Westport Senior Blue Moves to 5-3 Record

Westport Senior Blue, a lacrosse team of the Westport PAL league, has improved to a 5-3 record.

Here's a roundup of the latest games with commentary from Coach Shaun McGowan.

Game 8: Westport Senior Blue vs. Darien 8B

The Westport Senior Blue snapped their losing streak in impressive fashion moving to 5-3 on the year after a thrilling come-from-behind victory over perennial powerhouse Darien by the final score of 9-8.  Despite coming out of the blocks slow in the first quarter and falling behind 4-1, Westport hung in and battled even with Darien in the second quarter and third quarter until an eventual offensive explosion made possible by a stifling Westport defensive effort in the final quarter where Westport outscored the Blue Wave 4-0.  In a true battle of wills, Westport held a slight edge in the face-off (won 9 of 17) and held even at ground balls and shots with their Darien counterparts. 

Westport's suffocating defensive effort was led by the penalty killing foursome of Ben Bjornsen, Harrison Feldman, Austin Nicklas, and Alec Solder, who had one of the prettiest clears of the season with a full speed sprint along the Westport sideline before hitting Patrick Lesch perfectly in stride with a frozen rope clearing pass. 

Cole Gendels did a perfect impression of a brick wall in the fourth quarter, turning away every shot he faced and put the ball on the money several times to ignite Westport's transition game.  Offensively, Westport was led on the attack side with a hat trick by Teddy Long who, despite being the first player in the history of the sport to accumulate three individual slashing penalties on one play (another "hat trick" of sorts I suppose…) gave his defenseman fits (and several bruises) throughout the day.  Teddy's fellow attackmen Peter Blevins, Chris Copeland, and Andres Acevedo kept the pressure on the Darien D as well and were instrumental in turning the tide against the Blue Wave.

Midfielder Will "Don't Call Me Just a Defensive Middie" Johnson continued his hot shooting streak and Patrick "The One Man Fast Break" Lesch announced his presence with authority with his first goal of the year - a net burning high to high rocket off the heals of a tremendous clear. 

Jake Korus and Will Halper continued their great team play with very timely assists.  In what was a complete team effort on both ends of the field, Jon Pacilio and Nick Legorrec's tenacious midfield defense between the lines and outstanding offensive possessions and decisions by Liam Flaherty, James Mulliken, Mark Goetzmann, Ian Grimes, and Jackson Ullman wore down the Darien squad and helped Westport limit their own turnovers to its lowest total (10) of the season. 

Box Score: Goals: Long 3; Johnson 2; Acevedo; Blevins; Copeland; Lesch Assists: Blevins 2; Halper; Korus; Lesch Ground Balls: Korus 10; Bjornson; Blevins; Copeland; Feldman; Johnson; Lesch; Pacilio

Game 7: Ridgefield 8B Orange vs. Westport Senior Blue - May 22

Westport was led defensively by Ben Bjornsen, Harrison Feldman, Austin Nicklas, newcomer Henri Rizack, and Alec Solder in front of goalie Cole Gendels who finished the day with seven saves.  Offensively, Westport was led by multiple point outings by attackmen Chris Copeland, Teddy Long, and Peter Blevins, and midfielders Will Johnson and Jake Korus. 

Midfielder Liam Flaherty continued his unselfish offensive play as well, contributing a key assist.  Westport's clearing game continued to thrive with midfielders Patrick Lesch and Jon Pacilio making great decisions in transition and enabling Westport to get some key possessions throughout the contest.

Box Score: Goals: Johnson 3; Long 3; Blevins 2; Copeland 2; Flaherty; Korus Assists: Copeland 2; Blevins; Korus; Long Ground Balls: Korus 14; Lesch 3; Halper 2; Blevins; Feldman; Flaherty; Johnson

Game 6: Amity Senior Black vs. Westport Senior Blue - May 20

The Westport Senior Blue slid to 4-2 despite an admirable effort against a very strong Amity Senior Black squad (12-1 as of press time) by the score of 9-4.  In a game where statistical advantages typically translate into a winning outcome, Westport outshot Amity 21-16, won 10 of 16 face-offs, won the ground ball war 21-6, and had a significant inspirational advantage with the ever-classy Timmy Lahiff joining his teammates on the sidelines despite suffering a season ending ankle injury. 

Box Score:

Goals: Long 2; Acevedo; Copeland

Assists: Blevins; Lesch

Ground Balls: Korus 9; Feldman 3; Grimes 3; Johnson 2; Copeland; Flaherty; Lesch; Long; Mulliken

Game 5: Westport Senior Blue vs. Weston U-15 Senior Blue - May 18

The Westport Senior Blue suffered their first loss of the season falling to 4-1 by the score of 8-2 against a strong Weston squad (7-0 as of press time) on an unseasonably cold and rainy night.  Despite 40 minutes of strong effort and notable contributions between the lines in the clearing game by midfielders Patrick "The Flash" Lesch, Will Johnson, James Mulliken, and Nick Legorrec, the Westport offense was unable to convert at its usual effective rate for most of the night.  In a game where weather conditions greatly impacted the catching and throwing of both squads, Westport found themselves in an early hole and unable to catch up in the final quarters.

Game 4: Greenwich Senior 7/8 White vs. Westport Senior Blue - May 8

The Westport Senior Blue continued their winning ways improving to a 4-0 record this season with a total team effort resulting in a statement win over the Greenwich Senior 7/8 White team by the final score of 10-2. Westport (finally!) jumped out to an early lead and never looked back.  Westport saw another great defensive effort by Cole "The One Man Clear" Gendels in net who finished the day with an impressive 80 percent save percentage.  The full strength defense of Ben Bjornson, Harrison Feldman, Austin Nicklas, Alec Solder, and Durim Trdevaj  held  Greenwich to just 12 shots on goal and fought off 7 of 8 Greenwich man-up opportunities.  The offense saw major contributions from every short stick on the roster highlighted by a brilliant lefty goal from midfielder Will Johnson and an outstanding cutting goal and pinpoint-accuracy assist from midfielder Liam Flaherty.  

Midfielder Jake Korus (2 g, 1 a) continued to own the face-off winning  7  of   8 draws and adding nine ground balls to his already staggering totals on the season. Midfielders Mark Goetzmann, Will Halper, Timmy Lahiff, and James Mulliken kept Westport's offense running smoothly for four solid quarters  and Jon Pacilio and Nick Legorrec went above and beyond the call of duty showing their versatility on the man-down unit, on the wings of face-offs, offensively, defensively and everywhere in between. 

Westport's attack of Andres Acevedo, Peter Blevins, Chris Copeland, Ian Grimes, Teddy Long, and Jackson Ullman confounded Greenwich's defense all day with some great possessions, ball movement, and relentless rides.    

Game 3: Norwalk Senior White vs. Westport Senior Blue - May 6

The Westport Senior Blue moved to an impressive 3-0 record to start the season with a gritty 7-6 win over the Norwalk Senior White team.  Despite trailing by 1 for most of the game, Westport was able to use outstanding hustle and determination to carry them to victory in a game where their usually finely-tuned stick skills were absent for stretches at a time (17 unforced turnovers).  Westport was led on the defensive side of the ball by another strong performance by Cole Gendels in net who finished the day with eight saves.  The defense of Ben Bjornson, Harrison Feldman, Austin Nicklas, and Alec Solder held Norwalk to a mere 15 shots on goal and provided the Westport offense with the opportunity to come from behind and finish the contest on a winning note.  

The offensive side of the ball was highlighted with another solid performance by midfielder/attackman Peter Blevins and midfielder Jake Korus got his first goals of the season and continued his tremendous all around play winning 14 of 16 face-offs and collecting a season high 16 ground balls.  Of note was attackman Chris Copeland's first dodging goal of the year following off-season surgery.  Chris, despite only becoming medically cleared the week before Westport's first game had shown enough great play and leadership in practice to be elected  by his teammates as one of the team's four captains for this season.  Midfielders Liam Flaherty, Will Halper, Will Johnson, and Jon Pacilio led the Westport transition game and key contributions on attack by Ian Grimes, Teddy Long, and Jackson Ullman, particularly in the riding game, enabled Westport to extend their possessions throughout the contest.

Box Score:

Goals: Blevins 2; Korus 2; Long 2; Copeland

Assists: Blevins; Korus 

Ground Balls: Korus 16; Blevins 3; Johnson 3; Flaherty 2; Bjornson; Copeland; Feldman;Grimes; Lahiff; Legorrec; Long; Pacilio  

Game 2: Westport Senior Blue vs. ELI Senior A

The Westport Senior Blue continued their winning ways this past Saturday improving to 2-0 with a 9-8 shootout win over the Eli Senior A team.  Again, after overcoming a slow start, Westport was able to get back into the game with efficient possessions and clutch shooting by the offense led by attackman Teddy Long and midfielder/attackman Peter Blevins.  Westport's defensive unit of Ben Bjornsen, Durim Trdevaj, Harrison Feldman, and the "orthodontically-enhanced" Austin Nicklas did a solid job of limiting Eli to outside shots, and Cole Gendels continued his strong play in net, turning away nine of the 17 shots he faced. 

The turning point came at the start of the second half with Westport showing off their depth at attack with the unit of Andres Acevedo, Ian Grimes, and Jackson Ullman providing an immediate spark by generating a quick 2 goals and enabling Westport to extend their lead.  Key clears by Will Johnson, Jonathan Pacilio, and James Mulliken facilitated Westport's transition game and once again, Jake Korus was a force to be reckoned with at the face-off, winning more than 70 percent of his draws and vaccuuming up 12 ground balls.  As has been an integral part of their early season success, Westport continued to share the ball and play unselfishly with all nine goals in this contest being assisted.   

Box Score:

Goals: Long 5; Blevins 2; Acevedo; Flaherty

Assists: Blevins 3; Korus 2; Acevedo; Copeland; Halper; Long

Ground Balls: Korus 12; Mulliken 4; Feldman 2; Johnson 2; Long 2; Trdevaj 2; Blevins; Copeland; Goetzmann; Grimes; Lahiff; Pacilio  

Game 1: Wakeman Senior Green vs. Westport Senior Blue - April 28

After overcoming some initial scheduling adversity, the Westport Senior Blue started their 2010 regular season off on the right foot with a decisive 9-1 victory over Wakeman.  Despite a slow start, Westport was able to rebound nicely thanks to very strong performances on the defensive end anchored by Cole Gendels in net, who stopped 7 of 8 shots on goal that he faced.   Westport's four-headed monster of long poles Ben Bjornson, Durim Trdevaj, Harrison Feldman, and Alec Solder in front of Cole did a great job of keeping Wakeman off the board and allowed the offense to rattle off the next and final nine goals of the contest, led by attackman Teddy Long's hat trick and midfielder Jake Korus' three assists.  A true team victory, Westport had 7 of the 9 goals assisted and saw nine different players record at least one point.  Westport was led in the trenches by Will Johnson who finished the day with 7 gbs and Jake Korus who dominated the face-off.

Box Score: