Ches-Mont contender Kennett thumps Great Valley to remain unbeaten
KENNETT SQUARE >> Get ready for what is almost certainly going to be a wild two and a half week run for the Ches-Mont boys’ lacrosse championship.
Due to a quirk in scheduling, none of the top four teams in the standings met until Tuesday when Downingtown West topped West Chester Rustin in a battle of league unbeatens. Downingtown East and Kennett are also unblemished, and the Blue Demons looked particularly dangerous during a 17-3 thumping of Great Valley on Tuesday. The visiting Patriots had an off-day, and that’s not advisable against powerful Kennett.
“I challenged the kids today,” said Demon’s head coach Bob Alvord. “Every game we play we try to turn it up another notch to get ready for what’s coming. And they really did click today. I was happy with what I saw. When we are clicking like that, things look good.”
Now 9-0 overall (8-0 in the Ches-Mont), Kennett’s schedule is back-loaded. But it’s also given the Demons a chance to get ready for a pivotal seven-day span from May 4-11 where they will face Rustin, Downingtown West and Downingtown East in succession. So far in eight tune-ups, Kennett has outscored its league foes 127-29.
“We are using these games to get better so we are ready for the better teams,” echoed sophomore Zach Holme.
“Expectations are very high for this team,” added senior Sam Forte. “The Ches-Mont is goal number one. But our ultimate goal is to win the state championship.
“Seeing the records of the other teams in the league, we are anxious to finally see who is better. It makes us hungrier for some real competition.”
Nobody is more qualified to handicap the upcoming race than Great Valley head coach Ben Walton. His team’s now gone 0-4 against the top challengers, but nobody dominated the Patriots like the Blue Demons.
“I think they are all super competitive,” he said. “I think it’s up in the air and it will probably come down to who can stay healthy, whether it’s injuries or COVID-related.”
Great Valley falls to 2-3 (3-5 overall).
“(Great Valley) is a team that’s challenged the others, so we need to be ready, and the kids accepted the challenge,” Alvord said.
“It’s been a difficult stretch, but we hold our guys to a much higher standard than the way we played,” Walton added. “There is no excuse for this loss. A lot of it comes down to effort. No matter who we are playing we should always show up and give that. Today we didn’t.”
Kennett put together a pair of demoralizing scoring spurts, including seven goals in a five-minute span in the first quarter, followed by 10 in a row in the second and third quarters. And despite being just a sophomore, Hulme led the way with six goals and two assists.
“Zach’s had a few tough games but he’s challenged himself,” Alvord explained. “He’s been showing up early, working before anybody else gets here, and it paid off. For a sophomore to do that and then come out and do what he did today, it’s a testament to him caring about his teammates and himself.”
Hulme scored three times in the first period surge. The Patriots finally built some momentum with back-to-back goals by Gavin Foga and Daniel Siaton, to make it 7-2, but it was short lived. Hulme added two more goals, including a buzzer-beater to end the half, to take a 12-2 lead into the break. He then received lots of help from teammates like Forte, Jake Freeberry and Richie Hughson to up the margin to 17-2 early in the final quarter.
“I think this is a special team this season,” Hulme said. “Our lacrosse IQ, the way we move the ball and our chemistry makes us a great team.
“It’s really fun when we get the ball moving, are connecting on passes across the crease and then finishing.”
Forte wound up with four goals and three assists, and Freeberry added three goals and three assists. But Hughson (two goals, two assists) was also valuable, especially in the faceoff circle. He won 16 of 21 draws, which keyed the offensive onslaught.
“Richie is an unsung hero,” Alvord said. “It’s a dirty, hard job and he does it to perfection. He works at his craft extremely hard. And we, as a team, are reaping the benefits of that.”
Siaton paced Great Valley with a goal and an assist. Afterwards Walton said that his team may have psyched themselves out before the match got underway.
“Sometimes teenagers get into their own minds,” he pointed out. “(Kennett) is a good team, and everybody is looking at stats and records. I don’t know that we showed up mentally to win today.”
The Demons play Sun Valley on Thursday and have an out of conference weekend road trip to Central Bucks West before seeing how they compare to the rest of the Ches-Mont elite.
“Our schedule has been challenging for the kids. It’s difficult to keep them motivated to come out and play at their best when it’s not as big of a challenge,” Alvord said.
“Just limiting sloppiness is what we are focused on,” Forte added. “We have been improving on that.
“We don’t want to get too far ahead – that’s when you start losing games. We need to stay disciplined, worry about ourselves and get ready for the next game.”
Kennett 17, Great Valley 3
Great Valley 2 0 0 1 – 3
Kennett 7 5 4 1 — 17
Great Valley goals: Foga, Siaton, Middleton.
Kennett goals: Z. Hulme 6, Forte 4, Hughson 2, Freeberry 3, Hartmann, Fantazzi.
Goalie saves: Mort (GV 6; Mariano (GV 0; Astle (K) 4.
