Kern, defense rescue Mids’ sluggish offense
Navy clinches berth in Patriot League tourney after avoiding upset
Midway through the fourth quarter, Navy men’s lacrosse was staring at the possibility of suffering an embarrassing home loss.
Due mostly to shoddy offense, the Midshipmen trailed a struggling team that had managed just two wins all season and was without its head coach. That it was happening at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium only made the sense of disbelief among the announced 1,409 fans all the more palpable.
Goalkeeper Ryan Kern and the defense saved the day as Navy (6-4, 5-1 Patriot League) survived an upset bid by Holy Cross. Midfielder Casey Rees and attackman Chris Hill scored goals just over four minutes apart down the stretch as the Midshipmen escaped with a 5-4 win.
“It probably wasn’t the prettiest game, but at the end of the day I’m really proud of the guys for the way they grinded through this one,” Navy coach Rick Sowell said. “Wins are hard to come by in our sport so it feels good to get another one.”
Kern made 10 saves with the last coming with 1:30 remaining. Freshman close defenseman Andrew McKenna had four caused turnovers to help limit the Crusaders to one goal over the final three quarters.
“This game was about our defense and goaltending without question. You’re not going to win many games scoring just five goals. To be able to do that tells you our defense and goalie must have been doing something pretty darn good,” Sowell said.
Rees scored two goals while junior midfielder Ryan Wade dished off two assists to lead the Navy offense, which got off 36 shots with most going wide, high or right at goalie Jonathan Tesoro (seven saves). The Midshipmen committed 18 turnovers with most of them unforced — usually the result of errant passes.
Holy Cross employs a matchup zone with defenders pressing the ball then sagging back inside. Navy had a similar offensive performance last season in getting upset by Holy Cross, 11-7, in the quarterfinals of the Patriot League tournament.
“For some reason, we struggle playing against that defense of theirs,” Sowell said. “We haven’t figured it out. I’m frustrated with myself that we haven’t come up with a strategy to attack it better.”
Holy Cross played its second straight game without coach Judd Lattimore. Inside Lacrosse reported that Lattimore, in his fourth season, has been placed on administrative leave. Holy Cross has not issued a statement on the matter with a spokesperson simply saying the college is “evaluating a personnel matter and cannot comment on personnel matters.”
Lattimore did not coach Holy Cross last Saturday in its 14-13 victory over Quinnipiac and was not at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Assistants Nico Capron and Peter Burke led the Crusaders, who came out fired up and simply outworked and outhustled the host Midshipmen.
Saturday’s victory combined with Lehigh beating Boston University clinched a berth in the Patriot League tournament for Navy. Holy Cross 3 0 0 4 Navy 1 2 2 5 GOALS: HC – Kodzis 3, Lynskey. N – Rees 2, Torain, Daniel, Hill. ASSISTS: HC – LeBlond, Waldron. N – Wade 2, Plumer, Torain. SAVES: HC – Tesoro 7. N – Kern 10.