After Defeating Pelham, John Jay has Strong Showing in Loss to Defending State Champs

John Jay opened the season on a good note at home versus Pelham on Tuesday, March 28. An 8-4 victory, the boys then faced a pretty tall order in their Friday night match up. The defending state champs from Manhassett brought their swag to Contest Field and pretty much left with it intact in an 11-5 victory. But John Jay still gained in the loss, and Andrew Kiefer gave voice to the sentiment.

“It’s fun to play the best of the best,” said the junior. “That’s how you get better.”

Manhassett didn’t wait long to let everyone know who was who either. The Indians won the draw, and making a juke through the defense, Jack Petersen scored on the first shot on goal.

Obviously not a great save percentage to start for Blake O’Callaghan but Manhassett would soon learn what they were actually up against. After winning the next draw, Petersen twice got the ball in front. The John Jay goalie got a stick on the first shot and snared the second with his catcher.

At the same time, the goalie was no pushover. The ball coming loose above the crease, O’Callaghan put his body on the fray of defenders and secured the sphere.

Unfortunately, John Jay turned the ball over, and the juggernaut had its way. Liam Connor took a pass from behind, and easily bounced the ball past O’Callaghan.

The goalie was undeterred, though, and after making an unbelievable one bounce, point blank save, he finally gave John Jay the chance to set up. Kyle Petschek set himself up in prime position, but the post got the better of his shot at 4:43.

A penalty still drawn, the Wolves could not capitalize, and a turnover sent the ball the other way. No surprise, Manhassett was greeted by another great stick save, and the Indians opted to regroup by calling for time.

Unfortunately, the pause button definitely worked. Matt Cargiulo found just enough space among the morass, and sidearmed the ball into the net.

A 3-0 score with 1:28 left in the first, John Jay was still in no mood to surrender. No such luck, the Wolves ended up in the clink anyway. Kiefer’s sidearm clanked off the metal with 42 seconds remaining in the first, and the score remained unchanged.

Of course, Manhassett was not impressed, and only twelve seconds into the second, Cal Girard gave the visitors a 4-0 lead.

Even so, John Jay took the next draw, and the Wolves showed they could play-make too. From the left of the goal, Craig Galea placed the ball on Luca Duva’s stick in front, but the attacker’s shot went just wide.

Then the home team found out they were facing a pretty good goalie too. Chris DiChiara swung from the right, and Matthew Im gobbled the ball up on the bounce.

He was there again when Petschek wound up on the right, but so was O’Callaghan on his turn. Petersen made the rush, and the Wolf’s downward twirl did more than just stymy the Indian again. “I think he’s a great young man, and as a goalie, he has so much mental toughness,” said Kiefer.

So no reason offense can’t be part of O’Callaghan’s game. The freshman connected with Ben Gold past midfield, and Manhassett giving chase, Luca Duva was open in the middle. He let fly, and John Jay was on the board at 4:31.

A final point blank save by O’Callaghan preserved the three goal difference, and the same went as Danny Kolan was denied on the wrap-around to start the third.

Inevitably, all the bend had to give way to break. Donald Mack scored at 10:25, and Petersen extended to 6-1 with 8:04.

So mostly in the bag at this point, the teams traded goals with Kiefer getting two, and Brendan Corelli and Petschek getting one each.

Of course, O’Callaghan was the star, and going forward, he’s thinking big. “You can expect a sectional chip,” the net minder asserted.

Maybe a little presumptuous, but a team riding a hot goalie certainly isn’t, and against the best, the second year varsity player showed that he could just be the guy.