This article originally appeard on USLIA.com
Article and Photos by Dave Adams
Atlanta, GA: Led by an outstanding defensive effort, # 23 Georgia Tech (5-2) defeated the visiting Connecticut Huskies from the Pioneer Collegiate Lacrosse League by 7 goals in Atlanta. For the second game in a row, the Jackets used an explosive 2nd quarter to secure the victory.
In their first contest of the season, UConn played aggressively in the first quarter. The Huskies matched the Yellow Jackets step for step and the game was tied at 3 goals apiece at the end of the 1st stanza.
UConn was tagged with an illegal stick penalty to open the 2nd quarter. The Huskies would kill most of the 3-minute penalty, before yielding 4 consecutive goals. Penalties plagued the UConn in the second period as the Huskies amassed 5 personal fouls. Georgia Tech led 7-3 at the half.
Both teams exchanged two goals apiece in the 3rd quarter. Tech enjoyed a seemingly comfortable 4-goal lead (9-5) at the end of the third. The 4th quarter belonged to the Georgia Tech as the Yellow Jackets piled on 3 additional goals in the final period.
Junior attackman Gary Bridges (Clements HS; Sugar Land, TX) led the scoring for Georgia Tech with 4 points (3 g, 1 a). University of Connecticut’s Brian Young (St. John’s Prep, Beverly, MA) scored two goals to lead the scoring for the Huskies.
Third year UConn Head Coach Tim Davis discussed his team’s effort following the game and he looked forward to the rest of the Spring Break trip down South. “I think our lack of practicing and playing outside started to show in the rest of the game. Our transition game was terrible and our guys had trouble settling the ball. But overall, I thought our guys played well for the first time out on the field this spring. Nick Borden played a great game in the nets for us. He made some big saves."
"We will see some high quality games down here (on this trip). Hopefully playing this high level of competition will help us out in our regular season back home” said Davis.
Georgia Tech Head Coach Ken Lovic noted of his team’s performance. "It was a good effort by the guys today, especially in the second half. UConn came out strong. It was obvious that this was their first game for the year. Our defense did a very solid job again today."
Georgia Tech faces # 8 Colorado next Saturday in Atlanta. UConn travels to Raleigh to face NC State on Tuesday afternoon before heading to Blacksburg to take on # 15 Virginia Tech.
Box Score:
Georgia Tech: 3 - 4 - 2 - 3 = 12
Connecticut: 3 - 0 - 2 - 0 = 5
Scoring Summary:
Qtr Time of the Goal Team Goal Scorer (Assist if applicable): Game score
1st qtr 9:50 GT Bob Jeager (Sean Dvoren): GT 1-0
1st qtr 7:21 UC Brian Young: Tied 1-1
1st qtr 4:09 UC Brendan Frobel (Brant Goulding): UC 2-1
1st qtr 3:08 GT Gary Bridges: Tied 2-2
1st qtr 2:00 GT Bob Jaeger: GT 3-2
1st qtr 1:22 UC Sean Manley: Tied 3-3
Tied 3-3 at the end of the 1st quarter
2nd qtr 9:30 GT Will Oakley (Gary Bridges): GT 4-3
2nd qtr 4:50 GT Gary Bridges: GT 5-3
2nd qtr 3:19 GT Sean Dvoren (Bob Jaeger): GT 6-3
2nd qtr 2:22 GT Collin Wallace: GT 7-3
GT led 7-3 at the half
3rd qtr 14:40 GT Ryan Hansen (Will Oakley): GT 8-3
3rd qtr 10:30 UC Dan Portoff (Jon Dahlquist): GT 8-4
3rd qrt 9:43 GT Ryan Hansen (Will Oakley): GT 9-4
3rd qtr 6:48 UC BrianYoung: GT 9-5
GT led 9-5 at the end of the third quarter
4th qtr 5:04 GT Collin Wallace: GT 10-5
4th qtr 4:44 GT Craig Kronenthal: GT 11-5
4th qtr 1:45 GT Gary Bridges (Jim Pallota): GT 12-5
GT wins 12-5.
Georgia Tech Scoring:
# 3 Gary Bridges, 3g, 1a
# 12 Will Oakley, 2g, 2a
# 31 Ryan Hansen, 2g
# 2 Collin Wallace, 2g
# 21 Bob Jaeger 1g, 1a
# 25 Sean Dvoren 1g, 1a
# 5 Craig Kronenthal, 1g
# 27 Jim Pallota, 1a
Connecticut Scoring:
# 13 Brian Young, 2g
# 3 Brendan Frobel, 1g
# 27 Sean Manley, 1g
# 4 Dan Portoff, 1g
# 18 Brant Goulding, 1a
# 2 John Dahlquist, 1a
Ground Balls by quarter:
GT: 8 - 8 - 10 - 10 = 36
UC: 8 - 1 - 6 - 7 = 22
Shots by quarter:
GT: 7 - 14 - 11 - 8 = 40
UC: 10 - 2 - 5 - 5 = 22
Saves by quarter:
GT: (Andy Babcock) 3 - 0 - 2 - 2 = 7
UC: (Nick Borden) 2 - 5 - 4 - 1 = 12
Penalties:
GT: 5 penalties / 4:30
UC: 9 penalties / 9:30
Attendance: 100
Weather: 65 degrees. Overcast
Officials: S. Thomas, S. Pieper
