Offensive Explosion Launched By Shark Defense

Fallon & Kennedy combine for goal

Over the weekend, Shark defense allowed only 4 goals over 2 games against Duxbury and Cold Spring Harbor to set the stage for Shark victories in which they outscored their opponents by 10 in back to back games.

Stephen Jahelka & Brian Fischer led the team in forcing turnovers and scooping ground balls and in an overall inspired defensive effort in front of Shark goalies, John Bock & Dan Marino. Bock, Marino, Jahelka & Fischer were assisted in the successful bid to dismantle the high scoring CSH offense by fellow long-polers, Tom Adams, JP Burnside, Brian Porter, Eugene Berkery and Andre Stone. Combined, over both games, all Shark defenders scooped up over 25 ground balls, forced numerous turnovers and virtually shut down the opposition.

On top of the huge defensive effort, superb clears by Shark long-polers allowed Middies Tom Gordon, Shane Thornton, Rob Savage, Sean Mahon, Matt Confort, Pat Berkery, Brendan Cullen and Kyle Irwin to concentrate on the land between the cages. They controlled the midfield in the air and on the ground, forcing turnovers and battling for the ground balls. Mahon, Gordon and Brian Coleman controlled the face-off circle, winning 77% of the face-offs in the game against CSH.

Coleman scores over the top

On Saturday, Duxbury scored first, but quickly felt the bite of the Shark attack from the combined efforts of Brian Coleman, Devin Dwyer, Matt Clarkson, Charlie Garcia, Liam Kennedy and John Fallon. Coleman stung Duxbury by winning every man to man situation behind the net to chalk up 5 unassisted goals. Shane Thornton also beat his man to score 3 times in the game.

Sunday, the battle against CSH was a different game. Almost every goal was assisted, with scoring by Clarkson (2), Coleman, (1G,2A) Dwyer (1G,5A), Gordon (3), Thornton (2A), Savage (1G, 1A), Mahon (2G), Kennedy and Fallon. The defensive effort and clearing ability was highlighted by a superb clear that turned into a fast break with an assist by Jahelka.

On Thursday, May 24 @6PM, the Sharks faced the Titans of Greenwich for the final career match-up between these teams at CW Post. Results will be posted next week.

Confort with diving stick check to stop fast break

This morning, the Sharks traveled to Baltimore. They will play Green Turtle Lacrosse Club on Saturday at 8:30 AM on St. Paul's HS Turf Field, and will attend the NCAA Tournament for the Duke-Cornell game with dinner afterwards. Sunday features a game against the elite Cockeysville Crabs Travel Team before returning to New York to close out the Memorial Day weekend. On June 2nd, the Sharks close the season with a 1PM game at CW Post against the U-15 team Long Island and on Sunday face New Canaan at USMMA at 9AM.

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

Jahelka forces Wallace down & shot wide Jahelka, Marino & Fischer contain Moriarity Adams & Eugene Berkery are all business Clarkson finds open space