Above – Bolles midfielder Gray King shoots against Fleming Island goalie Jason Kunnath Photo by Ray Di Monda
Fleming Island’s Devan Marquis tries to evade a Bulldogs defender
By Mike Zima, Correspondent
Anthony Teixeira’s seven goals highlighted a virtuoso performance by the Bolles offense as the Bulldogs captured the District 5 boys lacrosse championship with a 19-11 victory over visiting Fleming Island Friday night.
“Tex [Teixeira] was effective,” said Bolles coach Brian Silcott of the Cornell commitment. “He does his best when the shots come as a result of running the offense, as a result of ball movement.”
The Bulldogs executed their offense to perfection in sprinting out to a 7-2 first quarter lead. Midfielders Ryan Kirchhoff, who finished with four assists, and Gray King, who had three, displayed patience and vision as the Bulldogs worked the ball around the perimeter before one of them would whip a pass to Teixeira or attack Chris Rogowski at the edge of the crease for an easy putaway. Rogowski, a senior co-captain, scored four goals.
Fleming Island’s Danny Schreiber battles Bolles’ Ben Lindsey for a loose ball
Bulldogs specialist Kyle Johnson contributed heavily to the ambush, winning 10 of 13 faceoffs in the first half to give the hosts continual opportunities. Despite 10 saves by Fleming Island’s Ryan Kelly, Bolles led 12-3 at halftime.
Fleming Island rallied in the third quarter when Johnson was hit with a three-minute, non-releasable penalty for playing with an illegal stick. Goals by Jack Hawley, Danny Schreiber, Hayden La Vangie and Sam Barrington, each of whom had two goals on the evening, brought the Golden Eagles within 15-9 with 7:35 remaining. But Rogowski found the net twice as the Bulldogs went on a four-goal run to put the game away.
The versatile King supplemented his assists with four goals of his own. Midfielder Max Cussen finished with a hat trick for the victors.
Bolles, now 8-5, looks forward to a possible match-up with Ponte Vedra in the next round.
“If we move the ball on offense and communicate on defense, we can win,” said Silcott.
For the Golden Eagles, the game was a difficult finish to what has been the best season in Fleming Island’s brief history.
“The thing that is disappointing is that the score does not tell people the kind of team we are,” said Fleming Island coach Jeff La Vangie, whose charges finish 12-5. “There is already determination in these kids for next year, though.”
