Sharks Win At Home And In Baltimore

GC Sharks before game vs. Crabs

The Sharks emerged victorious from a grueling 3 game tour over the Memorial Day Weekend in record heat, winning each of the games played over a 4 day period.

The weekend began on Thursday night at CW Post with a 12-5 Sharks' victory. Sean Mahon stormed the cage with 4 goals in the first quarter. Also scoring w/ goals and/or assists were Tom Gordon, Liam Kennedy (3), Devin Dwyer (5A), Matt Clarkson (2), Matt Confort (2) and Charlie Garcia. Gordon, Mahon, Jahelka and Fischer snapped up over 25 ground balls with more key ground balls coming from Clarkson, Dwyer, Savage, Pat Berkery and JP Burnside.

On Friday morning, the team traveled by bus south to Baltimore, a virtual incubator for college lax players, to play the Greene Turtle Travel U15 Lax Club and the U15 Maryland Crabs.

The Sharks faced off against GT on Saturday at 8:30AM on the turf field at St. Paul's High School, a private prep school situated on a college-like campus on a hill overlooking downtown Baltimore. The Sharks jumped to an early lead on goals by Dwyer, Mahon, Clarkson and Coleman (2) with assists from each other and Gordon. In the meantime, Shark defenders shut down GT with a resulting 5-0 halftime Sharks' lead.

Coach Dougherty splashes cold water on fire-(Thornton 3G, 1A vs. Crabs)

By the third quarter, the heat index had soared to record highs for that date. GT cranked the heat up on the Sharks even more by playing an inspired 3rd quarter while also shutting down the Sharks' offense. By the start of the final quarter, GT had 5 unanswered goals and the game was tied at 5. Thornton responded with a goal on the run unassisted early in the 4th quarter, which proved to be the game-winner. The remainder of the game was a battle for possession which the Sharks won, thanks to good defense, rides and solid ball control, especially in the box in the final 2 minutes of the game.

After the game, the team attended the NCAA semi-final game between Duke and Cornell and prepared for their Sunday match-up against the Maryland Crabs. The Crabs are an elite, invitation only team consisting of players from the Baltimore greater metro area. Earlier in the season, the Sharks barely defeated Cockeysville and many of those players also play for the Crabs. The Sharks were therefore expecting an even greater challenge from the Crabs.

Mahon crashes cage with a goal vs. Crabs

The Crabs jumped to a 3 goal lead within the first 2 minutes of play. The possibility of back to back Sharks victories in Baltimore suddenly seemed unlikely. But the defense led by goalie, Dan Marino regrouped, locked in, and responded by allowing only 2 more goals for the remainder of the game.

Sharks goals started with a perfect lead pass on the run by Thornton to Gordon who charged down the middle of the Crabs defenders, rolled and ripped one into the back of the cage to put the Sharks on the scoreboard. Later, Coleman slipped in with a one handed shot on the crease and another, minutes later, to tie the game. Gordon secured a lead for the Sharks on another assist from Thornton with 11 seconds remaining to give the Sharks a 4-3 halftime lead.

Irwin, Cullen, Thornton, Kennedy, Stone, Fallon, Mahon, Garcia, Confort and Marino resume play

The third quarter was a chess match as the teams battled for the lead. The Crabs tied the game with 8 minutes to go. Minutes later, Gordon grabbed the lead on an assist from Mahon. But, the Crabs, demonstrating championship caliber, refused to quit in the heat, and again responded 40 seconds later with a goal to re-tie the game at 5 at the end of the third.

Early in the fourth, Thornton scored on an assist from Coleman for the lead. Within minutes Mahon caught his defender looking at a flag thrown on a slash drawn by Dwyer and Mahon cut hard in front of the crease into a perfect pass by Dwyer to score the Sharks' 7th goal. A final goal was scored by Thornton from Coleman with 6 minutes to play in the game. Thereafter, the Sharks were able to preserve the narrow 3 goal lead, although they had to rely on some great saves, footwork and clears by goalie, Dan Marino. Matt Clarkson, Devin Dwyer and Brian Coleman ate up the final minutes in the box despite some blistering attacks by Crab double-team effort. In the end, the Sharks enjoyed an 8-5 victory over the Maryland Crabs and celebrated back-to back victories over 2 excellent Baltimore Teams.

Triple Shark attack by E. Berkery, Adams & Fischer

On June 2nd, the Sharks close the season with a 1PM game at CW Post against the U-15 Team Long Island. On Sunday June 3rd they face New Canaan in USMMA league play at 9AM.

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