As the season nears it's end, now is the time to play up if any teams have any intentions of competing in the postseason. And there aren't many teams around the league as hot and hitting it's stride at the right time as Hampton. After a 3-6 start, Hampton has won four-straight in dominating fashion and have outscored its opposition during that stretch 65 to 16.
And last night was no different when top-ranked Greensburg Central Catholic rolled in. The Talbots stymied the dynamic Centurions attack and upset the GCC giants 16-7.
Both Hampton and the Centurions have met in pivotal match-ups before. The Talbots bounced the Centurions from the playoffs last season by a 13-7 score and the year before, Hampton prevailed in the Division II championship game, 13-9, over GCC for it's third D-II title. So, a night for GCC to potentially avenge recent playoff heartbreak and continue it's command at the top of D-II turned out to be a night that was simply all about Hampton.
The Talbots jumped out to a surprising 5-0 lead and took a solid 7-2 lead into the half and ultimately never needed to look back. First half scores for the Talbots were provided by Dylan Szramowski (twice), Jimmy Kuczynski, Andy DeMichiei (twice), Dan Lang and Luke Happel. Unfortunately the Laxburgh reporter had prior coaching obligations and missed the first half action but the Centurions scores came from Chris Johnston and John Bursch.
The second half opened with a barrage of shots on goal from both sides. Two minutes in and GCC was back on track with a Phil Croker goal for a 7-3 scoreline. A little over a minute later was Hampton history when DeMichiei wrapped around the Centurions goal and scored his 100th point of the season and put the hosts up 8-3. GCC promptly responded 17 seconds later with another Croker goal to cut the deficit in half, 8-4.
If anybody in the stands had previously questioned the "believability" of lacrosse being the fastest game on two feet, by the eight minute mark in the third every nonbeliever certainly had converted. Following a nice save from Hampton goalie Jake Bayha, Jeremy Matelan took it upon himself to clear the ball from his defensive zone by sprinting full field, blowing by the GCC defense and scoring his first of the game. And only eight seconds later, DeMichiei picked out Kuczynski to lift Hampton to a 10-4 lead only four minutes into the second half.
But GCC wasn't ready to roll over just yet. Johnston weaved through the Hampton defense and scored with 5:10 left in the third to once again cut the lead in half, 10-5. Anyone that has seen GCC play this season knows just how fast it can net a bundle of scores in the blink of an eye and the Talbots were well aware of not letting momentum swing the Centurions way. And the best way to do that, score more goals. Hampton tacked on two more to round out the quarter with another score from Kuczynski and DeMichiei assisted Szramowski for his hat-trick and a 12-5 Talbot lead.
In the final quarter of play, the Hampton offense didn't let up one bit. The Talbots stretched the GCC defense out wide and kept in constant motion to get good looks on goal for high percentage shots from close range. And there was no better example of the composed Hampton attack when Szramowski dished to DeMichiei who found Nicholas Dudenas for a seemingly easy score and a 13-5 lead.
But the Centurions weren't finished yet. At the 8:38 mark Ryland Smith assisted another Johnston goal to make the game 13-6. If GCC had any shot at a comeback, that was it and Hampton quickly slammed the door on that option with two more goals over the next two minutes. DeMichiei picked out Kuczynski who from the side of the creased bounced his shot home and again it was DeMichiei on a man-up situation who assisted Dudenas for his second of the game and a 15-6 Hampton lead.
With 4:41 to play, Johnston continued to prove his worth as one of the division's elite when he netted his fourth of the game and a 15-7 score. But it was the Hampton play makers that ended the game in appropriate fashion when DeMichiei dished out his fifth assist on the night to Kuczynski for his fifth goal and 16-7 final score.
Hampton (5-0, 7-6) will look to remain unbeaten in section play when it hosts Cathedral Prep (5-2, 5-8) on Wednesday. The Talbots beat Prep at home last season 11-3.
Greensburg Central Catholic (6-0, 9-4) will hope to bounce back on Wednesday when it travels to section rival Canon-McMillan (1-3, 5-6). GCC handled Canon-Mac at home last season, 15-6.
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