Chiefs Eliminate Minutemen in ECT

Less than 24 hours after its game against Verona came down to the final minutes, the Caldwell High boys lacrosse team was in another battle Saturday afternoon.

This time a berth into the Essex County Tournament quarterfinals was on the line.

With the stakes a bit higher, the sixth-seeded Chiefs stuck to the same formula as attackmen Chris Lawshe and Billy Pierce each scored three goals and senior goalie Bryan Lockward made 18 saves as Caldwell scored 8 of the last 10 goals after halftime to defeat No. 11 Newark Academy 11-5 at Harrison School. 

Winners of seven straight, Caldwell advances to face third-seeded Glen Ridge, which received an opening-round bye, on the road in next Sunday's quarterfinals.

"We have lost some close games to them," Andrew Kratsch, who had two goals and three assists Saturday for the Chiefs, said of facing the Ridgers.

Even with several of its guys forced to play different positions, Newark Academy (3-6) gave Caldwell (7-4) all it could handle in the first half as T.J. Redmond's goal forged a 3-3 tie at halftime.

"We needed to possess the ball as much as possible with our middies getting tired," Kratsch said. "We needed to have it as much as a minute to a minute and a half in their end."

With that game plan in mind, Lawshe set the tone in the second half when he whipped a shot past Newark Academy goalie Chip Williams to give the Chiefs a 4-3 lead.

Kratsch maintained the momentum by scoring back-to-back goals to push the advantage to 6-3 before Newark Academy's Brandon Rothman ended the surge to cut the deficit to 6-4 with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.

But Lawshe responded just 10 seconds later to extend the lead to 7-4 heading into the fourth quarter.

Coming off his career-high six-goal performance against Verona, Pierce, a freshman, scored back-to-back tallies to open the fourth quarter to give Caldwell a commanding 9-4 advantage with 10 minutes remaining.

In addition to Redmond, who switched to a defensive midfielder, Jake Gillman, who scored once, and Sam Peinado were all playing out of position due to Minutemen injuries.

"I keep thinking that we are going to come out for a game and have everything click for us," Newark Academy coach Ted Gilbreath said. "That [the second half] has been how it has been this season."

Lockward, who made numerous saves from point-blank range, and the Caldwell defensive unit of Dan Carroll, Dan Pierce and Chris Zaorski didn't make it any easier for the Minutemen.

"They have some very good kids on offense," Lockward said, "and our defense really stepped up."