MSHLAX 5th Grade Weekend Recap

K Grammaticas
MSHLAX Fifth Grade Recap Berkeley Heights, Cranford, and Scotch Plains

The fifth grade MSHLAX team completed their weekend with three safe wins to bring their record to 6-3. The Millers were able to defeat Berkeley Heights, Cranford, and Scotch Plains as they head into this week’s more competitive matches against Somerset Hills and Madison.

On Tuesday (4/23/19) the 5th graders traveled to Berkeley Heights where the depth of the Millers allowed a fairly easy 12-3 victory over their opponent. The standout for the game was rookie goalie Timothy Chinchilla, who allowed only 3 goals and had an impressive 10 saves over the course of the game.
“The Berkeley Heights game was a solid outing for our newer and developing players,” remarked Coach Justice. The depth of the team was apparent as the scoring and defensive plays were spread out across the boys. “As I often say, we are only as good as our least skilled player. Lacrosse is an exhausting sport- being deep in talent is the key to success.”

The boys continued their success against Cranford on Saturday, although Coach Justice was not particularly happy about the team’s level of play despite the 7-5 victory. Describing the play as filled with “sloppy transitions” and “rushed offense” Justice sees consistency as something the boys are struggling with in terms of their identity as a team. Defense was held by the team’s diligent force of JP Maggio and Wes Dieckman who were able to create turnovers to help their midfield and offensive lines. All but one of the goals was assisted in the game, which marks particular efforts by team members Bruno Pastore, Parker Justice, Nathan Scheck, Jack Gukassey and Daniel Licciardi. Midfielder Leo Cantor also helped with possession and contributed with two faceoff wins.

As part of their mid season “identity crisis", as Justice describes it, the 5th grade victory over Scotch Plains on Sunday was much cleaner. Justice compared the two games by saying the difference was that “against Scotch Plains we looked like our experienced selves: patient and skilled on offense and a virtual steel dome on defense.”
With another solid performance by defender JP Maggio playing long stick middie, the Millers were able to defeat Scotch Plains 12-3. Wes Dieckman and Jordan Roth helped their team with caused turnovers and Miles Welner, Max Ventura, long stick middie Jack Smith, and Wade Schmell were able to shut down the Raiders giving the offense ample opportunity to create drives.
The Millers held the midfield with transitions led by Henry Foster and Jack Gukassey while the offense dominated with attack Zev Fine’s “hat trick” and two goals by Parker Justice.

The fifth graders next game will be against Clark on Tuesday, April 30th at 6:30pm.

Berkeley Heights statistics: Tim Chinchilla in goal. Goals: Oliver Becker (2), Henry Foster (1), Max Cantor (1), Shane Posner (2), Nathan Scheck (1), Cassidy Berger (1), Reese Solomon (1), Luke Betlow (2), Daniel Licciardi (1)
Cranford statistics: Posner and Chinchilla in goal. Goals: Shane Posner (1), Parker Justice (1), Nathan Scheck (1), Jack Gukassey (1), Luke Betlow (2), Daniel Licciardi (1)
Scotch Plains Statistics: Posner and Chinchilla in goal. Goals: Leo Cantor (1), Luke Greenseid (1), Henry Foster (1), Parker Justice (2), Zev Fine (3), Nathan Scheck (1), Jack Gukassey (1), Bruno Pastore (1), Daniel Licciardi (1)