Jahelka learns lessons well for Trojans

As if to prepare for next fall when he enrolls at Harvard, Garden City's Stephen Jahelka gave himself a homework assignment before Thursday's boys lacrosse game against Wantagh.

The All-Long Island defenseman prepared a nine-page scouting report for coach Steve Finnell on Ryan Walsh, Wantagh's 6-5, 230-pound high-scoring attack with 28 goals.

"I knew I'd be guarding him at the beginning of the week," Jahelka said. "Coach has us watch film and write up reports. Mine was nine pages long. He's a big, strong kid who got overshadowed by [Brandon] Mangan last year. It was a huge challenge,"

Apparently, Jahelka's analysis was accurate because he held Walsh scoreless, and the Trojans scored on six of their first eight shots and rocked visiting Wantagh, 11-3, in a Nassau Conference B-I game.

"What sets Stephen apart from other players is his preparation," Finnell said. "And he has the athletic ability and stick skills to back it up. He prepares like practices are his classroom and game days are the tests."

Jahelka and his teammates brought their A-plus game Thursday, particularly the Harvard connection. Jahelka and fellow senior defender Brian Fischer throttled a Warriors offense that had scored 102 goals in their first eight games.

Junior Devin Dwyer, who also has committed to the Crimson, scored two goals with two assists. One of Dwyer's goals came on an assist from Johns Hopkins-bound attack Tom Gordon, noteworthy because it was Gordon's first assist of the season. Gordon scored three goals, giving him 20. Dwyer is among Long Island's leaders with 27 assists.

SEE PHOTOSGarden City 11, Wantagh 3

"We had a lot of possessions, we held the ball and we took advantage when we had opportunities," Dwyer said. "We followed the game plan. We wanted to get to their defense quick. All week in practice we focused on finishing."

Finnell was pleased that his team could have such a good offensive game against Wantagh's superb goalie Jake Gambitsky, who made 23 saves against Garden City last year in a 10-9 overtime victory.

This time around, it was total domination for Garden City, which scored four goals in each of the first two periods for an 8-0 halftime lead, insurmountable for a team that allows only four goals a game. Five players netted the first five goals: Rob Savage, J.P. Burnside, Dwyer, Patric Berkery and Liam Kennedy.

"Our offense is good and it's getting better," Finnell said. "Everyone talks about our defense, and rightfully so, but the offense wants to put its name on things, too."

SEE PHOTOS2011 boys lacrosse players to watch

Future scouting reports on Garden City surely will note its emerging offense.