Johns Hopkins holds off North Carolina
North Carolina attackman Billy Bitter rounds the crease defended by Johns Hopkins long pole Tucker Durki. (April 3, 2011) Credit: John Strohsacker / LaxPhotos.com
Unlike Baltimore, where Johns Hopkins is located, and Long Island, the home of Hopkins coach Dave Pietramala, Florida and Arizona aren't lacrosse hotbeds.
But Lee Coppersmith of Boca Raton, Fla., and Pierce Bassett of Scottsdale, Ariz., made the No. 5 Blue Jays' faithful proud in a 10-9 win over No. 4 North Carolina in the second game of the Big City Classic at New Meadowlands Stadium Sunday.
Coppersmith beat his short-sticked defender left and fired the winner from 10 yards out with 1:52 left in the fourth quarter. Bassett made a stick save on Jimmy Dunster's shot with 19 seconds to play and then hurled the ball about 70 yards downfield to drain the clock.
"We felt it was the best matchup," Coppersmith said, "me going left down the alley."
Earlier, Coppersmith's alma mater, Saint Andrew's, defeated New Jersey power Don Bosco, 9-8. Said the sophomore middie: "Lacrosse is really growing into a national sport. For the young players, it's inspirational for them to see us doing well."
Johns Hopkins (7-2) never trailed, but Tar Heels Billy Bitter and Nicky Galasso, from traditional powers Manhasset and West Islip, respectively, tried their best to get UNC (7-3) back in the game. Bitter scored his fourth goal with 6:02 left, and Galasso set up Duncan Hutchins with 2:41 to play to tie it at 9. But senior Matt Dolente won the draw, leading to Coppersmith's heroics.
Said Pietramala of Coppersmith, who hasn't started a game in his two collegiate seasons: "It's thrilling to see a kid coming of age right before your eyes."
John Ranagan and Kyle Wharton each scored three goals for Hopkins, which hadn't beaten UNC since 2006. Bassett had stomach flu, Pietramala said, but made seven saves.
The coach said his team's biggest advantage was on faceoffs, where Dolente outmatched his freshman counterpart R.G. Keenan, who came in winning faceoffs at a 63-percent clip. "It's like getting a rebound in basketball," Pietramala said. "Every time you get one, you're getting another possession."
And possession was everything for the Blue Jays, who played a very deliberate style in between goal spurts. They scored four straight in the first 5:11, and three in the last 2:08 of the first half for an 8-5 lead.
Said Pietramala, a Hicksville native: "It's a great opportunity for guys from Long Island, New Jersey, Philly and Westchester County to play here."
