Boys' Lacrosse Dominates Bernards, Moves to Sectional Quarterfinals

The Chatham boys' lacrosse team held the ball for the majority of the first quarter of its state Group 1 tournament against Bernards, hardly allowing the Mountaineers to cross the midfield line. It was that success that propelled the fifth-seeded Cougars past 21st-seeded Bernards, 10-2, on a rainy Tuesday at Cougar Field.

The team will face fourth-seeded Mountain Lakes in the quarterfinals on Thursday in an away game after the Lakers defeated Haddonfield 13-1 on Tuesday.

"I thought we dominated the game," said Head Coach Anthony Calandra.

It sure seemed that way throughout. The Cougars didn't score until the 7:36 mark of the first period, when Jack Eisenreich—who had three goals on the day—bounced the ball past Bernards goaltender Jonathan Robinson.

But Bernards really only had the ball near the Chatham net for about two minutes in the entire first period, and a Steven Valeri goal two minutes after Eisenreich's—before which he took a pass from goaltender Mac Nestler, sprinted down the field, passed the ball and got in position for a return pass—gave the Cougars an early two-goal lead.

Chatham was patient on most of its possessions, throwing the ball around and waiting for its opportunities.

"Our offense just has to work the ball around [to be successful]," said Jake Finnen after the game. "Throw and catch."

Chatham maintained its pressure throughout the second quarter as Rob Guida, Eisenreich and Jack Beattie scored at the beginning, middle and end of the period, respectively, to give the Cougars a 5-0 lead going into the break.

Nestler capped the quarter with a nice save on a Connor Keating shot.

The teams went back and forth a bit more in the second quarter, as Chatham didn't maintain possession in the same, consistent way it had earlier. But the team's defense suffocated Bernards, and the Mountaineers remained unable to score on Nestler.

Eisenreich scored another goal in the period, and late goals from both Rob and Nick Guida—Nick scored the final two goals of the third—gave Chatham a 9-0 cushion.

Calandra substituted out lots of the team's starters in the final quarter, and he said he was pleased with how consistent the team's play remained.

"It was a team effort," he said.

Bernards attacker Connor Griffin scored one goal on Nestler before the goalie was taken out in favor of Corey Fritts and Sam Nestler, who each recorded one save. Mac Nestler had six on the day. Griffin then scored one final goal—as did Chatham's Quinn Frenzel—to account for the final margin.

Calandra and Finnen both said they felt the team could potentially be peaking at the right time. It will need to play good lacrosse against Mountain Lakes to defeat the strong Laker squad.

The coach, for one, believes his team is capable of great things.

"We haven't played our best game yet," Calandra said.