Freeport boys lacrosse can’t pull off another comeback

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, April 4, 2018 | 11:21 PM

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The Freeport boys lacrosse team rallied from multiple-goal deficits twice in West Virginia on Saturday to earn a pair of one-goal victories.

But the Yellowjackets couldn't repeat the feat Wednesday against rival Knoch.

The visiting Knights led by three at halftime and extended the advantage to as many as 10 in the second half in a 15-9 nonsection victory.

“We're not historically a come-from-behind team, so with last weekend, I hoped we might have established a pattern,” Freeport coach Jarvis Lindsay said. “But it just wasn't the case (Wednesday). When we play Knoch, we tend to make too many mistakes. We had a number of defensive breakdowns, probably more than on offense. We did have scoring chances, but their goalie was tough.”

Knoch improved to 2-1, and Freeport slipped to 3-1.

The teams fought through cold temperatures, snow and wind. It was 36 degrees at opening faceoff, and it dropped to 32 by the final horn.

“We played pretty well, a lot better than last game, with some of the basics and getting everyone involved,” Knoch coach Nathan Barthlow said, referring to his team bouncing back after a loss to Butler on March 29.

“It's still fresh and early in the season. We're getting there.”

Freeport played without starting goaltender Nicholas Mattivi, who suffered an elbow injury late in practice Tuesday.

Starting midfielder and regular faceoff man Gabe Brunck replaced him and made 13 saves on 28 shots.

“Not only did we lose our starting goalie, but we lost our center middie because he was in goal. It was like we lost two players with one injury,” Lindsay said. “That was a concern from the start of the game. We struggled getting possessions.”

Freeport generated 25 shots and missed some good scoring opportunities.

Brennon Riley and Garret Schaffhauser scored 39 seconds apart in the first period to give Freeport its only lead at 2-1.

Knoch tied the game early in the second period and scored four straight in a three-minute span late in the half to open a 6-2 lead.

Sean Fennell, who led the Yellowjackets with four goals, scored 1:28 before halftime, but the team was unable to maintain that momentum at the start of the second half.

The Knights scored five of the six goals in the third quarter and held an 11-4 advantage heading into the final 12 minutes.

Knoch extended the lead to 14-4 before Freeport scored five of the final six.

Riley and Schaffhauser finished with two goals each for the Yellowjackets, and Caleb Leyland also had one.

Knoch's Chase Mullen led all scorers with six goals, Matt Goodlin scored five and James Johnston had four.

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

Tags: Freeport, Knoch