Mids goaltender stands tall in opener
Rees records 12 saves while making his first career start
Coach Joe Amplo could not have asked for a more complete performance out of Navy men’s lacrosse in its season opener.
Amplo wants the Midshipmen to push the ball from defense to offense this season and they did just that in scoring several transition goals.
He showed faith in senior Spencer Rees by naming the Baltimore resident the starting goalie despite limited experience. The Boys’ Latin graduate stood tall between the pipes, giving up just two even-strength goals.
Senior attackman Christian Daniel scored a goal and assisted two others, while Rees recorded 12 saves in his first career start as Navy manhandled Mount St. Mary’s 8-5 on Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. Junior attackman Jack Sweeney scored two extra-man goals for the Midshipmen, who improved to 81-10-1 in home openers.
The second-year coach was also curious as to how much production he’d get from a freshman class that was rated No. 1 nationally by Inside Lacrosse. A pair of plebes — midfielders Max Hewitt and Bryson Rhee — scored goals, while Jackson Bonitz started on close defense and was rock-solid.
The Midshipmen were dominant on the defensive end, ferociously riding the ball while balanced offensively.
Subtract the sloppy ball-handling typically associated with a season opener and a disappointing letup late in the fourth quarter, and there wasn’t much for Amplo to complain about in this one.
“From a team standpoint, in terms of who we want to be and what we want to look like, that was Navy lacrosse what you saw in moments today,” Amplo said. “Guys were running around the field playing hard, playing together and making the game somewhat crazy.”
Senior midfielder Luke Frankeny had a goal and assist to lead Mount St. Mary’s (1-1), which was shut out for 37 ½ minutes to start the contest. Frankeny finally put the Mountaineers on the board with 7 minutes, 34 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
“It’s early, it’s only our second game. We have work to do,” Mount St. Mary’s coach Tom Gravante said. “If this is the best we have, we’re in trouble for the rest of the season. We have to continue to develop.”
Mount St. Mary’s, which beat Delaware, 10-7, Wednesday night, was without starting goalie Dylan Furnback. Gravante, in his 27th season, said the senior was “unavailable” and did not go into specifics. Freshman Griffin McGinley got the start and made eight saves.
“I thought the freshman did a nice job. That was a positive to come out of the situation,” Gravante said.