by The University School Preppers have dominated this season on the lacrosse field. Challenges have come and gone and with the exception for one game, they have stood the task.
The Preppers only loss this season came on the road against Wooster, which was on the road.
Thursday’s game against the Rocky River Pirates was slated to be another challenge. The Pirates were coming into this one having put away some tough competition, including Wooster.
With bright blue skies and sunshine above the Prepper’s home stadium, Schovil Field in Hunting Valley, the teams faced off for what was an anticipated matchup.
Several minutes went by without any scoring from either team. Both squads traded opportunities up and down the field and it wasn’t until 7:01 was on the clock in the first quarter when Preppers senior Midfielder Nico Alvarez found the back of the net after taking a pass from teammate Andrew Voinovich.
Voinovich would get another assists seconds later when a pass to Long Stick Midfielder Manzili Denis resulted in another goal and a Preppers 2-0 with 6:41 left in the first quarter.
After Preppers face-off specialist Julian Guirguis took the draw and put it in the back of the net seven seconds later to put the Preppers up 3-0, the Pirates were scrambling and eventually took a timeout to try and stop the momentum.
The timeout didn’t do much to slow down the Preppers as Attackman Tripp Doyle scored to give University School a 4-0 lead with 3:03 left in the first quarter.
The Pirates would not get on the board until 1:55 left in the first quarter when Michael Bebie blasted one in.
Two goals by Preppers senior Attackman Preston Blue late in the first quarter would give University School a commanding 6-1 lead.
Guirguis would get another goal off the faceoff early on in the second quarter for the Preppers but the Pirates weren’t backing down yet. Bebie would get his second goal to make it a 7-2 Preppers lead. The goal came when Bebie stole an errant pass and had a clear break at the goaltender.
Preston Blue would return the favor moments later after he stole a pass and put it in the back of the net for his third goal of the game to give University School a commanding 8-2 lead almost three minutes into the second quarter.
The Preppers would continue their dominance in the period as goals by Voinovich, Doyle, and Braeden Piero would give University School a comfortable 13-2 lead at halftime.
Not much was different in the second half as Preston Blue continued to dominate by scoring more goals for the Preppers and teammate Nico Alvarez would get his second of the game as well.
A bright spot for Rocky River was when goaltender Gordon Hudson made a spectacular save off a Blue spin move that wowed the crowd. Not many goaltenders can say they have stopped that type of shot against Blue.
The Pirates would get goals from, Joe Smith, Andrew Lang and Rowan McDougal later in the game but it was too late as University School kept chugging along to earn the 18-5 home victory.
The Preppers will play St. Ignatius Blue on Saturday, May 4th, at 1pm at home. 
