Sharks Defeat Cockeysville & Rage

Sean Mahon wrecks havoc in crease w/goal upper left

On Saturday, the Sharks faced off for the first time against an elite travel team from Cockeysville, Maryland at USMMA's Tomb Field.

Cockeysville owns a rich and winning tradition in US lax history, claiming credit for more DI, DII and DIII All-Americans than any other recreation program in the nation. Their program is also credited with more Maryland state championships than their 2 closest competitors combined.

The intensity of the game suggested that the final minute started with the opening face-off. The teams played to a first quarter draw, 3-3 with Sharks scoring by attackmen Clarkson, Dwyer and Coleman (w/assists from each other). At the half, Cockeysville was stunned to find itself down 6-5. The fierce Shark's defense (Goalies John Bock, Dan Marino & longpolers Jahelka, Fischer, Adams & Porter) kept the southerners to just 2 second period goals, and the Sharks began to control face-offs and ground balls with teamwork from Tom Gordon & Sean Mahon in the center and Shane Thornton, Matt Confort, Rob Savage and Pat Berkery and Stephen Jahelka and Brian Fischer on the wings. Third period scoring for the Sharks came from Gordon (2 from Coleman & Mahon) and Clarkson to give the Sharks a slim halftime lead. Maryland stormed back in the third with a powerful offensive surge on three unanswered goals to take an 8-6 lead.

Eugene Berkery & Andre Stone keep Rage under control

Going into the 4th, the Sharks were down by 2 against a team that claimed at the outset to "own" the fourth period. The Sharks won the first face off and scored on a goal by Dwyer from Clarkson. Meanwhile, Shark defenders dissected the potent offense of the Maryland team and proceeded to hold them scoreless. The come from behind was complete on game tying goal by Coleman from Dwyer in the final minutes of the game. The game ended with a scrum of swarming Maryland players in front of Bock, a flurry of sticks and checks with Jahelka kicking the ball clear at the horn.

After a brief rest, Sean Mahon won the opening face-off in sudden death overtime and retreated from a triple team threat into the Sharks zone, found Brian Porter who passed forward to Gordon. The ball cycled around the cage and back to Gordon, who beat his man and ripped a shot through the heart of the Maryland defense into the back of the net for the win.

Tom Gordon with game winner vs. Md.

On Sunday, the Sharks resumed play at USMMA in a game against the Rage, which the Sharks won, 7-0 on goals by Dwyer, Coleman, Clarkson (2), Thornton (2) and Liam Kennedy. Again Shark defense shined, with goalies Bock & Marino well protected by the long poles of Jahelka, Fischer, Porter, Adams, E. Berkery, & Stone. The Shark middies (Gordon, Thornton, Savage, Mahon, Confort, P. Berkery, Cullen & Irwin) controlled the face-offs and ground balls in the middle of the field. Shark attackmen (Coleman, Clarkson, Dwyer, Garcia, Kennedy, Lofrese and Fallon) had the cage of the Rage well surrounded.

The next Sharks game is at Rutgers University on May 5th at 10AM. The Sharks will be facing off against a travel team from Westfield, New Jersey. The next league game is Sunday May 6th 9:00AM vs. Manhasset Tribe @ USMMA.

Brian Coleman scores while hanging onto the crease line vs Md

For more information, details, field locations and great lax photos please visit our website at www.GCSharks.com.