LAX LOCK-DOWN: Suffocating ‘D’, timely goals lift ‘Cats over Rocks
Plymouth senior Braeden Milliken defends Salem sophomore Alex Ley.
Fueled by an air-tight defensive effort and a balanced offensive attack, Plymouth’s boys lacrosse team took a huge step toward defending its Plymouth-Canton Educational Park crown Wednesday night with a 7-2 triumph over “host” Salem.
After Salem’s Ben Smigell answered Plymouth’s game-opening goal by Gavin VanSickle with 2:40 left in the first quarter, the Wildcats’ defense — anchored by goalie Griffin VanSickle, and defenseman Brady Peregord, Braeden Milliken and Jake Zale — protected their net like it was Fort Knox.
The Rocks’ second goal — a superb individual effort by Kai Prinzevski with 3:39 remaining in the third period — cut the hosts’ deficit to 5-2 before Plymouth tacked on two insurance goals in the fourth quarter courtesy of Chase Knutsen and Ian Timberlake.
P-CEP title to be decided next week
The Park championship — and potentially the KLAA East Division title — will be decided next week. Plymouth hosts Canton on Monday while the Rocks and Cobras square off Wednesday.
The Wildcats (2-0 in the division and 3-1 overall, according to the KLAA website) would clinch the P-CEP title with a win on Monday.
Plymouth set the tone just over a minute into the game when VanSickle buried a sweet feed from Knutsen.
Smigell’s goal was assisted by Max Kehoe.
‘Cats close first quarter with a bang (actually three)
The game was all but decided in the final 5:41 of the first quarter when Plymouth strung together three net-finders: one from Liam Villalobos, before Kristian Knutsen (from Gavin VanSickle and Drake Conte, respectively) lasered home back-to-backers.
The Wildcats maintained their momentum early in the second frame thanks largely to the perseverance of Chase Knutsen, who secured the deflection of his own shot saved by Salem goalie Cole Payton, and delivered a dime to Gavin VanSickle, who deposited the ball in the mesh to extend the Wildcats’ lead to 5-1.
Chase Knutsen made it 6-2 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. Moments later, the Rocks nearly manufactured their third goal of the night, but Smigell’s close-range shot was turned away by Griffin VanSickle.
Goalies shine
Both teams’ goalies — VanSickle and Payton — rose to the occasion multiple times, stone-walling scoring opportunities from the door-step of the net.
The game was played in near-perfect spring weather — sunny skies and comfortable temperatures — which, coupled with a high-pressure system from the Wildcats’ defense proved to be ideal for the winners.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
