Manhasset goalie Molloy scores in win
Manhasset goalie #13 Evan Molloy circles behind his net after making a save in the first period. (April 4, 2012) Credit: James Escher
It's not unusual to see Manhasset's Evan Molloy roaming away from the cage. He plays aggressively and comes out to challenge shooters more than most goalies do.
What is unusual is for Molloy to take the ball more than 60 yards up the field and fire a shot on goal and score. But that's exactly what he did Wednesday night.
Molloy, a senior, scored his first varsity goal and made nine saves, and Quinn Moroney scored three goals and had two assists as host Manhasset defeated Cold Spring Harbor, 8-5, in Nassau non-league boys lacrosse.
Molloy got the scoring started when Manhasset attempted to clear the ball out of its end. He looked to pass the ball to defender Bobby Duvnjak but saw an open lane down the middle of the field and ran uncovered before burying a shot at the 10:11 mark of the first quarter.
"We run like a Virginia clear and if Bobby's covered, I'm going," Molloy said. "So I just ran. One of the middies picked up another middie, so I just had an open [shot]. I just ripped it as hard as I could, low, and it went in."
Manhasset (3-1) took a 5-1 lead into halftime on the strong play of its defense. Duvnjak shut down Cold Spring Harbor's Sean Doyle, who came into the game with 15 goals.
"That's the luxury we've had for a couple of years now,'' Manhasset coach Bill Cherry said. "I don't care how good that attackman is, Bobby's going to handle him,"
Doyle scored three goals and had an assist for Cold Spring Harbor (4-2), but each came while Duvnjak was not defending him.
While the Indians' defense did its job, Moroney and the offense continued to work on learning a new scheme. "It's definitely a work in progress," Moroney said.
Added Cherry, "We're still in the early stages. There's some looks there that Quinn wants to get people the ball and distribute. He's like our point guard. Once the offense gets rolling, we're going to have different guys where Quinn's going to be off the ball, but we haven't gotten to that part of it yet."
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