Lacrosse teams always congregate around their goalie after the game, win or lose.
It hasn’t been as deserved though in quite some time as it was when Monticello celebrated with George Van Dyke Tuesday night.
The Mustangs’ senior keeper came up with 16 saves and several critical ones down the stretch to, at long last, put the Mustangs on the right side of a close game as Monticello beat Western Albemarle 8-6. Monticello has come out on the wrong side of several close games this year, including a tough beat last week against Albemarle where the Patriots rallied back from five goals down to edge the Mustangs.
“We talked about it the other day that we’ve led at the half in most of our games and we’re 4-3,” said Monticello coach Matt Hicks. “We led most of our games at the end of the third and we’re 4-3. It really started to get the guys that drive to put together a third quarter and finish strong in the fourth.”
Van Dyke made one clutch save with under a couple of minutes to go on a perfectly executed piece of offense by Western where the Warriors found Drapanas on the doorstep.
“I just tried to matchup with his stick and hope for the best,” Van Dyke said.
He made the stop, preserving what was then a one-goal, 7-6 lead for the Mustangs. He also out-ran Western attackmen for a couple of key loose balls on shots.
Western built a 4-3 lead before halftime, with a twisting, spinning Nic Drapanas goal giving the Warriors the one-goal edge. But from there the Mustangs’ defense put the clamps down, holding Western to just two goals in the second half. Van Dyke and the defense seemed to make big stop after big stop.
“He’s been so solid for us all year but he really stood out tonight,” Hicks said. “He’s one of those seniors that’s really dug in and put in a lot of hard work lately and it’s definitely paying off.”
Jonathan Van Dyke helped spark the transition effort with six ground balls on the evening.
Offensively, Chase Phillips had yet another huge night for the Mustangs, factoring into six of the Mustangs’ eight goals with three goals and three assists. Michael Darby had a pair of goals while Tyler Wagner, Brodie Phillips and William Snipes scored a goal each.
Western Albemarle’s Justin Haws and Dylan Curry co-led the Warriors with two goals each. Sumner Corbett and Drapanas rounded out the scoring with a goal each.
The Mustangs will try and build on their newfound momentum against Charlottesville Friday at 7:30 p.m. Western Albemarle will try and bounce back that same night on the road against Fluvanna County.
