By Marc Thaler
Staff Writer

With John Stark leading in the fourth quarter against Trinity, 10-8, the Generals. Bobby Cann (right) stayed one step ahead of the Pioneers. captain, Pat Clancy. JS went on to win, 12-9, for its first Division III victory of the season, while THS suffered its fourth setback. (Marc Thaler Photo)

WEARE - During a timeout midway through the final frame of John Stark's first Division III boys lacrosse win of 2005, Zach Lawson could be heard clear across the field.

"I'm so proud of you guys right now," the JS coach told his team, who held an 11-8 lead against visiting Trinity of Manchester with 6:08 to play on Friday, April 29. "This is great. You should be proud of yourselves."

And when those last sixplus minutes drained from the game clock, the Generals had a tremendous 12-9 triumph to celebrate.

Through much of the first half against the Pioneers, however, the same scenario that plagued Stark in its four previous losses unfolded again.

"Usually we're down by two or three goals right in the beginning of the game," Lawson said.

The Generals surrendered four straight scores to the Pioneers in the second quarter. As a result, what was a slim 2-1 deficit ballooned into a 6-1 hole with 4:26 remaining in the half.

On the verge of being blown out by their guests, the locals - led by senior Bobby Cann's three first-half tallies - began to dig themselves out of their five-goal ditch.

"They woke up," Lawson said. "They finally woke up and decided to play the way we.ve been teaching them all season, which is great." Cann and senior Seamus Gleason combined to fire three rockets past Trinity's goalie in the final 3:13, entering intermission within striking distance, down 6-4.

"Every sport is a game of momentum. Kids get in the zone, that sort of thing," Lawson said. "I think what really did it was, right at the half, I told them to basically go out there, get a couple of goals and keep the momentum going. Right off the transition, that's exactly what they did and they took it away from there."

Stark sophomore Jake Philibert and senior Andy Cloutier each stuck a shot in the back of Trinity's net before the third quarter was two minutes old, tying the contest, 6-6.

After falling behind 8-7, Stark recorded the equalizer off the stick of senior Erik Anderson.

Entering the fourth with the game deadlocked, 8-8, the Generals took over by taking advantage of Trinity's various mental miscues.

Cloutier sandwiched two more scores around a goal by senior Brent Doscher. With seven seconds left, Philibert's second tally provided the finishing touches.

In addition to Stark's ability to move the ball and compile 27 shots on goal, Lawson said his senior defenders - Richie Koeblin, Greg Pike and Pat Reed - were exceptional.

The trio set the tone for Stark's physical play, the coach added, which increased the entire squad's intensity.

"We had our defense get fired up, our offense was seeing the openings," Lawson said. "We were winning on transitions. We were getting fast breaks. It was a beautiful thing."

Along with Lawson, cocoach Mark Schaub and senior team manager Meredith Gourley, the complete .05 JS boys varsity lax team includes seniors Anderson, Cann, Adam Carparelli, Cloutier, Doscher, Gleason, Michael Josefiak, Koeblin, Joe Petrick, Pike and Reed; juniors Kyle Anderson and Ross Connor; sophomores Zintis Jones, Joe Magdizars, Austin Nevins and Philibert; plus freshmen Craig Salmon.

"Attitude, transition, communication - that's what won the game," said the coach. "I told (the players) four weeks ago when we started the season, 'If there's any game (in which) we fulfilled all three of those goals, then we won, regardless of the score.' But if they can do those three things, they'll win games. The opponent doesn't matter."