St. Andrew’s nets homecoming comeback

Fireworks, amusement rides, and barbecued food. St. Andrew’s pulled out all the stops to create a festive environment on homecoming night, and the school’s boys lacrosse team made sure no one spoiled the party by coming from behind to pick up an exciting victory.

St. Andrew’s rallied with three unanswered goals on Friday to post a 5-4 win over visiting Ponte Vedra in a game played in front of an announced crowd of approximately 3,000 people. The Scots were down 4-2 early in the third quarter, but tallies from Zach Brent and Sean Jordan brought the home side back into it before Eric Stiefel authored the winner.

“[My players] always hang in there,” St. Andrew’s coach Tony Seaman said. “They have got to put me up with me every day in practice, so they always hang in there.”

Stiefel may have made the difference with his decisive goal, but the numerous interventions of goalie Gunnar Schwarz were also vital to St. Andrew’s efforts.

“Schwarz was just great in the goal,” Seaman said when asked what was the key to the game.

The game-winning tally came with 5:55 remaining in the fourth quarter. Cole Hofbauer found Stiefel on the left before the latter Scot launched a hard shot past Sharks goalkeeper Nolan Parlette.

St. Andrew’s (13-3) had pulled level with 13 seconds remaining in third, with Jordan stealing the ball and going it alone on a darting run that ended with his equalizer.

Brent ignited the comeback prior to that with the Scots’ third goal, hitting the net at the 6:50 mark in the same quarter with an impressive solo run that capped a lightning-quick counterattack.

“We had a couple of key opportunities and we put the ball past their goalie, who is very good,” Seaman said.

Ponte Vedra (13-3) had threatened to ruin the homecoming festivities after erasing a 2-0 deficit in the first quarter, taking a 3-2 lead into halftime and a 4-2 advantage with 9:59 to play in the third quarter.

St. Andrew’s refused to lose, however.

“It was a great game, low scoring because of two really outstanding goalies, one on each end,” Seaman said. “When you come out on top of a game like that, you are very happy.”