[Last edited: 3:10 p.m., March 8, 2013]
HAVERFORD, Pa. – Junior Christian Clay scored four goals while freshman goalie Eric Caliendo came up with 14 saves Thursday evening in Haverford College's, 14-8, non-conference men's lacrosse victory over visiting York (Pa.) College at chilly Swan Field.
With the occasional snow flurry falling to the turf and a wind chill pushing the 'feels like' into the low-30s, Haverford (1-2) ignored the elements and earned its first win of the season while handing the Spartans (3-1) their first loss.
Scott Chanelli picked up a loose ball in the midfield on the opening face-off and raced down field into the York defensive end where the senior defender ripped a shot into the top, right corner of the cage, providing Haverford with the opening lead just 10 seconds into the contest.
York netted the equalizer five minutes later but a 5-0 run by the Fords, spanning the end of the first and start of the second periods, gave Haverford control in a game during which it would never trail.
After goals from Jack Bodine and Dan LoSardo pushed the Fords ahead 3-1, Clay notched the first of his four goals before Bodine added another for a 5-1 advantage. Jake Maldonado finished off the five-goal spurt at the 8:57 mark of the second with his fourth goal of the season.
Three unanswered goals by the Spartans allowed the visitors to claw back within two at 6-4, but a four-goal outburst at the end of the second and beginning of the third period effectively iced the game for Haverford.
Despite the temperature, Haverford experienced a hot night offensively even getting one goal, another marker from Maldanodo, in the final seconds of the third period when he beat the horn by three seconds as the Fords were closing out the quarter.
Clay, LoSardo (three goals), Bodine, Maldonado and Henry Millson, each with two goals, provided the pop, but Caliendo provided the punch, several times coming up with saves from point blank range to deal body blows to the Spartans' offensive troubles.
Haverford out scored York 3-2 in the third period but were out shot by a 12-5 margin. Caliendo was one of the main reasons why the Spartans were unable to cut into the advantage as the newcomer posted five of his 14 saves during that 15 minute span.
Not expected to add offensive prowess, in spite of netting the game's opening goal, Chanelli did more than his part on defense coming up with a game-high 15 ground balls along with one caused turnover. Chanelli also came away with three faceoff wins of his four opportunities at the dot.
Caliendo, Chanelli, Sage Disch, Sommer Stein and Will Weissberg were among a strong defensive core on a night that held York scoreless on their five extra-man opportunities. In contrast, Haverford converted two if its three extra-man chances on the cold and blustery night.
Clay's four-goal night improved his season total to nine, already half way to his season total of 18 tallies last spring.
Haverford will try to gain traction and keep the momentum rolling into its next game when 11th-ranked Denison University comes to Swan Field for a Saturday match-up at 3:30 p.m.