, had four goals and three assists to lead the Golden Eagles. Photo by Ray DiMonda.
By Mike Zima, Correspondent
Attack Patrick Schreiber and middie Devan Marquis scored four goals apiece as host Fleming Island ran away from Palm Coast Matanzas 16-12 in FHSAA action Thursday night.
Schreiber opened the scoring off a feed from Jack Hawley and had a hat trick in the first half as the Golden Eagles gradually seized control, carrying an 8-4 lead into intermission. The sophomore also led all players with three assists, two to his brother Danny Schreiber on the opposite side of the crease.
The Pirates outshot Fleming Island 38-36, but most of Matanzas’ volleys were fired from long distance, while the Golden Eagles’ marksmen launched from just outside the crease. Seven of Fleming Island’s first ten goals came courtesy of assists as the hosts followed Coach John Hawley’s possession-oriented game plan.
“We were trying to have two-minute possessions where we were taking only quality shots,” explained John Hawley after the game. “The shooter should be two passes removed away from the dodger, and we executed that well in the first three quarters.”
While Schreiber benefitted from his teammates’ unselfish play, Marquis did most of his work solo. His second half hat trick included a goal after being turned 360 degrees by a Pirates defender’s high stick and a conversion of a rebound of his own shot. The senior gave the Golden Eagles a 15-8 lead with 5:05 remaining on a drive that included three shot fakes.
Matanzas cut their deficit to three with a late four-goal run. Andrew McIntyre, who led the Pirates with three goals, and James Mayer, who scored a pair, each tallied once during the rally. The fast-paced, physical game remained in doubt until Jack Hawley beat his defender on a drive from behind the goal and bounced a shot past Matanzas goalie Johnny Sitarik for the final margin.
Goaltenders Jason Kunath and Ryan Kelly combined for twelve saves for Fleming Island, which improves to 6-7. The Golden Eagles travel to Pedro Menendez Tuesday night.
The Pirates, now 7-5, received two goals and two assists from Gunner Parson. Matanzas hosts Gainesville High Saturday.