Another Overtime Drama for the Saxons in 6-5 Win at Battlefield

Langley's Sean Ahearn Grabs Game-Winner in Second OT

Submitted by Langley Lacrosse:

June 3, 2011: A game-winner in double overtime by attacker Sean Ahearn rescued the Langley Saxons from an early, first-round dismissal from the VHSL boys lacrosse play-off tournament at Battlefield on Friday. Bobcat senior middie Jon Hanlon had pounced with just 14 seconds remaining in regulation to level the score at 5-5 setting the stage for a pulsating, sudden-death conclusion to the quarterfinal battle between the Northwest Region first-seed Battlefield (16-3) and the Northern Region third-seed Langley (17-3).

Head Coach Kevin Marsh’s Bobcats saw their Saxon foe cultivate a 3-0 lead by the latter stages of the first half — and its sustained possession on the verge of yielding more goals — a margin that looked good value for the road win with goals at a premium as halftime was nearing. But the hosts had other ideas and quickly fired in a pair late in the second quarter that surely altered the disposition of the knockout contest when play resumed after the break.

The two sides alternated goals in the second half, starting with an equalizer for Battlefield early in the third quarter and culminating with Hanlon’s game-tier that forced extra time. Goalies at both ends played no small part in the relatively low score-line, with Bobcat senior Connor Mullins and Langley junior Andrew Spivey deploying outstanding blocks, several on point-blank attempts from just outside the crease, during a vigorous second half and the riveting overtime stages. The two netminders were credited with ten and eight saves, respectively.

In addition to Hanlon’s pivotal strike, Battlefield got goals from attackers Cory Schumacher — with the senior delivering a hat-trick — and junior Sam McCain. Saxon senior Jack Sandusky and freshman J. T. Meyer joined Ahearn with single goals from the attack position while sophomore middie Luke Salzer supplied a pair to go with one goal from senior middie Dan Gallucci.

Possession swung both ways with frequent end-to-end build-ups as each side searched for the sudden finish that would secure a berth in a play-off semi-final next Wednesday at Westfield High School in Chantilly. Bobcat supporters thought the spot was theirs early in the first extra period but a promising 6-yard angled shot by Schumacher had settled into the side-netting outside the cage.

Then, late in the second overtime, senior defender Brendan Dwyer initiated a rapid clear with a pass into attack to longpole defender Chandler Suk, who picked out Ahearn near Mullins’ crease. The Langley senior still needed to spin, feint and twist in order to find the opening to dispatch past the stalwart Battlefield goalie and send Head Coach Earl Brewer’s Saxons on to another game by the slimmest of margins against a valiant Bobcat squad.

Langley will face the winner of a June 4 quarterfinal in Lynchburg between Northern Region second-seed Annandale Atoms (15-3) and AA Region first-seed E. C. Glass Hilltoppers (18-1).