TSLA 2011 Awards Announced!

Congratulations to Nathan Holland

Division-II All State, 1st Team Midfield

More awards for our Cavaliers!

Division-II East All Region

Josh Bruce, Defense, 1st Team

Jordan Clark, Goalie, 1st Team

Jamie Chapman, Attack, 1st Team

Nathan Holland, Midfield, 1st Team

Andrew McBroom, Midfield, 2nd Team

Grant Reed, Attack, 2nd Team

Austin Stafford, Defense, 2nd Team

All TSLA award winners (click here)

NCAA Academic Public Recognition

Lacrosse, once again, had the highest graduation rate of all men's sports according to the most recent NCAA Graduation Success Rate study. Lacrosse had a 88 percent rate while the overall GSR was 79 percent.

The rank order of the sports was: Lacrosse (88), Gymnastics (87), Water Polo (85), Swimming (85), Fencing (84), Tennis (84), Skiing (82), Golf (81), Ice Hockey (79), Soccer, (77), Rifle (75), Volleyball (74), CC/Track (74), Wrestling (72), Baseball (70), Football (FBS) (67), Basketball (65) and Football (FCS) (64).

Three men's lacrosse programs were recognized by the NCAA Academic Progress report with perfect scores of 1,000. Congratulations to the following schools that were honored in the sport of men's lacrosse:

Colgate University

Lafayette College

Villanova University

The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete. The APR includes both retention at an institution and academic eligibility in its calculation and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport.

Congratulations to the Division 1 and Division II Champs!

2011 Tennessee High School Lacrosse Div 1 Champ: Memphis Univ. School

2011 Tennessee High School Lacrosse Div 2 Champ: Pope John Paul II

CHS Cavs 2011 Season Highlights

CHS Cavs vs. West Knox Highlights

UC CONNECTIONS:

by Craig Delk

Monday, May 30, 2011

NCAC honors:

Former Cookeville lacrosse standout Matt Snider recently earned all-conference honors from the North Coast Athletic Conference. The Wittenberg University senior attackman was named to the Second Team after scoring 12 goals and dishing out 11 assists in helping the Tigers advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament's second round.

In addition to his on-field exploits, Snider also finished in the top 25 academic athletes at Wittenberg.

UC CONNECTIONS:

by Craig Delk

Monday, May 16, 2011

First NCAA Victory:

Cookeville native Matt Snider played a role for Wittenberg University on Wednesday in the Tigers lacrosse team's NCAA Division III Tournament win over Adrian College. The senior attackman scored a goal and tallied three shots in Wittenberg's 8-7, overtime win.

The victory was the first NCAA Tournament victory in the history of the program.

The No. 15-ranked Tigers saw their run come to an end Saturday, as they lost 11-4 in the second round to powerhouse Dickinson. In that game, Snider collected four ground balls and three shots.

The Tigers' final record of 14-2 shattered the program's previous record for wins (10), as the 2011 season turned out to be an historic one for Wittenberg.

Snider finished the season with 12 goals, 11 assists and 17 ground balls collected.

Tim Holland

Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

Cookeville defenders Matt Norrod (39) and Chandler Gaw (42) chase down an Ensworth player during the Cavaliers’ 17-4 loss to the Tigers on Monday in their TSLA first-round playoff matchup. (Contributed photo/Marta Sliger)

NASHVILLE -- The Cookeville boys lacrosse team was mauled by the Ensworth Tigers on Monday night, 17-4, in a disappointing first-round TSLA playoff loss that ended the Cavaliers' 2011 season.

"Hopefully they will come out with fire and intensity and take it to these guys," CHS coach Kurt Snider said prior to the game. "They're a good team though. We will have to play a good game."

"Let's stay focused," he told the Cavaliers just prior to face-off. "Let's play hard from the opening whistle."

But it was Ensworth that came out and executed in the first quarter. Characteristically, Cookeville struggled to run offensive sets. Multiple early turnovers allowed the Tigers to dominate time of possession in the period.

And uncharacteristically, CHS was porous on defense. Ensworth dominated the ground ball game. And the Cavaliers' failure to get man-up situations led to easy clears and difficulty in stopping the Tigers' crisp, efficient ball movement. Ensworth was up 3-0 at the 6:11 mark in the quarter.

During a timeout Snider said to the team, "Play smart. Don't over commit on defense. Match up with your guy and stay with him on the clears. We've got to stop the bleeding."

But the trend continued, and the Tigers added three more goals to end the first quarter with a 6-0 lead.

The Cavaliers did respond in the second period. Nathan Holland scored an unassisted goal early in the quarter. And Grant Reed, after an assist by Holland, added another. The Ensworth lead was cut to 6-2 with 9:11 left in the first half. But a CHS turnover during an attempted clear led to an easy Tiger goal, and the score was 7-2 at the 7:50 mark.

In possession of the ball with 18 seconds left, Snider called a timeout and set up a designed play. The Cavaliers executed, resulting in Holland putting the ball in the net and the Ensworth lead was 7-3 at the end of the first half.

But the Tigers began the third quarter the way they did the first, by executing on both ends of the field. The Cavaliers' offensive and defensive woes continued. Failure to execute offensive sets allowed Ensworth to again dominate time of possession. The Tigers consistently won the ground-ball battle, and Cookeville struggled to find a man and stay with him on defense.

The result was a 10-3 Ensworth lead at the 4:55 mark in the period. Holland did manage an unassisted goal to narrow the gap to 10-4 at the 4:05 point. But the Tigers responded with four more scores to end the quarter ahead 14-4.

At the break, Coach Snider told the team, "Let's have fun. This is our last quarter. Let's score some goals."

But Ensworth held the Cavaliers scoreless in the fourth and added three goals of its own. The game ended in a 17-4 Tiger win.

After the game Snider told the team, "I thought the way we ended the first half that we had a shot. But it kind of disintegrated. We had some good stuff this year," he added. "We put ourselves in position to go all the way. But we just didn't do it. You guys that are coming back, remember this moment."

UC CONNECTIONS:

by Craig Delk

Monday, May 9, 2011

NCAA Tournament:

Cookeville native Matt Snider and the Wittenberg University Tigers will be participating in the NCAA Division III lacrosse tournament this week after wrapping up their most successful regular season in program history.

Snider, a senior attackman, and the Tigers (13-1 overall, 4-1 North Coast Athletic Conference) will host Adrian College on Wednesday. The teams have already met once this year, with Wittenberg winning 16-9 on the road.

Snider and Wittenberg's 12-member senior class participated in their final regular-season game of their collegiate career last Tuesday, ending with a 13-4 win over Otterbein.

UC CONNECTIONS:

by Craig Delk

Monday, April 25, 2011

GREAT GAME:

Cookeville native Matt Snider helped the Wittenberg University lacrosse team clinch a share of the North Coast Athletic Conference title on Friday with his performance. The senior attackman scored three goals, dished out an assist and secured three ground balls in the Tigers' 11-3 win over Wooster.

The victory clinched a share of the NCAC title, and improved the Tigers' record to 11-0 overall and 4-0 in NCAC play. Wittenberg was ranked No. 6 in the South division of the most recent NCAA Division III poll.

Wittenberg can claim the first outright championship in program history on Wednesday with a win over Ohio Wesleyan at home.

This season, Snider has 11 goals, 10 assists and 13 ground balls.

Matt Snider is the son of Kurt and Kris Snider. Kurt is the Head Coach of the Cookeville High School Lacrosse Team.

CHS BOYS LACROSSE: Cavaliers trounce Trojans

Tim Holland

Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

Cookeville’s Brandon Lindsey (center, 10) and Josh Kraynak (right, 8) battle with a pair of Soddy-Daisy players for possession of the ball during the Cavaliers’ 11-5 win over the Trojans on Friday at CHS. (Contributed photo/Marta Sliger)

COOKEVILLE -- The Cookeville High School boys lacrosse team trounced the Soddy-Daisy Trojans Friday night, 11-5, in a game that was nowhere near as close as the final score. After celebrating the seniors, the Cavaliers went to work early.

CHS began the first quarter with its best offensively executed three minutes of the season. Ball movement was the key to Jamie Chapman scoring three quick goals, two assisted by Grant Reed and one by Nathan Holland. And Cookeville dominated time of possession, setting the tone for the entire game.

"Guys, what a difference spreading it out makes," CHS head coach Kurt Snider said during a timeout. "It opens the whole field up. I love the unselfish play, how everybody is looking to pass and not just ripping shots."

A Cookeville penalty gave Soddy-Daisy an opportunity to take advantage of being a man up toward the end of the quarter, but the defense was solid as usual. The period ended in a 3-0 Cavalier lead.

The Trojans had two more man-up situations in the second, but could not penetrate the Cavalier defense. Jordan Clark was solid in goal. And good communication led to good slides to the ball, as Cookeville held Soddy-Daisy scoreless for the second straight quarter.

Holland and Michael Robinson each had two unassisted goals in the period. Andrew McBroom also scored as the Cavaliers closed out the first half up 8-0.

"Good job for the most part. We actually ran our offense," assistant coach Elliot Woods told the team during the break.

After an assist by Austin Witt, Grant Reed scored early in the third quarter increasing the lead to 9-0. Soddy-Daisy did record one goal during the period. But Witt and Holland answered with unassisted goals and the quarter ended with the Cavaliers ahead 11-1.

Coach Snider took advantage of the score to give several junior varsity players the opportunity to play in the fourth period. The Trojans scored four goals late in the quarter, but the scores meant little. The game ended in a 11-5 Cavalier win.

"Good job tonight," Snider told the team afterward. "I thought the offense looked really good. That's encouraging. Those first three goals are what we want to run on anybody."

"It really makes a difference when we actually spin the ball and play as a team," Chapman said. "And it showed tonight."

The Cavaliers now have two weeks to prepare for the playoffs. "I love the direction we're headed," Snider said. "The guys played solid tonight."

"This is where the real work begins," Coach Woods told the team.

CHS BOYS LACROSSE: Cavs bounce back, clinch playoff berth

Tim Holland

Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

Cookeville’s Josh Bruce makes his way around a Webb Bell Buckle defender during the Cavaliers’ 9-3 win over the Feet on Tuesday in Bell Buckle. (Contributed photo/Marta Sliger)

BELL BUCKLE -- The Cookeville High School boys lacrosse team rebounded Tuesday night, from Monday's 10-6 loss to Webb Knoxville, to defeat the Webb Feet, 9-3, an important win that guaranteed the Cavaliers a spot in the playoffs.

"I am looking for a great bounce back game tonight," Snider said prior to face-off. "Shock and awe from the top. Put the ball in the cage right away," he told the team.

Cookeville responded on both sides of the field. Defensively, the long poles were back to their normal strong play, protecting the net and winning the ground-ball battle. And the offense dominated time of possession from the start, even in not executing offensive sets.

Jamie Chapman scored first, with an unassisted goal with 8:46 left in the period. Michael Robinson added two goals, one off of a rebound and another after an assist by Austin Stafford. Assisted by Grant Reed, Chapman put the ball into the net again at the 2:07 mark to put the Cavaliers up 4-0. The Feet did manage a late goal and the quarter ended in a 4-1 Cookeville lead.

The trend continued in the second period. Solid defense prevented Webb Bell Buckle from scoring during two man-up situations because of Cavalier penalties. The Feet did add a goal with 6:42 left in the quarter, reducing the CHS lead to 4-2. But Cookeville answered. Chandler Gaw led a perfect fast break, passing the ball to Reed who assisted another Chapman goal. The first half ended in a 5-2 Cavalier lead.

A Webb Bell Buckle penalty put the Cavaliers a man up early in the third quarter, and Chapman took advantage, moving from behind the net to score an unassisted goal, putting Cookeville up 6-2. The Feet answered with a fast break of their own to narrow the gap to 6-3. But Chapman scored another unassisted goal, increasing the lead to 7-3, and the momentum belonged to CHS at the end of the period.

Because of Cavalier penalties, the Feet had three man-up opportunities in the fourth quarter, but the defense held. After another assist by Reed with 5:38 left in the period, Chapman scored with a behind-the-back shot to put Cookeville up 8-3. Andrew McBroom added an unassisted goal at the 1:56 mark increasing the lead to the final score of 9-3. During a timeout Snider told the team, "Guys, you're doing good. Sloppy, but good."

The Cavaliers outscored the Feet but still struggled to execute offensive sets. "We have a lot of work to do on offense," Snider said after the game. "All we're getting is one-on-one looks. We need to get some guys cutting. We need to score some goals off passes."

"We've got a chance to do something a little better on offense between now and the playoffs," he added. "We've got work to do and time to do it."

The defense was strong as has been the norm. "We had our minds set to win this game," goalie Jordan Clark said afterward.

Long pole Josh Bruce said, "We played better as a team tonight and made fewer mistakes."

"We were more consistent today," long pole Jesse Chapman added. "We watched our guys better."

The Cavaliers play Soddy-Daisy at home on Friday. Face-off is at 6:30 p.m.

CHS LACROSSE: Cavs struggle, fall to Spartans

Tim Holland

Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

Cookeville’s Austin Stafford defends against a Knoxville Webb player during the Cavs’ 10-6 loss to the Spartans on Monday. (Contributed photo/Marta Sliger)

KNOXVILLE -- Webb Knoxville beat the Cookeville High School boys lacrosse team Monday night, 10-6.

"We're pretty evenly matched," CHS coach Kurt Snider said before the game. "It depends on who has the skills today. Webb-Knox plays great defense. And we play pretty solid defense ourselves."

"Let's come out with a lot of energy today and fundamentals." he told the team. "Talk it up on defense. Slide when you are supposed to slide. Listen to the keep."

But uncharacteristically, the Cavaliers (6-4) struggled defensively, especially early. Less than a minute into the game, Webb moved the ball from behind the net and scored a close range goal to go up 1-0. Cookeville had difficulty sliding to the ball and the Spartans added two almost identical scores. Nathan Holland and Grant Reed responded, each scoring unassisted goals and the gap was narrowed to 3-2 midway through the period.

During a timeout Snider said, "Let's force them to shoot up top. Come on poles you've got to get on it."

The defense did adjust. Communication and movement improved. But Webb added two more goals in unsettled situations, and the first period ended with Cookeville down 5-2. The Spartans dominated face-offs and won the ground-ball battle during the quarter, establishing a trend that lasted throughout the game.

"Good teams don't panic," Snider said at the break. "We've got to get the ball. We haven't won a face-off yet have we? Five-two is not a big lead."

The Cavaliers responded. Holland scored twice to cut the lead to 5-4 with 6:41 left in the second. But Webb added another goal late in the quarter, and the first half ended with a 6-4 Spartan lead.

"We're playing much better on defense," Snider said during the half. "Let's be patient. Get a few possessions and put the ball in the goal. Keep chipping away. We have a good chance of winning this game."

Webb scored again with 9:17 left in the third to go up 7-4. But Cookeville rallied. Holland and Michael Robinson each added goals and Cavaliers were within one point at 7-6. The Spartans continued their solid play however, scoring again to lead 8-6 at the end of the third period.

"All we need is a good offensive set and we're right there," Snider said between quarters. "We're not being patient on offense."

The Cavaliers did not execute offensively or defensively during the fourth period, failing to score and allowing two Spartan goals. The game ended in a 10-6 Webb win.

"We just got beat today," Snider said afterward. "They beat us as a team. We had our looks but didn't execute when we had to."

He told the team, "It's all about execution at this point. We got killed on face-offs. All those guys did was draw and dump. We got caught ball-watching and got beat."

"We've got to learn from this and move on," Snider added. The Cavaliers did struggle in this loss, but their playoff hopes are very much alive. "(Tuesday) we've got Webb Bell Buckle. We've got to play hard. We win tomorrow and we're in. It's as simple as that," Snider said.

The game is away and face-off is at 4:30 p.m.

Former CHS Lacrosse players continue to shine

UC CONNECTIONS:

by Craig Delk

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

ASSISTING HIS TEAMMATES:

Cookeville native Matt Snider helped his teammates deliver on Saturday in the Wittenberg men's lacrosse team's 8-6 win over Oberlin. The senior attackman dished out two assists to help the Tigers improve to 9-0 overall and 2-0 in North Coast Athletic Conference play.

This season, Snider has eight goals, eight assists and has collected eight ground balls.

POSSESSION CONTROLLER:

Another Cookeville native, Presbyterian College junior Derek Malone, helped the Blue Hose men's lacrosse team control possession in their 14-11 win over Mercer on Sunday. Malone took 14 face-offs to help Presbyterian improve to 2-7.

CHS BOYS LACROSSE: Cavs shake slow start to stifle West

Tim Holland

Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

Cookeville’s B.J. Wood battles with a West Knoxville defender during the Cavaliers’ 8-4 win Friday in Cookeville. (Contributed photo/Marta Sliger)

COOKEVILLE -- The Cookeville High School boys lacrosse team overcame a sluggish offensive start Friday night to grind out a needed region win, 8-4, over the solid West Knoxville Warriors.

Prior to the game, CHS coach Kurt Snider told the team, "The best way to get on these guys is to score early and often. Put some numbers on them. Put the ball in the net and score goals early."

That did not happen. Austin Witt did score an unassisted goal early in the first quarter to put CHS up 1-0. But the Warriors answered to tie the game at 1-1. The Cavaliers dominated ball possession during the period but struggled to put the ball into the net. During a timeout at the 3:04 mark, Snider said, "We've got to be smart. Don't panic. Settle the ball on offense." Assistant coach Elliot Woods added, "You want to be a championship team? Act like it. Play like it."

Cookeville responded by taking advantage of a man-up situation. Assisted by Andrew McBroom, Will Bowman scored to put CHS up 2-1. West Knoxville failed to capitalize on its own man-up situation, and the quarter ended with the 2-1 Cavalier lead.

The Warriors added a goal early in the second to tie the game again at 2-2. With three minutes left in the period, Nathan Holland had an unassisted goal to put Cookeville back up at 3-2, which was the score at the end of the half.

"The defense is playing great, "Snider said at the break. "Keep, good job," he added, recognizing goalie Jordan Clark's stellar play in the net. "Way to keep us in it."

Addressing the offense Snider said, "There are not going to be games without adversity. We are at work. We are going to do the best job we can. We are going to adapt and succeed. Can you see us playing any worse than this and still being ahead? Keep grinding away and good things will happen."

Josh Kraynak said, "This is our house. Let's go. Let's win."

The Cavaliers came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring the Warriors 3-1. Holland, Jamie Chapman and McBroom each scored unassisted goals. West Knoxville did manage a point with 2:42 left in the period, but the quarter ended with a 6-3 Cavalier lead.

"Let's put a couple more in and take this to the house," Snider said prior to the start of the fourth. "Let's leave it all on the field. I love the way we're grinding it tonight. If things aren't going right, just keep grinding away."

The Cookeville defense rallied early in fourth quarter. The Warriors could not take advantage of either a two-man or a one-man-up situation. Holland scored another unassisted goal to put the Cavaliers ahead at 7-3. And after an assist by Holland, Jamie Chapman netted a goal with a behind the back shot to put CHS up 8-3. West Knoxville scored late, but the game ended in an 8-4 Cavalier win.

"All I can say is we got the 'W'," Snider said. "It wasn't pretty, but we got the 'W'."

Once again, the Cookeville defense was the backbone of the win.

"The keep stood on his head again," Snider said. "The defense played great."

Clark had an outstanding game in goal and he credited improved communication for the overall defensive performance. Long pole Josh Bruce added, "We talked a lot today on defense. We did better than usual in man-down situations."

The offense did start slow but obviously managed to score more than the Warriors.

"The first half we just settled," Jamie Chapman said. "The second half we came out there composed and got it done."

"We all came together as a team tonight," BJ Wood said. "We've got a great thing going."

The Cavaliers' next game is away against bitter rival Webb Knoxville this Friday, April 15 at 5 p.m. Central.

Read more: Herald Citizen - CHS BOYS LACROSSE Cavs shake slow start to stifle West

CHS BOYS LACROSSE: Cavs fall just short at No.1 Pope John Paul II

by Tim Holland

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

HENDERSONVILLE -- The Cookeville High School boys lacrosse team fought hard but fell Tuesday night, 8-6, to the Pope John Paul II Knights, the top-ranked Division II team in the state. But rather than dwell on the loss, Coach Snider stressed the positive.

"I saw good things today," he said. "I saw the fact that we can play with anybody. They're probably the best team in the league."

As has become the recurring theme of the season, overall defensive play was strong while the offense struggled to execute.

"Our settled defense was good, allowing only two goals," Snider said.

Jordan Clark was again solid in the net and the long poles were effective. But Cookeville lost the ground-ball battle and failed to communicate and pick up a man at times, allowing six goals in unsettled situations.

Offensive ball movement continued to improve, but the Cavaliers had difficulty executing offensive sets and finishing with the ball in the net. "We're just not valuing the ball on offense," Snider said after the game. "We are making silly mistakes."

Cookeville did not open the first quarter with its usual energy and intensity. "We are playing not to lose," Snider said during an early timeout. PJPII dominated ball possession during the period and managed one score. The Cavaliers struggled to clear the ball and failed to take advantage of a man-up situation late in the first. The quarter ended with PJPII up 1-0.

"Good defense fellas, way to keep us in," Snider said at the break.

After a pass from Will Bowman, Nathan Holland scored early in the second to even up the score at 1-1. But the Knights answered with two goals. Holland added a point with an unassisted goal to narrow the gap to 3-2. PJPII then executed during a man-up situation, scoring again to end the half with a 4-2 lead.

Coach Snider's message to the team during halftime was simple and twofold. Work on ground balls and execute the offense.

The Knights scored early in the third quarter to increase the lead to 5-2, but the Cavaliers rallied. Holland scored an unassisted goal. Andrew McBroom grabbed a rebound after a missed Holland shot and put the ball into the net to put Cookeville within one point at 5-4. But PJPII answered with three goals to end the period with an 8-4 lead.

"To me it's just all execution at this point," Snider said at the break. "Keep grinding, good things happen." Holland added, "It's all just our own mistakes."

After an assist by Jamie Chapman, Holland scored early in the fourth quarter and the score was 8-5. McBroom added an unassisted goal to cut the PJPII lead to 8-6 with 5:19 left in the game. Cookeville held the Knights scoreless during the period but made four critical mistakes during the last four minutes, errors that cost the team ball possession. The game ended in an 8-6 PJPII win.

"I see a lot of positives out of this game," Snider said afterward. "We were right there. But we didn't play our best today, obviously."

"We weren't as good as we normally are with ground balls," midfielder BJ wood added. "We need to get that down and work on our clears. And we need to watch our unsettled situations when we are subbing in and out and a man down."

"If there is anything you can take away from this game it's that the little things make the champion," Snider told the team. "We've got heart. We've got strength. We've got speed and we've got skills. But it's the little things that add up to two or three big things."

"Our defense is playing great," he said. "If we can develop discipline on offense we can go all the way."

"If we work on our offense we can be a state championship team," Holland added.

The Cavaliers face a solid West Knoxville team at home Friday in a critical game. Face off is at 6:30. "We have to beat West Knoxville on Friday," Snider told his team.

CHS Boys Lacrosse team completed a successful week in Clearwater, Florida. The week included a 7 - 5 victory over Palm Harbor University and the good weather was put to use with several intense practices. More Spring Break Pictures are on the

gallery page.

CHS BOYS LACROSSE: Cavs slay Dragons, continue solid play

by Tim Holland

Monday, April 4, 2011

COOKEVILLE -- The Cookeville High School boys lacrosse team put down the Collierville Dragons 11-4 on Saturday, with a performance that showed much potential in looking forward to the rest of the season.

"I am very impressed with what happened today," CHS coach Kurt Snider said. "We took a huge step forward. I couldn't ask for any more."

Once again, defensive play was the mainstay of the win. To hold any team to only four goals is an accomplishment. Goalie Jordan Clark was impressive, making more than one improbable stop against high-percentage shots.

The four-man long-pole rotation of Josh Bruce, Jesse Chapman, Lance Beltcher and Austin Stafford were a wall around the net and won the ground ball battle throughout the contest.

"We played a good game on defense, sliding and talking," Betcher said afterward. "That's what we need to do. That's how we get it done."

Clark added, "We were making good slides and the middies played a lot better defense today. We had a lot of hustle."

Coach Snider was looking for offensive progress and the team responded. Nine of the 11 goals were unassisted, but ball movement and control were improved.

"The key was we were in control today," he added. "And they are a pretty good team."

The Cavaliers owned the first quarter, shutting out the Dragons 3-0 on Nathan Holland's three unassisted goals. "We're playing harder than they are," Snider said at the break. "Let's keep it up."

Grant Reed scored an unassisted goal off a rebound early in the second period to put CHS up 4-0. Collierville responded cutting the lead to 4-1 with 2:37 left in the quarter. Holland scored again, but the Dragons answered with another goal, once more narrowing the gap to three at 5-2. During a timeout with less than a minute left in the quarter, Snider challenged the team to add one more point to end the half. The Collierville defense allowed Holland to sweep right and get off a shot resulting in another goal to put Cookeville up 6-2 at halftime.

"If they are going to give us that sweep, then take the shot," Snider told the offense during the half. And he praised the defense on solid play. "We're winning the ground ball game today and that's good. The poles are doing a great job of slapping the ball out and kicking it out. And we're doing a great job clearing."

In a man-up situation because of a Cavalier penalty, the Dragons scored first in the third and the score was 6-3. Assisted by Holland, Reed scored on a fast break to put CHS up four again at 7-3 to end the quarter.

Cookeville came out strong in the fourth period. Reed added his third goal of the game. Jamie Chapman put the ball in the net after a sharp assist by Andrew McBroom and CHS was up 9-3. Collierville did manage one goal in the period, but Holland scored twice for the Cavaliers. The game ended in an impressive 11-4 win for CHS.

After the game, Snider addressed the team, "I was really interested in seeing how you guys would come out today after playing last night, because we played a pretty physical game last night." Again, the Cavalier performance showed much potential. "There was no problem in playing (Friday) night and (Saturday) morning," he said.

The Cavaliers play next away against Pope John Paul II on Tuesday, April 5th. "PJP will be a huge test next week," Snider said.

An added note: the state championship tournament is a Friday game followed by a Saturday contest.

CHS BOYS LACROSSE: Cavs bounce back with strong win over Irish

by Tim Holland

Sunday, April 3, 2011

COOKEVILLE -- The Cookeville High School boys lacrosse team tallied its fourth win in six games Friday night, soundly defeating the Knoxville Catholic Irish 13-6. Once again, solid defensive play was key in the victory. Jordan Clark was steady in goal, and long poles Josh Bruce, Jesse Chapman and Lance Betcher were aggressive and effective throughout the contest, protecting the net and winning the ground-ball battle. Chapman had an especially strong performance as the Irish offense repeatedly attacked his side of the field with little success.

The aim on offense was improvement. Coach Kurt Snider said before the game that lack of patience with the ball on offense contributed to the loss against Centennial on Tuesday.

"We worked on offensive sets all practice yesterday," he said. "We did make progress."

The first quarter belonged to the Cavaliers. Nathan Holland scored two unassisted goals to give CHS an early lead. Assisted by Grant Reed, Andrew McBroom added a third. And Holland scored again to give Cookeville a 4-0 lead. But during a timeout with 47 seconds left in the period, Snider told the team, "Guys we're still not running our offense. Let's set it up and run it."

The defense did its job and the quarter ended with the 4-0 Cookeville lead.

The Irish rallied in the second, putting the ball in the net three times. But the Cavaliers responded with three goals of their own. Holland scored twice and Jamie Chapman added the third. The offense was successful in totaling points, but not in executing the offensive set. The first half ended with a 7-3 Cookeville lead.

The offensive trend continued in the third quarter with the Cavaliers outscoring the Irish 5-2. Reed and Jamie Chapman each had two unassisted goals. Holland also scored unassisted and the period ended with CHS in front 12-5.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Snider said, "We're doing pretty good at scrambling around. So let's run our offensive sets. Let's be patient. I am still waiting to see that play."

Holland scored the only Cavalier goal of the period, and the defense closed out the game holding Knoxville Catholic to one late score. The game ended 13-6, an important region win for the Cookeville team.

"The defense played another great game," Snider said. "But we're making them work too hard."

He did note offensive improvement over Tuesday's performance against Centennial.

"I saw little glimmers of what we can do tonight. I saw less of trying to force it on offense."

Overall, the offense was obviously successful in totaling 13 points. Now Snider is looking for more ball control.

"We've got a lot of work to do," he added.

The Cavaliers hosted the Collierville Dragons on Saturday. See Monday's HERALD-CITIZEN for a recap of that match.

COOKEVILLE LACROSSE: Cavaliers use strong first half to rout Rebels

Tim Holland

Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

Cookeville’s Jesse Chapman (25) and Josh Kraynak (8) try to get the ball away from a Franklin player during the Cavaliers’ 13-7 win Friday in Cookeville. (Contributed photo/Marta Sliger)

Sunday, March 13, 2011

COOKEVILLE -- The Cookeville High School boys lacrosse team soundly defeated the Franklin High School Rebels 13-7 Friday night in its best-played game of the young season.

Prior to the contest, coach Kurt Snider had two messages for the team.

"It's Friday night and a lot of times we come out in these games in kind of a fog after a long week of school," he said. "We have to fight through that fog and be ready to play. That's my first concern. My second concern is that we be smart and remember our assignments. Just fundamental stuff. We haven't played these guys in three years. We need to feel them out in the first quarter."

In addressing the offense, "What we did not do the last game (the 10-4 loss to Baylor on Tuesday) was run what we run in practice. What we are looking for is to run what we run in practice. Be patient with the ball and let the offense mellow and then take it to the goal."

"And then in unsettled situations we lost the ground ball battle to Baylor. We have to fight for these ground balls and pick them up. The defense has to find their man. That's where we failed on Tuesday. We are still very quiet on defense. We need to hear a lot more talking."

The Cavaliers obviously listened. There was no fog as the team opened the first quarter with crisp, patient ball movement before recognizing the opportunity to take a shot. And the defense was solid as usual. Grant Reed scored the first goal of the game on a nice rebound shot. Nathan Holland added two goals and CHS ended the period with a 3-0 lead.

Franklin scored twice early in the second quarter to narrow the gap to 3-2. But the Cavaliers answered with five goals. Reed scored the first Cookeville goal of the period and Jamie Chapman and Holland added two apiece. Franklin did score an additional goal but fell behind 8-3 at the half.

Snider's message to the team at the half was, "Keep your game face on and do not let up. Continue what we're doing and do not get sloppy."

The Cavaliers responded by dominating ball possession in the third quarter. Andrew McBroom scored after an assist by Chapman. Reed added two goals giving CHS an 11-4 lead at the end of the period.

Despite some unnecessary penalties in the fourth quarter, basically resulting in three Franklin scores, CHS closed out the game at 13-7 with Holland adding two goals.

A pleased Coach Snider said of the offense after the game, "It was gorgeous in the first half. They did exactly what we worked on in practice. As coaches, we said this is lacrosse. We could not have asked for more offensively."

Snider also said, "Our defense is solid. Not many attack men are going to beat our long poles."

Jesse Chapman, Josh Bruce, Austin Stafford and Lance Betcher were strong and aggressive in keeping the Rebels away from the cage.

"It's so nice to have these four guys to rotate," Snider said. "They all played very well."

And, as is the norm, Jordan Clark was consistent in goal. Snider added that the team did better in the ground ball game but that there is still room for improvement.

The Cavaliers leave on March 13 for a team building trip to Clearwater, Fla. Included is a game on Tuesday against Palm Harbor University High School. The team returns on Friday. The next regularly scheduled game is at Centennial on March 29 at 5 p.m.

UC CONNECTIONS: Dominating performance

by Craig Delk

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Wittenberg University senior attackman Matt Snider (Cookeville) was part of a recent dominating performance for the Tigers lacrosse team. Snider scored three goals, dished out an assist and collected a ground ball in their 21-1 win over Concordia (Wisc.) on March 5. It was Concordia's first-ever varsity men's lacrosse game.

Including a 14-8 win over Birmingham Southern on Saturday, the Tigers are now 5-0.

CHS BOYS LACROSSE: Lack of offense hurts Cavaliers in loss

by Tim Holland

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

FRANKLIN -- In a performance marked by poor offensive execution, the Cookeville High School boys lacrosse team lost to the Centennial Cougars Tuesday night, 7-5. The Cavaliers had not played a game in two weeks, since the March 15th win over Palm Harbor University High in FLA.

"The big thing is to shake the cobwebs off," Coach Snider told the team. "Come out and run hard at the opening whistle." And he stressed continued strong defensive play, as well as offensive patience and execution.

The game started well for the Cavaliers, with Grant Reed and Austin Witt each scoring unassisted goals to give Cookeville a 2-0 lead. Centennial answered with a goal of its own to cut the CHS lead to 2-1.

During a timeout toward the end of the quarter, Snider complimented the defense on good work. But in what was to quickly become the theme of the game, he stressed offensive execution. "We just have to be smart on offense and run our sets. It's there if we run them," he said. The first period ended with the 2-1 Cavalier lead.

Andrew McBroom began the second quarter with another unassisted Cookeville goal to increase the lead to 3-1. But Centennial again responded by scoring in a man-up situation because of a Cavalier penalty. The Cougars then quickly added another goal after winning the ensuing face-off. Nathan Holland scored Cookeville's fourth unassisted goal to give CHS a 4-3 lead going in to half-time.

At the break, Coach Snider again praised the defense for solid play. But he told the offense, "We're getting our looks, but we are still not running what I want to run. We have to slow it down."

Centennial scored early in the third period to even the score at 4-4. And in another man-up opportunity because of a CHS penalty, the Cougars added a goal to take their first lead at 5-4. Adding its third consecutive goal, Centennial closed out the third quarter with a 6-4 lead. Snider again told the team, "We have to run some solid offense and execute. We are not executing."

In the fourth quarter, the Cougars scored again in yet another man-up situation because of a Cavalier penalty to take a 7-4 lead. Holland added Cookeville's fifth unassisted goal to narrow the lead to the final score of 7-5.

Addressing the team after the contest, Snider said, "The only reason we lost that game is because on offense we didn't settle. We never did run what we wanted. We have to start running what we work on in practice. That's all I'm seeing. Our defense is strong. Our keeper and poles did a great job. To hold any team to seven goals is really good."

The four-man long pole rotation of Josh Bruce, Jesse Chapman, Austin Stafford and Lance Betcher was aggressive and solid. And once again, goaltender Jordan Clark was strong.

"We'll chalk this one up to experience," Snider said. To the offense, "We'll get back to work on Thursday. I don't care if all we do is just run our sets over and over. We'll get it."

The Cavaliers face Knoxville Catholic at home on Friday at 6 p.m. in a region contest. "This is an important game," Snider said. "We have to take care of business in that game".

CHS LACROSSE: Cavs give defending champ battle before falling

by Tim Holland

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

COOKEVILLE -- The Cookeville High School boys lacrosse team hosted the Baylor Red Raiders from Chattanooga in an early season test against the defending Division II state champions Tuesday night, but came up short, losing 10-4. Battling both the weather and a skilled, well-coached squad, the Cavs played a competitive game. The Cavaliers have made the Division II playoffs each year since 2006 and look forward to another successful campaign.

Starting slow and being down 7-1 at halftime, the Cavaliers (1-1) matched Baylor (now competing in Division I) in scoring during the second half. Coach Kurt Snider was optimistic about the team's continued fight.

"We could have given up, but our guys showed up during the second half, gained their composure, and finished the game on a high note. Anytime you play and compete with one of the top squads in the state, it gets you on a good track. Playing a team like Baylor, with their skill and knowledge of the game, you have to show up for the entire battle. Baylor nation knew they had played a lacrosse game tonight."

The Cavalier scoring was balanced, with Nathan Holland, Jamie Chapman, Andrew McBroom and Jake Pineda scoring Cookeville's goals. Grant Reed fed Chapman on a smooth transition that gave the Cavs momentum during the third period. The defense was solid again, with Jesse Chapman, Josh Bruce, Josh Kranack and Lance Betcher providing a good front for the net-minder, Jordan Clark.

Snider shook his head as he thought about Clark's goaltending, "I don't know how he (Clark) makes some of the saves he does, but he gives our team confidence and always keeps us in the game."

Coach Snider was encouraged by the effort and improvement of the other long-poles.

"The Cavalier defense has always been solid and their ability to keep the other team away from the cage keeps our team in the game," he said. "The younger players are learning what it takes and will be a key part of our machine."

Assessing the Cavs' effort, Snider points out, "Baylor's ability to manage the ball and score in uncontrolled situations was the difference. Few Red Raider goals were scored on set plays. We have to improve on getting back on defense and getting in position. Our offense should continue to gel and I expect our defense to continue to perform."

The Cavs continue their schedule this Friday at home against Franklin High School, with game time set at 6 p.m.

CHS BOYS LACROSSE: Cavaliers dominate Trojans in opener

by Tim Holland

Sunday, March 6, 2011

HIXSON -- The Cookeville High School boys lacrosse team began its season Friday night with a dominating 16-4 victory over the Soddy-Daisy Trojans. The match was controlled by the Cavaliers from the start, with both offense and defense contributing to a dominating win.

The first quarter was close, ending with a 2-1 Cavalier lead. The team came out with what Coach Kurt Snider described as "a typical first game for us, energetic and frantic at times. But, when they settled down, they played well and took care of business."

Senior midfielder Chandler Gaw scored the first goal of the year with a strong drive down the center of the field. Senior Jamie Chapman added the second.

Snider praised the team's effort.

"Once they calmed down, they played very well," he said.

Cookeville took control of the game during the second period, outscoring the Trojans 8-1 for a 10 - 2 lead at the half. Ball possession was the key. Junior midfielder Nathan Holland led the Cavaliers. While dominating face-offs, he found the net five times during the second period. Grant Reed, Andrew McBroom and Chapman each scored to give the Cavs a comfortable lead at half-time that was too much for the Trojans to overcome.

The Cavaliers' solid play at the beginning of the second half cemented a solid win. Holland added two more goals, finishing with seven scores, with Reed, McBroom and Chapman each adding additional goals during the second half. Snider took advantage of the lead to give younger players valuable playing time. Freshman Abrham Reyes added the final score.

The defense, continuing its dominance as in years past, was aggressive and solid for the entire game, keeping the Trojans away from the cage. The Trojans were not allowed many shots and junior goalie Jordan Clark continued to be the anchor in the Cavalier defense, tallying eight saves and allowing only four goals.

Snider was optimistic with the continued solid play the Cavalier defense. The defense played a solid game, with Josh Bruce, Jesse Chapman and the other long-poles frustrating a young Trojan team.

Encouraged by the usual performance of Bruce and Chapman, Snider was further excited by the play of Lance Betcher, Austin Stafford, and long-pole midfielder, Josh Kranack. After a dominating effort, Snider is expecting "continued dominance on the defensive side of the field with another potent offensive attack."

Post-game, Snider told the team he saw improvement as the game went on, which was exactly what he was looking for. Snider said, "After settling down, the team played good lacrosse, the defense was solid, and we handled the ball well. We need to cut down on the time our team spent in the penalty box, but that will improve as we continue to gel."

He added that he was impressed with the effort and performance of the younger players.

The Cavaliers' next game is at home on Tuesday at the Cookeville High School Soccer complex against Baylor High School, the defending the Division II State champions. Game time is set for 6 p.m.

LACROSSE TOPS IN GRADUATION RATES!

Lacrosse had the highest graduation rate of all men's sports

according to a recent NCAA Graduation Success Rate study.

LAX had a 88 % rate while the overall GSR was 78 %.

The rank order of the sports were:

LAX (88), Water Polo (87), Fencing (86), Gymnastics (86),

Ice Hockey (83), Swimming (83), Tennis (83), Volleyball (83),

Skiing (82), Rifle (80), Golf (79), Soccer (79), CC/Track (74),

Wrestling (72), Baseball (68), Football (FBS) (67),

Football (FCS) 65 and Basketball (62).

Lacrosse Continues To Succeed In The Classroom!

LAX 2010 AWARDS LIST FOR CAVS!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE CAVS!

1st Team All-State

Geoff Pippin - Midfield

Geoff Pippin - Face Off

Jordan Clark - Goalie

Jamie Chapman - Attack

Josh "Bull" Bruce - Defense

2nd Team All-State

Logan Hartmann - Defense

Patrick Lee - Long Stick Midfield

1st Team D2 East All-Region

Jamie Chapman - Attack

Geoff Pippin - Midfield

Geoff Pippin - Face-Off Mid

Josh Bruce - Defense

Jordan Clark - Goalie

2nd Team D2 East All-Region

Patrick Lee - Long Stick Midfield

Grant Reed - Attack

Tyler Reed - Midfield

Jesse Chapman - Defense

Logan Hartmann - Defense

TN HIGH SCHOOL LAX CHAMPIONS 2010

Congratulations to McCallie & Baylor, Div 1 and Div 2 Champs

DIV 2 Champions: Baylor Red Raiders (they def. the Ensworth Tigers 9 - 6)

DIV 1 Champions: McCallie Blue Tornadoes (they def. MUS Owls 8 - 1)

2010 D2 East All-Region Recipients

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE CAVS ON THE LIST!

ATTACK

First Team All Region - Isaac Garner, Baylor

First Team All Region - Levi Shinn, Baylor

First Team All Region - Josh Wicks, Baylor

FIRST TEAM ALL REGION - JAMIE CHAPMAN, COOKEVILLE

Second Team All Region - Fletcher Austin, Webb

SECOND TEAM ALL REGION - GRANT REED, COOKEVILLE

Second Team All Region - Chris Reed, Webb

MIDFIELD

First Team All Region - Austin Cole, Baylor

FIRST TEAM ALL REGION - GEOFF PIPPIN, COOKEVILLE

First Team All Region - Sam Ector, Baylor

Second Team All Region - Connor Moore, Webb

Second Team All Region - Chad Seymour, Baylor

Second Team All Region - Steve Cox, Webb

SECOND TEAM ALL REGION - TYLER REED, COOKEVILLE

FACE/OFF MID

FIRST TEAM ALL REGION - GEOFF PIPPIN, COOKEVILLE

Second Team All Region - Carter Schmid, Webb

Second Team All Region - Patrick Vaughn, Baylor

LSM

First Team All Region - Matt Tidwell, Baylor

SECOND TEAM ALL REGION - PATRICK LEE, COOKEVILLE

Second Team All Region - Clarke Curfman, Webb

DEFENSE

First Team All Region - John Cofer, Baylor

First Team All Region - Nichols Millard, Baylor

FIRST TEAM ALL REGION - JOSH BRUCE, COOKEVILLE

SECOND TEAM ALL REGION - JESSE CHAPMAN, COOKEVILLE

Second Team All Region - Matt Lascola, Webb

SECOND TEAM ALL REGION - LOGAN HARTMANN, COOKEVILLE

Second Team All Region - Russell Maki, West Knox

GOALIE

FIRST TEAM ALL REGION - JORDAN CLARK, COOKEVILLE

Second Team All Region - Nick Russell, Baylor

TN HIGH SCHOOL LAX CHAMPIONS 2010

McCallie & Baylor, Div 1 and Div 2 Champs - Congrats to both!

UC Connections: Cookeville's Snider helps Tigers claim share of NCAC title

Craig Delk

From the HERALD-CITIZEN

Cookeville’s own Matt Snider (Photo/Wittenberg University)

Former Cookeville High School lacrosse standout Matt Snider has helped his team capture a share of a conference title. The junior attackman scored a goal in Wittenberg University's 12-6 loss to Ohio Wesleyan last Wednesday, but the Tigers were still able to capture a share of the North Coast Athletic Conference title, the first in team history.

The Tigers (10-4, 4-1 NCAC) have also qualified for their first NCAA Division III Tournament since the program was reinstated in 1983. They will travel to Roanoke this Wednesday for a 7 p.m. first-round matchup.

Snider has scored 17 goals and dished out eight assists for the Tigers this season.

MESSAGE FROM BOBBY:

"We really appreciate the show of support for us by wearing our patch this season; it means a great deal to us...Thanks again, guys, and GO CAVS!!!"

To honor our local National Guard troops currently in Iraq, the CHS Cavs are proudly wearing the patch of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment on their Lacrosse jerseys for the 2010 season.

SFC Bobby Lee - CHS Lacrosse Father & long time team supporter wears his CHS LAX shirt while serving in Iraq.

COME HOME SAFE BOBBY and THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

Our 2010 Sponsors - THANK YOU!

Mid-South Consultant Pharmacy Services- Van Sliger

Michael S Pippin, M.D.- Obstetrics and Gynecology

Cannon, Clark & Associates

State Beauty Supply

Ross Family Medicine

Cash Express

First National Bank of Tennessee

Stephen J. Chapman, D.P.M.- Family Foot Center

Putnam 1st Mercantile Bank

 

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TSLA Quarterfinals - 4/30/2010:

CHS VARSITY fall in OT to Pope John Paul II, 8 - 7.

CHS VARSITY finish the regular season with a 10 - 4 record, 10 - 5 overall.

 

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CHS boys lacrosse: Cavs lose heart-breaker to PJPII

 

 

Cookeville’s Geoff Pippin (13) tries to make a move around a Pope John Paul II defender during the Cavaliers’ 8-7, overtime loss Friday in the TSLA state quarterfinals. (Contributed photo/Stephanie Pippin)

 

 

Cookeville’s Ben Craven (12) disrupts a PJPII offensive player while defenseman Josh Bruce (45) prevents a goal Friday in the TSLA state quarterfinals. (Contributed photo/Stephanie Pippin)

 

 

Cookeville’s standout goalie Jordan Clark (26) prepares to stop a PJPII goal. (Contributed photo/Stephanie Pippin)

 

MARK FONTENOT

Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

 

Friday, April 30, 2010

 

HENDERSONVILLE -- The Cookeville boys lacrosse team jousted with the Knights of Pope John Paul II Friday night in the opening round of the Tennessee Scholastic Lacrosse Association Division II state tournament. Traveling to Hendersonville, the Cavaliers battled with the Knights, the defending state champions, but came up short, losing in overtime 8-7.

The game was always within reach, with the Cavs (11-5, 4-1) taking the lead late in the fourth period after an unassisted goal by senior Dylan Graves. But that score was answered by a goal by Pope John Paul to tie the contest and send it into overtime. The game marked the second time they have played the Knights within 10 days, and was one of the most physical and well-played contests by the Cavs this year.

The Knights took an early lead and stretched it to three goals midway through the second period, and led at the end of the first half by two scores. Scoring twice early in the second half, the Cavaliers tied the game at just under 11 minutes left in the third period when junior attack Jamie Chapman took a feed from Tyler Reed in front of the goal and flipped it behind his back and found the net.

Momentum seemed to shift, but each team answered scores by the other squad to keep it close throughout the second half. Neither team led by more than one goal, with Graves' unassisted goal late in the game giving the Cavs their only lead that looked like the difference-maker in a physical game where the officials allowed the boys to play.

"This was a heart-breaking loss", said Coach Kurt Snider. "The guys played their guts out today and gave the fans their money's worth. As a coach, there is nothing more fun than watching two good teams go at it in a tight game. I am so proud of our guys."

The victory was not to be as the Knights scored halfway into the first overtime session to end a strong and successful season by the Cavs. A season that many teams in Division II would have considered a grand accomplishment ended in disappointment for a talented group of juniors and seniors.

The usual Cavaliers spread the wealth, with senior midfielder Geoff Pippin scoring twice. Tyler and Grant Reed, Nathan Fontenot, Jamie Chapman and Dylan Graves each had single scores. In a game of mainly unassisted scoring, Nathan Holland and Tyler Reed each had an assist. The Cavaliers managed more shots on goal than the Knights, but PJP II's net-minder rose to the occasion, keeping the game close until the overtime when the Knights' offense ended the contest.

Sophomore goalie Jordan Clark had one his best games of the season, stopping 15 shots on goal, keeping the contest close throughout the second half. The Cavalier defensive front of Logan Hartman, Patrick Lee, Josh Bruce and Jesse Chapman battled throughout, helping Clark keep the game within reach. Patrick Lee played one of his best games of the year, scooping up eight ground balls and providing tough defense in the second half with effective and physical body and stick checking. Hartman and Bruce not only played a physical game, but also showed off their stick-handling, managing seven ground balls between them.

"We have solid group of guys coming back next season", coach Snider said. "It will be fun to watch which guys work hard in the off-season to compete for the spots vacated by our senior class. I am excited about our chances next year."

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CHS boys lacrosse: Cavs crush Irish, await seed

 

 

MARK FONTENOT

Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

 

Cookeville Senior #22 Logan Hartmann takes a tumble with a Father Ryan player during Tuesday nights final regular season game. (Contributed photo/Stephanie Pippin)

 

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

 

COOKEVILLE -- The Cookeville Cavalier boys lacrosse team ended another strong regular season, defeating the Irish from Father Ryan 12-2 on Tuesday. Celebrating senior night, the Cavs came out of the gate early and never trailed. Their 11-win regular season is the most ever in the Cavaliers' eight-year history and was a fitting end to another successful campaign.

After two losses to top-ranked Division II powers in their past two games, the Cavs (11-4, 4-1) left no doubt why they are considered one of the top-ranked teams in the state and should earn a high seed in the season-ending tournament, which starts this weekend.

Although junior attackman Jamie Chapman stole the show on senior night -- netting five goals on seven shots and helping out with an assist -- several seniors had outstanding games. Senior attack Nathan Fontenot scored the first two goals of the night less than 25 seconds apart midway in the first quarter, and found the net with less than a minute of the third quarter, completing a hat trick in his final regular-season game. He also assisted with one of senior Tyler Reed's two scores.

Senior midfielder Geoff Pippin continued to lead the offense, winning the face-off battle, managing several shots on goal, and scoring twice within 10 seconds early in the second period. Working together as a team, the Cavaliers managed eight assists, their most of the season. Complementing his two scores, Reed was unselfish, assisting on three of his mates' goals. Senior Dylan Graves and Tyler's brother, Grant, each had one assist.

"We have a great senior class this year," Cavaliers coach Kurt Snider said. "These are all quality guys who love the game and work hard on the field and in the classroom. It was nice that they finished the regular season in style with a win."

The defensive front dominated another game, playing almost penalty-free while allowing less than half of the shots on goal managed by the Cavalier offensive assault. Sophomore goalie Jordan Clark stopped 10 shots, allowing only one score by the Irish. Much of the Cavalier success this season is because of Jordan's net-minding and the strong play of the Cavalier defense.

Seniors Logan Hartman and Patrick Lee helped the offensive attack, scooping up eight ground balls between them. Juniors Josh Bruce and Jesse Chapman played their usual clean, menacing game, again frustrating the opponent's offense.

The Cavaliers continue play Friday night in the opening round of the TSLA Division II state tournament, but must wait for the outcome of a game later in the week by two other teams bound for post-season play to determine where they play. The expected outcome will result in Cookeville hosting its first state tournament game in their eight-year history. A win Friday will carry the Cavs to Memphis the following weekend to compete for the state title.

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CHS stumbles against talented Knights

 

MARK FONTENOT

Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

 

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

 

COOKEVILLE -- The Cookeville boys lacrosse team stumbled Tuesday night, losing to the Knights of Pope John Paul II, 11-7, in Cookeville. The Cavaliers battled the top-ranked team in the central region of Division II of the Tennessee Scholastic Lacrosse Association in their third game in five days.

Showing determination and hustle after two convincing road victories, the Cavs (9-3, 3-0) simply couldn't outscore a talented and well-disciplined squad. Expecting a tough contest, Cookeville fell behind early, missed several opportunities, and ran out of time in a tough defeat that could very easily have had a different outcome.

Rattling several shots off of the cage and not capitalizing on numerous open looks, the Cavs came up short in one of their most physical contests of the year. Equaling the Knights in shots on goal and the face-off battle, the Cavaliers just couldn't get their shots to find the net. Two evenly-matched offensive and defensive powers split time on each others' side of the turf, but Pope John Paul managed to outscore the Cavs in well-played second and third periods, building a deficit of 10-6 at the end of the third session the home team just could not overcome.

"It was a lot to ask the boys to play a top-ranked team after playing a road game the night before," said Cavs Coach Kurt Snider. "PJP is very good in transition, and I could tell our guys were a little tired and had trouble getting back on defense. But, they did turn it around in the second half and played much better. They had great looks at the goal but couldn't hit the net."

The defense again was a presence that kept victory within reach. Senior defenseman Logan Hartman continued to perform on offense and defense. Picking up several ground balls and accomplishing numerous solo clears of the midfield line, he managed two shots on goal, finding the net on a full-sprint effort. His third score of the season brought the Cavs within reach of the Knights late in the third period. The defensive line of Hartman, Josh Bruce, Jesse Chapman and Patrick Lee again played a strong, tough game without a penalty and kept the battle within reach until the Cavs simply ran out of time.

Junior Jamie Chapman continued to lead the offensive attack, scoring twice and assisting senior midfielder Dylan Graves with his goal. The Reed brothers completed the scoring, with Grant scoring twice and Tyler once. Although midfielder Geoff Pippin went scoreless for the first game of the season, he was an offensive force, battling face-offs, managing eight shots on goal, and gathering more ground balls than any other Cavalier.

"I was glad we had the chance to play these guys in the regular season," Snider said. "We may see them in the playoffs, and with fresh legs we will be better prepared to play them if we get the opportunity."

Although they came up short in Tuesday night's contest, it was good preparation for the rest of the season, with the Cavaliers expecting a middle or high seed in the state tourney beginning May 1. The Cavaliers continue play in a regional contest Friday night when they travel to Chattanooga's Baylor to battle the top-ranked team in Division II.

The Cavaliers were scheduled to play Saturday against another strong opponent, St. George's Independent School, also from the Memphis area.

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CHS boys lacrosse: Cavaliers dominate Warriors

 

 

MARK FONTENOT

Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

 

Cookeville’s #15 Dylan Graves scores a goal against West Knox in a dominating win, 13 -2. (Contributed photo/Stephanie Pippin)

 

Monday, April 19, 2010

 

KNOXVILLE -- The Cookeville Cavalier boys' lacrosse team took another step in their quest for a third undefeated Eastern region record in the past four years with a victory against the West Knox Warriors last night in Knoxville, 13-2. Resulting in another double-digit tally and score differential this season, the game provided additional momentum as they go against two Tennessee Division II powers later in the week.

As in the past few contests, the Cavaliers (9-2, 3-0) took a while to get going. The offense managed only one goal on its first 24 shots. A shifty playing surface and good goal-tending by the Warrior net-minder resulted in a 1-1 draw at the end of the first period.

After settling down in the second period, the deluge began. The Cavs scored five goals in the last five minutes of the second period to end the first half with a 6-1 lead. Carrying their momentum into the second half, the Cavaliers scored five more times to lead at the end of the third quarter 11-2 and added two more goals in the final period to complete a total domination of a young, but improving, lacrosse team.

"We had a lot of great looks at the goal in the first quarter, but our shooting was a little off and their goalie was playing very well," said Cavaliers coach Kurt Snider. "Our execution really improved in the second and the ball started to find the net. Our attack played great defense in our offensive zone, and that also set up some scores in unsettled situations."

Senior midfielder Geoff Pippin had his most impressive effort of the season, leading the offensive assault. Scoring four goals and assisting with another, he was also in complete command of the face-off battle, losing only once while winning 11. Control of the face-offs made it easy to keep the ball on the offensive side of the field, making sophomore goalie Jordan Clark a spectator most of the night.

While the team has leaned on Clark most of the season, he was able to enjoy one of the most productive offensive efforts of the season from afar. Managing a season-high 58 shots on goal and 41 clears of the midfield line, Cookeville totally dominated the match.

The defensive force of Logan Hartman, Josh Bruce, Jesse Chapman and Patrick Lee played a penalty-free game and completely shut down the Warriors, allowing only 19 shots on goal. Hartman continues to provide a smooth transition from defense to offense, scooping up eight ground balls and accomplishing seven solo clears. Frustrated by the relentless pursuit of the Cavalier defenders, West Knox's offensive effort was futile, going scoreless in the final 16:47 of the game.

The usual cast of characters rounded out the scoring. Junior attackman Jamie Chapman had four goals. Senior attack Nathan Fontenot had a goal and an assist, feeding Dylan Graves for a sweet, top-shelf netting in the final period for one of his two scores. Tyler and Grant Reed and Nathan Holland completed the scoring with single goals. Additional assists by Grant and Tyler Reed, Ben Craven and Andrew McBroom rounded out an entertaining night of lacrosse at the expense of the Warriors.

"West Knox has a good, young team and it was great to see our guys rise to the occasion," Snider said. "We locked up at least a 4 or 5 seed in the playoffs with this win, and with games against PJP2 and Baylor this week the boys are going to have to bring their A game in both contests to have a shot of finishing the regular season on top of D2."

The Cavs continue play with a home game against central regional leader Pope John Paul II from Nashville tonight at 6 p.m.

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CHS boys lacrosse: Cavs notch thrilling 3OT win over Webb

 

 

MARK FONTENOT

Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

 

Cookeville’s Defense played tough in this thrilling victory - #45 Josh Bruce and #25 Jessie Chapman fight to return the ball to the offense. (Contributed photo/Stephanie Pippin)

 

Friday, April 16, 2010

 

COOKEVILLE -- The Cookeville boys' lacrosse team avenged prior-year losses to Webb School-Knoxville, outlasting the Spartans 10-9 Friday night in Cookeville. But, it didn't come easy. The Cavaliers battled Webb through 48 minutes of regulation play, two four-minute sudden-victory overtimes and halfway into a third overtime session before junior midfielder Jamie Chapman took the ball from the top of the box, beat his defender and scored an unassisted goal, ending a spectacular display of goal-tending, offensive action and defensive play by two highly-ranked Division II Eastern Region foes. Their contests always seem to be settled in the final seconds, and this year was no different.

Similar to the Cavs' final regular-season victory two years ago that clinched their second-straight undefeated region schedule, the Cavaliers (8-2) battled back after trailing late in the game to equal and eventually defeat an always well-coached and equally-matched lacrosse team. The Cavalier faithful look forward to their perennial contests with Webb-Knox, and Friday's battle was no disappointment. As strong as any team the home squad has faced the year, their usual strengths again powered the Cavs to another victory.

"This was another great character win for us", said Cavs coach Kurt Snider. "Webb Knox is probably the best defensive team in D2, and for the guys to come back from three goals down was amazing. I think there is a mutual respect between our two programs, and we both look forward to the game knowing it is going to be a battle."

Sophomore goalie Jordan Clark kept the opposition out of the net, enabling the offensive assault to put an end to the longest game played by the Cavaliers in their eight-year history. Clark stopped 19 shots, with each save more important as the overtime periods wore on.

The defense again held their ground, frustrating and limiting their opponent to another single-digit tally. Long-pole Logan Hartman was a deciding factor on both sides of the turf. While gathering numerous ground balls, one of his many clears resulted in a full-field solo effort, ending in a rare goal by a defender. The dominance of other defenders Josh Bruce, Jesse Chapman and Patrick Lee was a repetition of prior Cavalier contests, enabling four unanswered goals to end the game, down by three scores late in regulation.

"Jordan had another stellar game in the cage", Snider said. "He really stood on his head during the overtime periods. Though Jamie Chapman made an incredible move and shot to win the game, the defense created the opportunity for him. That's why lacrosse is such a great team sport. Though some guys may get some recognition, they are standing on the shoulders of others who laid the foundation."

The Cavalier offense was again led by a barrage of smooth, crisp passes and patient shot-making. Jamie Chapman netted four goals, with Grant Reed and Geoff Pippin each scoring twice. Hartman and Tyler Reed added single goals. The Cavs were able to defeat the Spartans with only three assists, Grant Reed with two and Chapman helping out once.

The Cavs continue their regional schedule when they visit West Knoxville on Monday, April 19.

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CHS boys lacrosse: Cavaliers knock off D-1 foe Univ. School of Nashville

 

 

MARK FONTENOT

Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

 

Cookeville’s Grant Reed tries to get by a University School of Nashville defender during the Cavaliers’ 13-9 win Tuesday. (Contributed photo/Stephanie Pippin)

 

Wednesday, April 13, 2010

 

NASHVILLE -- The Cookeville boys' lacrosse team defeated the University School of Nashville Tigers on Tuesday in the most competitive game of their current campaign. Finally testing their game against an evenly matched squad, the Cavs defeated a skilled and well-coached Division I team 13-9.

Normally used to having their way against their opponents, the Cavs found themselves scoreless and down 2-0 at the end of the first period. If not for a stellar goal-tending performance by sophomore net-minder, Jordan Clark, the game would have gotten out of hand quickly. Clark stopped a season-high 20 shots, many coming in rapid succession directly in front of the goal. Essentially outplayed in the first half, the Cavs came out flat, but, regained their composure, settled down, ran their offense and battled back to lead at the end of the first half, 6-4.

For the first time this season, the Cavs (7-2) were outshot and lost the face-off battle. But, as has been the norm, the defense dominated, enabling the offense to out-score USN, the stat that really matters. Pulling away in the second half, the Cavs finally got in their offensive rhythm, leading by six scores with a little more than three minutes left in the game. The final Tiger growls came so late in the contest that they were of no threat.

A supreme and assertive comeback effort by the Cavs after a scoreless first quarter provided a confidence-builder leading into a much-awaited rematch with Webb School-Knoxville. Webb knocked the Cavs out of the state playoffs last year with back-to-back defeats in the final two games, both at their place.

"What was impressive about tonight's win was the unselfish play," Cavaliers coach Kurt Snider said. "On offense the guys were always looking for one more pass to get the best shot. That is a sign of maturity and improved chemistry. It was fun to watch. Our three-man game with the attack was working and we also ran some nice fast breaks."

The scoring was again spread among a talented offense, with Grant Reed and Geoff Pippin each scoring three times. Senior attack Nathan Fontenot and junior midfielder Jamie Chapman netted two goals each, with single scores by Ben Craven, Nathan Holland and Tyler Reed. Senior midfielder Pippin had his most productive offensive effort of the year. While scoring three times, he also fed his mates with four assists. Fontenot and Chapman ended the match with two assists each and Grant Reed helped out with one.

The Cavalier defense was once again at full-force with the return of Logan Hartman. Hartman, Patrick Lee, Josh Bruce and Jesse Chapman frustrated the Tigers, dominating as usual. Allowing single-digit goals for the seventh straight game, the offense has scored at least 13 times per game over the same span. The goal-tending of Clark and relentless pursuit of the long poles continue to provide an overwhelming presence, while the offense continues to gel.

"Our defense struggled a little in the first half until we could figure out what they were doing offensively, but they tightened up in the second and shut down some of their best offensive players," Snider said. "I think Jordan Clark had 14 saves in the first half and that really helped keep their scoring under control. Geoff Pippin had a hard time against their face-off man in the first half, but he also turned that around in the second and started winning face-offs. The boys kept grinding away and good things started to happen."

"It was great to get our first win against a quality D1 opponent, and this game was excellent preparation for Webb Knox on Friday," Snider added. "They are a great program and always come to play."

The Cavaliers continue their season on Friday, hosting regional foe Webb-Knoxville.

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CHS LACROSSE: Cavaliers slay No. 7 Collierville Dragons

 

MARK FONTENOT

Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

 

Friday, April 9, 2010

 

COLLIERVILLE -- The Cookeville boys lacrosse club continued the domination of its Division II opponents with a thrashing of the Collierville Dragons on Friday with a 15-6 victory. Traveling to the Memphis area to test their strength against the seventh-ranked team in the state, the Cavs again dominated and showed continued improvement in their teamwork and aggressive play.

Continuing their dominance of the offensive side of the turf, the Cavs (5-2) jumped to an early lead, ahead of the Dragons 7-1 at the end of the first quarter. The offensive attack was once again led by a balanced effort, with several players scoring and assisting others. Senior midfielder Geoff Pippin dominated faceoffs, winning 14 while losing only three. Several players netted multiple goals; Pippin and junior Jamie Chapman had three, with brothers Tyler and Grant Reed each finding the net twice. Single goals were added by Nathan Fontenot, Nathan Holland, Andrew McBroom, Dylan Graves and Ben Craven.

"We jumped on those guys early," Cavaliers coach Kurt Snider said. "The boys were sharp from the opening whistle and they took advantage of every opening their defense gave us. Our guys ran crisp cuts, saw the field well, passed accurately and finished with good shots. You can't ask for much more than that."

Continuing their offensive teamwork, the Cavs had their most assists of the season, with Grant Reed helping out twice. Tyler Reed, Craven, Holland and Chapman each had one assist. Defensive superiority again helped keep the ball in the hands of the offense and kept the Dragons in their cave. The offense again managed almost 50 shots on goal while the defense allowed only 25. Sophomore goalie Jordan Clark had another strong game, stopping 11 shots, many directly in front of the goal.

Continuing to hold their composure and playing a clean game, the Cavs committed only four penalties, while the Dragons were assessed eight. The defensive presence continued with Josh Bruce, Jesse Chapman and Patrick Lee frustrating a well-coached and skilled lacrosse team, considered one of the best in the west Tennessee region.

"Our long poles were suffocating, physical when they needed to be, and played with great control," Snider said. "Jordan had another great game in the cage, making some momentum-killing saves. We still need to clear the ball with a little more composure, but that will come.

"We (the coaching staff) were really proud of their effort, considering it has been spring break and our practice schedule was lighter than normal."

Defensive coordinator Steven Crook added, "The defense played a relatively sharp game. Our one-on-one defense was excellent."

The Cavaliers were scheduled to play Saturday against another strong opponent, St. George's Independent School, also from the Memphis area.

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CHS boys lacrosse: Cavaliers outlast Centennial

 

 

MARK FONTENOT

Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

 

Cookeville's Jamie Chapman advances the ball against a pair of Centennial defenders during the Cavaliers 11-5 win Tuesday night. (Contributed photo/Stephanie Pippin)

 

Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010

 

COOKEVILLE -- The Cookeville boys lacrosse team avenged a prior-season overtime loss to Nashville's Centennial with a convincing 11-5 victory last night in Cookeville. Continuing their dominant offensive attack, the Cavs outshot the Cougars 44-26 while the Cavalier defense again proved too much for the opposition.

Dominating face-offs, a fast, powerful offense, and a smothering defense enabled Cookeville to outlast Centennial, who challenged the Cavs (4-2) with their toughest Division 2 test thus far. The Cougars managed to hang with the Cavaliers through the first half, ending with a 5-3 score, but relentless defensive pursuit and efficient offensive play in the second half led the way to another home win.

Coach Kurt Snider continues to be pleased with the Cavaliers play. "We (the coaching staff) were very proud of the guys tonight," Snider said. "The boys came out strong from the opening whistle with a lot of energy and set the tone early. Centennial is well-coached and always puts a solid team on the field. I knew if the boys didn't come to play, the outcome could have been different."

The offensive attack was again led by experienced juniors and seniors, with Jamie Chapman leading the offense, scoring three times and adding an assist. Seniors Nathan Fontenot and Geoff Pippin added two scores each, with single goals by Tyler Reed, Grant Reed and Andrew McBroom. Senior long-pole Logan Hartman, while scooping up four ground balls and completing six clears, added an offensive presence, finding the net after a solo full-field clear and assisting with Fontenot's first score.

Grant Reed kept it in the family, feeding his brother, Tyler, for a smooth second-half goal. The Cavaliers dominated every offensive category. In addition to outshooting and outscoring the Cougars, they also powered to more clears and won more face-offs. The defense was again dominant, menacing the Cougars' offense with relentless pursuit. Sophomore goalie Jordan Clark did his job, stopping 10 shots. After the game, Coach Kurt Snider had nothing but praise for Clark's effort.

"Jordan came through in a big way tonight," Snider bragged. "He stopped two second-half shots right on the doorstep that led to midfield clears. It adds a lot of confidence to our defensive effort knowing Jordan's minding the net."

Patrick Lee had his most productive defensive effort of the season, scooping up four ground balls and managing three clears of the midfield line. Josh "Bull" Bruce and Jessie Chapman continued to be dominant presences in the Cavs' defense. Coach Snider added, "Tonight's game was a classic team effort. We had balanced scoring from our midfield and attack. The defense was solid, stepping up when our offense broke down. Our goalie made some incredible saves in clutch situations."

The Cavs again played a clean game, committing only three penalties, resulting in a mere two minutes playing a man short. The ever-optimistic Snider said, "I am excited about the rest of the season. The guys have the potential to do something special. It will depend on how hard they are willing to work to refine their game as we approach contests with some of the elite teams in our division."
The Cavs enjoy a short spring break before traveling to Memphis for games against Collierville and St. George's on April 9 and 10.

Both opponents are ranked in the top seven in Division II, with the Cavs ranked fourth prior to Tuesday night's convincing win.

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CHS boys lacrosse: Cavs trample Feet, notch another dominating win

 

 

MARK FONTENOT

Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

 

Cookeville’s Geoff Pippin makes his way around a Webb defender during the Cavaliers’ 15-2 win over the Feet on Tuesday evening in Cookeville. (Contributed photo/Stephanie Pippin)

 

Thursday, Mar 25, 2010

 

COOKEVILLE -- The Cookeville boys lacrosse team (3-2) continued its winning ways against perennial rival Webb School-Bell Buckle with another strong victory Tuesday, besting the Feet 15-2. The win was their third double-digit goal differential in their young season. Pregame expectations by Cavs coach Kurt Snider were for a close game against a usually strong Webb squad, but the Cavs again came out of the gates in a big way, ending the first quarter with an early lead.

Snider was happy with the Cavaliers' start. "The boys made a nice jump in their development," Snider said. "The opening period was exactly what the coaching staff was looking for, crisp ball movement, patient offense, and good shot selection. All of that led to a 7-0 first-period lead."

But, he added, "We need to play that way the entire game and hopefully we are moving in that direction."

The Cavalier offensive attack again showed improvement, managing 50 shots on goal, with their menacing defense allowing only 15. Snider again praised the Cavs' defense. "Our defense was not challenged tonight, but they did their job when needed. They played very clean and did a nice job clearing the ball."

The defense was able to shut down the Feet's offense while playing the game with no penalties. The Cavs again held their composure as Webb committed seven penalties, resulting in six minutes with a one-man advantage for the Cavs. Josh Bruce and Logan Hartman led the defensive presence, picking up numerous ground balls and powering to six solo clears between them. The Cavaliers were able to clear the midfield line 24 times, making it easy for the offense to dominate.

As in prior wins, the offensive attack was balanced, with six Cavs scoring, five with multiple goals. Midfielder Jamie Chapman led Cookeville with four goals. Seniors Nathan Fontenot and Geoff Pippin added three goals each. The scoring was rounded out with Grant Reed and Dylan Graves each finding the net twice, and Andrew McBroom adding a single goal. Seven of the goals were assisted, with brothers Tyler and Grant Reed helping out with two assists. Fontenot, Pippin, and McBroom each had one assist.

Senior midfielder Pippin dominated his face-offs, keeping the ball on the Cavs' offensive side much of the game. Senior goalie Dylan Loftis was almost perfect, stopping six shots in the second half, providing experienced goal-tending while backups logged even more playing time.

While dominating the last two contests with big wins, Coach Snider remains on the alert. "Our schedule gets a lot tougher from here on out," Snider said. "The guys did what had to be done with these early region games and we are going to work them hard to keep the momentum going."

The Cavs travel east for a Friday battle with West Knoxville, before hosting Centennial (Nashville) on March 30 at 6 p.m.

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CHS Boys Lacrosse 2009 Season Accolades

 

ALL REGIONAL TEAM 2009

 

First Team Faceoff: Geoff Pippin

First Team Goalie: Ethan Woods

First Team Midfield: Geoff Pippin

First Team Defense: Nathan Xander

First Team LSM: Patrick Lee

Second Team Attack: Dylan Graves, Sam Stout

Second Team Midfield: Tyler Reed

 

ALL STATE TEAM 2009

 

First Team Faceoff: Geoff Pippin

First Team Midfield: Geoff Pippin

First Team Defense: Nathan Xander

Second Team Goalie: Ethan Woods

 

 

Cavs earn several TSLA awards

 

 

Craig Delk

Herald-Citizen Sports Editor
Saturday, Jun 06, 2009

 

COOKEVILLE -- Over the past few years, the Cookeville boys lacrosse program has grown to the point where it is noticed on a statewide level.

With three consecutive trips to the TSLA state tournament, the Cavaliers landed three players on the all-state team. Senior defenseman Nathan Xander and junior midfielder Geoff Pippin were named to the first team, while senior goalie Ethan Woods was named to the second team. Pippin made the first team for midfield and for face-off.

In addition, junior long-stick midfielder Patrick Lee was named to the first team all-East Region squad, while junior midfielder Tyler Reed, senior attackman Sam Stout and junior attackman Dylan Graves were voted to the all-region second team.

Xander, Pippin and Woods were excited to find out they were voted to the all-state team.

"It's an honor to be up there with all the best guys in the state," Xander said. "I've just gotta give it to my coaches, because without them obviously I wouldn't have made it this far."

Added Pippin, "I was pretty excited. I was hoping (CHS coach Kurt Snider) was right because he told me he'd be surprised if I didn't do it, so I was really hoping it was actually true."

Woods said he was hoping for a first-team nod, but is honored to be named all-state either way.

"It's a cool thing being named as one of the best players in the state," Woods said. "I was a little disappointed that I didn't get first team, but it was still cool to know that I was up there with them."

Snider said Xander is a player who got better each year with hard work.

"He's been a great kid who has always worked hard on his game," Snider said. "He went to camps in the summer, and just every year he got better and better. He could play in college if he wanted to; he had some offers to play, but none of the colleges who were looking at him had the academic programs he was interested in so he kind of put that first."

Pippin, meanwhile, was a force scoring goals and in the middle of the field afterward, with 30 goals scored and 123 face-off wins. He also controlled 98 ground balls and dished out 12 assists.

"Geoff was one of those guys that really makes coaching fun," Snider said. "To see the transition that they make from their sophomore to junior year, sometimes you really find a passion for the sport and his game really took a huge jump.

"He became a great face-off guy for us," Snider continued. "Derek Malone was a good face-off guy we had, but Geoff took it to another level to be honest with you. He had almost an 80 percent success rate this year. When you get the ball almost every time you face off, it gives you a huge advantage. That was big."

Woods, meanwhile, was a defensive wall for the Cavaliers in goal. He gave up just 4.69 goals per game, with 138 saves and a .693 save percentage.

"From sixth grade on, he really embraced the goalie position," Snider said regarding Woods. "If you get a goalie that's really into it, it's really valuable because we're always trying to coax kids into trying to play goalie. It's probably the toughest position on the field; it takes a lot of nerve to stand in there and have guys throw balls at you 90 miles per hour."

Snider added, "He's another guy who I would love to see play in college, but he academically wanted to go in a different direction. Hopefully, he'll stay in town and help me coach or something like that. He was a great goalie."

The all-region winners also made a big impact for the Cavaliers. Stout tallied 17 goals and 18 assists in 11 games played, while Graves contributed 12 goals and 14 assists.

Reed scored nine goals and delivered five assists, and Lee secured 40 ground balls

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Cavs' close out season in TSLA playoffs

 

 

Cookeville’s Tyler Reed battles the elements and a Webb defender during the Cavs’ 10-7 loss to the Spartans in Knoxville on Saturday. The loss ended the Cavaliers’ season. (Contributed photo)

 

May 4 ,2009

By RICK WOODS
Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

 

KNOXVILLE -- On Saturday, the Cookeville boys lacrosse team made its second trip to Knoxville Webb in a week, this time with hopes of more consistent play and a better outcome. But the Spartans' physical style and determination proved too much, and the Cavs were eliminated from the TSLA playoffs with a 10-7 loss.

"This is probably the best overall team we've ever had talent wise," said head coach Kurt Snider, "but we just couldn't seem to put together a complete game when we needed it."

"Today we got caught up in playing their game. They're very physical and we're more of a finesse team. I would call a timeout and get them to settle down and focus, and we'd go out and run our offense and score a goal. But within a few minutes, we'd go right back to playing their physical style, and that played into their hands," Snider said.

"The Webb kids wanted it more. I think we have more individual skill, but it's like Ricco (Webb coach) said, they win with will not with skill. I've got to hand it to them for their effort."

The Cavaliers got off to a good start, controlling ball possession and making good on three of 11 first-quarter shots, while the Spartans proved to be more efficient, scoring twice on seven attempts in the quarter.

Webb outscored Cookeville two goals to one in the second period to tie the game at 4-4 at the half. It was in the second half that CHS came up short.

The Spartans controlled possession much of the third period and took 12 shots, capitalizing on three, to the Cavs' 10 shots and one goal, and Webb took a two-goal lead 7-5 going into the fourth.

The Cavs pulled to within one early in the final frame, but the Spartans responded with three scores and pulled away for the 10-7 victory.

Cookeville was led in scoring by senior attackman Sam Stout, who had three goals and two assists in his prep career finale. Junior Geoff Pippin, the Cavs' leading scorer on the season and dominant face-off specialist, scored two goals and had one assist while winning 12 of the contested face-offs. The Reed brothers, Tyler and Grant, added the remaining scores for the Cavs with one goal each.

Senior goalie Ethan Woods contributed 13 saves in the game while senior defensemen Nathan Xander and Jonathan Bruce had three and four ground balls respectively. Fellow senior Heath Randolph also finished his career contributing as a midfielder to both the offensive and defensive efforts.

"What chokes me up is that these seniors are gone," said Snider. "Ethan is the last of the original players who started with the program in middle school, and I've coached all of these guys all the way through -- Heath, Nathan, Sam, Jon Bruce -- they're all very special to me. It's been a great experience with that group of guys."

"It's a testimony to the program that we're not just turning out good lacrosse players, we've got good kids. I'm very proud of them all," Snider said.

The Cavs finished the season with 8 wins and 5 losses and made the playoffs for the third consecutive year, and the future looks bright. While the team will miss the five graduating seniors, they return more than 40 players from this year's roster. Perhaps another year of maturity and another season to improve already sound stick skills will take them to a state championship next season.

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Cavaliers see another close game slip Away

 

 

Cookeville's Heath Randolph fires a shot during the Cavaliers' 11-10 loss to Centennial on Tuesday. (Contributed p

hoto)

April 29,2009

By RICK WOODS
Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

FRANKLIN -- The Cookeville High School boys lacrosse team has been haunted by losing close games this season, and Tuesday night's visit to Centennial High School in Franklin was no exception as the Cavs saw the Cougars come from behind in the last two minutes to hand them their fourth one-point loss of the season, 11-10.

"We still don't know how to finish a game," said head coach Kurt Snider. "When you're up two you've got to exhibit patience and take care of the ball, and we didn't do that late in the game."

Assistant coach Jamie Couch agreed, "We had the game, we just didn't finish. We have to win a close game for a change."

The Cavs have outscored their opponents 135 to 66 in 12 games, but their four losses have come by a total of four points.

The Cougars jumped out to the early advantage when their leading scorer Jacob Estrada found the net on their first possession, but the Cavaliers responded when defensive specialist Nathan Xander took the ball "coast to coast" to tie the game at 1-1.

Shortly thereafter, Grant Reed took a pass from Nathan Holland and converted with a shot past the Cougar goalie for a 2-1 CHS lead. Centennial's Dan Fuller tied the game at 2-2 with an unassisted goal before Cookeville ran off three straight goals by Reed, Jamie Chapman and Nathan Fontenot to finish the quarter with a 5-2 lead.

The second period saw both clubs record two goals each, with both Cavalier scores coming from the stick of sophomore Reed, his third and fourth of the game. The Centennial scores were contributed by Dan Fuller and Arness Holsey, but the Cookeville lead remained at three at the half.

Things began to unravel for the Cavs in the third period when they committed six unforced turnovers and had five failed clears, each time giving the ball back to Centennial. The Cougars offered 13 shots in the quarter while the Cavaliers managed only six, but two of those six found the net for Cookeville and three were scored by Cougar Estrada to pull Centennial within two, 9-7 at the end of the third.

Estrada scored again to open the fourth quarter and pull his team to within a single point at 9-8, but Heath Randolph responded for Cookeville with his second goal of the day to again widen the lead to two at 10-8. With just under four minutes to play, Holsey found an opening in the Cavalier defense and scored to begin the Centennial comeback.

It was attackman Holsey who broke clear again for the Cougars with about two and a half minutes to go, and deliver an uncontested shot on goal to tie the game at 10-10.

Cookeville won the ensuing faceoff, but was unable to capitalize on the possession and with just over a minute to play, Cougar Mike Schwind completed the comeback scoring the game-winner for Centennial.

While it was physical errors that hurt the Cavs in the third quarter, it was mental mistakes that led to their downfall in the fourth.

According to Snider, "We had poor communication defensively" which gave Centennial some open shots.

"I know this is a real disappointing loss for us," Snider said to his team after the game, "but I'm proud of you guys, and I'm proud of the fact that you didn't quit. We can learn from this and be better next time out."

The Cavs were led in scoring by Reed with four goals, followed by Randolph with two. Xander, Chapman, Fontenot and Geoff Pippin contributed one goal each, while Andrew McBroom, Holland and Pippin had one assist each. Defensively, five different Cavs scooped up five ground balls each: Xander, Chapman, Pippin, McBroom and Patrick Lee. Ethan Woods had 13 saves in goal and Jordan Clark had one key save in the final quarter.

The Cavs will likely be the eighth seed in the state tournament which begins on Saturday, May 2, and will play at the No. 1 seed home field which has not yet been determined.

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Cavs get big win over Notre Dame

 

 

Cookeville’s Boston Maxwell gets ready to scoop up a ground ball during the Cavaliers’ 16-4 win over Notre Dame on Sunday in Chattanooga. (Contributed photo/Stephanie Pippin)

 

April 27,2009

By RICK WOODS
Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

 

CHATTANOOGA -- The Cookeville Cavalier boys lacrosse team got back on the winning track in a big way Sunday afternoon, taking a 16-4 decision over TSLA east region foe Notre Dame.

While the Cavs dominated statistics, head coach Kurt Snider is still looking for more consistency from his players.

"At times we looked great today," Snider said. "But we can't seem to put a complete game together. If we play smart lacrosse our fundamentals are down. When we're executing well fundamentally, we seem to make poor decisions. We're capable of putting it all together, and that's what we need Tuesday against Centennial."

Once again, CHS used offensive diversity to put up 16 goals score by nine different players.

"We're getting good balanced offense," said Snider. "When I see assisted goals, that means the guys are seeing field and sharing the ball and executing effectively, and that makes us more difficult to defend."

Junior attackman Dylan Graves led the scoring for the Cavalier offense, with three goals and two assists, and junior midfielder Tyler Reed contributed three goals and one assist.

"I thought Dylan and Tyler both had really good games," said Snider. "We've been working on shooting to the goalie's off hand side, and Tyler did an excellent job with that in the game today. Dylan played smart and saw the field really well today and gave us a good offensive boost."

Defensively, the Cavs were led by junior long pole middie/defender Patrick Lee, who secured nine ground balls on the afternoon.

"P. Lee played the best he's ever played today. He had great scoops and he was smart about what to do with the ball once he got it, and he stayed out of the penalty box. I've been really pleased with his maturation as a player," Snider said.

Cookeville started slowly, but managed three first-quarter goals, one each by Graves, Reed and Nathan Fontenot, while holding the Irish to a single score.

It was Reed, Graves, and Fontenot with scores again in the second period while the Cavs defense shut out Notre Dame, and CHS led 6-1 at the half.

The Cookeville offense opened up in the second half, putting up five goals in both the third and fourth quarters while limiting Notre Dame to two third period and one fourth quarter scores.

Junior midfielder and Cavs leading scorer Geoff Pippin had one goal in each of the final two quarters. Sophomore attackman Jamie Chapman contributed two goals in the third period, and sophomore middie Andrew McBroom scored one in the third as did Graves.

The fourth quarter points were scored by Tyler Reed, his brother Grant Reed, Pippin, sophomore Matt Sliger, and a goal sure to make the Cavs highlight reel scored by senior defender Nathan Xander.

Assists were recorded by Graves (2), Tyler Reed (1), Chapman (1), Pippin (1), Fontenot (1), and Grant Reed (1). Pippin also tallied 13 face-off wins and six ground balls.

The Cavs wrap up the regular season Tuesday night in an important game at Centennial which will determine their playoff fate.

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Cavs fall to Webb in nail-biter

 

 

Cookeville’s Nathan Holland moves upfield during the Cavs’ 6-5 loss to Webb Knox on Friday. (Contributed photo/Stephanie Pippin

 

April 26,2009

By RICK WOODS
Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

KNOXVILLE -- If you're on the winning side you call Friday night's matchup between Cookeville and the Webb Spartans an exciting contest, but if you're on the short end of a 6-5 score like the Cavs were, you call the loss a bitter disappointment. Either way, it was close, competitive, and an overall great high school lacrosse game.

"The loss is disappointing and the way we played was frustrating, but it (the game) sure was exciting," said CHS coach Kurt Snider. "I think the telling stat was our 11 turnovers. We didn't catch and throw well, and that hurt us."

Cookeville opened the game exhibiting a patient and settled offensive attack that allowed them to maintain possession and keep the ball away from Webb early on. The Cavs put the first points on the board with 5:11 to go in the first quarter when Dylan Graves found Geoff Pippin cutting to the goal on a give-and-go play, and Pippin fired a shot past the Spartan goalie for a 1-0 lead.

The Cavs increased the lead to 2-0 at the 2:18 mark as senior attackman Sam Stout scored with an assist from Heath Randolph.

"We missed another good scoring opportunity early when we were already up two goals, and we dropped the ball right in front of the crease before getting off the shot. I thought that was a bit of a momentum changer," said Snider.

The Spartans swiped the momentum and got on the board with 51 seconds to play in the first as senior attack Ken Coffey scored an unassisted goal, his first of four on the day.

Coffey added two more scores in the second period while the Cavs failed to capitalize on any of their eight shots, and the Spartans led 3-2 at the half.

CHS never seemed to regroup or return to the patient and efficient offense it utilized earlier in the game. Instead, the third period saw the Webb offense play keep-away, and the Cavs play throw-away, as they committed five turnovers and failed on four defensive clears.

Webb moved ahead 4-2 on a man advantage goal by Chris Reed less than two minutes into the third quarter, but the Cavs pulled back to within one with 4:54 to play in the period on a goal by freshman midfielder Nathan Holland. The Spartans struck back two minutes later on another Coffey goal and led 5-3 going into the last quarter.

Once again CHS cut the lead to one at the 9:30 mark in the fourth when Nathan Fontenot took a pass from Randolph and converted for the score. This time, it was the Spartans' Reed who tallied his second of the game to put Webb up by two at 6-4 with 6:57 to play.

The last two minutes proved to be the most exciting as the Spartans attempted to stall and the Cavs played pressure defense to win possession. With 1:18 remaining, Graves passed to Fontenot in front of the crease and as the Webb goalie came out of the cage to defend, Fontenot found the open net for the score.

Now within one, the Cavs needed possession and a quick goal to force overtime, and while Pippin won the face-off and Patrick Lee secured the ground ball, the Cavs were unable to capitalize on the possession and the Spartans took the win 6-5.

"I think in many ways we're better than they are, we just didn't play like it tonight," Snider said. "We'd like to have another shot at them in the playoffs."

The Cavs' playoff hopes are still alive. They make up a previously rained out region game on Sunday at Notre Dame in Chattanooga and then travel to Franklin for a match-up with Centennial on Tuesday. Wins in both games will guarantee CHS a seventh seed in the playoffs.

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Cavs win on senior night

 

 

Cookeville’s Sam Stout looks for an open teammate during the Cavaliers’ 14-1 win over Sequatchie County on Tuesday. (Contributed photo)

April 22,2009

By RICK WOODS
Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

COOKEVILLE -- The Cookeville boys lacrosse team accelerated to a commanding lead early in Tuesday's game against region foe Sequatchie County, then relied on cruise control in the second half to take a 14-1 victory on senior night.

Nine different players contributed goals for the Cavaliers in a very lopsided contest where the entire CHS roster saw playing time against a very young and inexperienced Sequatchie club.

The Cavs dominated ball possession in the first quarter and tallied eight goals on 16 attempts, while limiting Sequatchie to no shots. Jamie Chapman scored three goals in the quarter and had one assist, while Geoff Pippin contributed two goals and two assists, and Dylan Graves scored twice. Sam Stout also had a big first quarter, scoring one goal and contributing five assists.

The CHS dominance continued in the second frame with one goal each by Graves, Nathan Holland and senior Heath Randolph, to give the Cavs a 11-0 lead at the half.

Coach Kurt Snider relied on his younger players in the second half to secure the victory. Three goals were added in the third period, one each by Nathan Fontenot, Grant Reed and Boston Maxwell, to put the Cavs up 14-0 going into the final quarter.

CHS went scoreless in the fourth while Sequatchie offered three shots, converting on one for its lone goal which was scored with :01 to go in the game.

Stout and Randolph, along with fellow seniors Nathan Xander, Jonathan Bruce and Ethan Woods were recognized and honored in pre-game senior night ceremonies as they finish their prep lacrosse careers. Also recognized was assistant coach Jami Couch, who will graduate from TTU next month and leave Cookeville to attend graduate school.

The Cavs travel to Knoxville on Friday for an important region game against Webb Knox. CHS needs a victory over Webb to secure a spot in the TSLA playoffs which begin May 2.

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Cavaliers rally before falling to Raiders in OT

 

Cookeville’s Patrick Lee wins a ground ball against a Baylor defender during the Cavaliers’ 8-7 overtime loss on Thursday at CHS. (Contributed photo/Stephanie Pippin)

 

April 17,2009

By RICK WOODS
Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

 

COOKEVILLE -- The Cookeville High School boys lacrosse team battled from behind throughout a physical and intense game Thursday night against Baylor, scoring two goals in the last minute of the contest to force a sudden death overtime. But the Raiders spoiled the Cavalier comeback with a game-winning goal in OT giving the Cavs (6-2) their first region loss, 8-7.

Baylor came into the game touting a potent offensive attack, averaging 14 points per game only to find the going a little tougher against the CHS defense.

"They're a high scoring team and we held them under double digits, so our defense did their job," said coach Kurt Snider. "Offensively we weren't very sharp. We rushed things early on and pulled the trigger too quick which gave them the ball back."

The Raiders jumped out to a quick lead with two goals in the first five minutes of play before Dylan Graves got the Cavaliers on the board with a goal assisted by Geoff Pippin. But Baylor found the net once more in the first to lead 3-1 at the end of the quarter.

The Cavalier offense settled down in the second period and maintained better ball control to help deny the Raiders' scoring opportunities, and with the stiff CHS defense, Baylor was held scoreless in the second while the Cavs Andrew McBroom tallied one goal to pull Cookeville within one at the half.

The Cavs pulled even twice in the third period at 3-3 and 4-4, before Baylor scored the last two goals of the quarter to lead 6-4 at the end of three.

The Cookeville offense outscored the Raiders 3-1 in the final period with the last two CHS goals coming in the final 1:04 of the game to force the overtime.

"We called timeout with about two minutes to go, and I told the team that two minutes is a long time, and not to panic, and they didn't. They came out composed and focused and scored twice to tie the game. I was proud of the way they came back," said coach Snider.

In the overtime period, Baylor won possession on the face-off and never relinquished ball control. With 2:36 to play in overtime, Sam Ector hit a cutting Isaac Garner, who slipped a shot into the goal for the game-winner.

The Cavaliers were led by Pippin with three goals and two assists. Graves, McBroom, Tyler Reed and Sam Stout added one goal each, and Heath Randolph contributed two assists. The defense was led by goalie Ethan Woods with 22 saves and Nathan Xander with 11 ground balls.

The Cavaliers look to regroup on Saturday when they face a visiting Signal Mountain team at noon at the soccer complex.

 

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CHS overwhelms McCallie

"Cookeville’s Grant Reed (6) tries to get around a McCallie defender during the Cavaliers’ 17-5 win over the Blue Tornado on Tuesday at CHS. (Herald-Citizen Photo/Craig Delk

April 8, 2009

By RICK WOODS
Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

COOKEVILLE -- The Cookeville boys lacrosse team ran its record to 6-1 Tuesday night with an impressive 17-5 win over the McCallie Blue Tornado.

"This win was a milestone for our program," said head coach Kurt Snider. "It's the first time we've beat McCallie at any level of play in the history of Cookeville lacrosse. They have such a good, fundamentally sound program with talented, well trained athletes. It's a good benchmark for us."

Despite a sluggish start and inconsistent play in the first period, the Cavs got out to a slim lead early and built momentum throughout the game to secure the win.

"I don't know whether it was the cold or what, but it took us a while to get going," Snider said. "Later in the game we began to execute well offensively and took advantage of what the defense gave us. Scoring 17 goals kind of speaks for itself."

Jamie Chapman opened the scoring for Cookeville with 9:00 minutes to play in the first period. Geoff Pippin won the ensuing face-off, scooped up the ball and broke away for the Cavs' second score just seven seconds later.

McCallie responded with its first goal at the 5:19 mark to pull within one at 2-1, but CHS's Dylan Graves added to the Cavs lead with a goal with 4:17 to play. The Blue Tornado tallied their second of the game with only :08 to go in the first period to set the score at 3-2 after one quarter.

Stout, Chapman and Andrew McBroom put the Cavs up 6-2 midway through the second quarter before McCallie found the net for its only goal of the period. Nathan Fontenot finished the scoring for the quarter for CHS to set the halftime score at 7-3.

The Cavaliers caught fire in the third period, overwhelming the Blue Tornado on both ends of the field, and outscoring McCallie six goals to one. The dominance continued in the fourth as CHS added four more goals while the defense limited McCallie to a single score to set the final at 17-5.

Seven different players scored goals for the Cavaliers, and nine of the 17 scores were assisted goals.

"That's an excellent indicator of a balanced offense. We're scoring off feeds and beating defenders one on one," Snider said.

Geoff Pippin led the way offensively with four goals, two assists, and an outstanding 17 face-off wins.

"Geoff has that gift of quickness that is hard to beat. His ability to win face-offs and give us ball possession is a huge advantage for us," Snider said.

Chapman scored four times and had one assist. Graves contributed two goals and one assist, while McBroom, Fontenot and Grant Reed scored two goals each. Senior Sam Stout had one goal and three assists.

The defense was anchored by senior goalie Ethan Woods with 15 saves and fellow senior Nathan Xander, who had three takeaways and four ground balls.

The Cavs return to action on Thursday, April 16 when they host region foe Baylor.

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Cavs dominate Warriors for first region win

 

Cookeville’s Jesse Chapman (25) and Nathan Xander (18) move upfield during the Cavaliers’ 15-3 win over West Knox on Friday in Cookeville. (Contributed photo)

April 5 , 2009

 

By RICK WOODS
Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

COOKEVILLE -- The Cookeville High School boys lacrosse team claimed its first TSLA East Region win of the season Friday night, defeating the West Knox Warriors 15-3.

The Cavs (5-1, 1-0) utilized a combination of pressure defense and good ball control offensively to dominate statistics and hold the Warriors to only three goals.

"The defense was outstanding tonight," said head coach Kurt Snider. "The fact that we limited them (West Knox) to only two shots in the first quarter and 20 in the game is a tribute to our good defense."

"Ethan (Woods) and Nathan (Xander) created fast-break opportunities for us tonight from the defensive end, and Bull (Josh Bruce) and Jesse (Chapman) also had takeaways on defense," Snider said.

The offensive attack was led by junior midfielder Geoff Pippin with four goals and 10 face-off wins, and sophomore attackman Jamie Chapman with four goals and one assist. Sophomore Grant Reed added three goals and one assist, senior Sam Stout scored two goals and two assists, and juniors Tyler Reed and Nathan Fontenot had one goal each. Dylan Graves contributed one assist.

The Cavs came out firing on all cylinders and looked as sharp as they have all season. Stout opened the scoring just a minute and a half into the game when he took a feed from Jamie Chapman and fired a shot past the Warrior goalie. CHS found the net five more times on 16 attempts in the first quarter to take a commanding lead 6-0 into the second period.

Cookeville continued to dominate ball control in the second and put four more scores on the board while shutting out the West Knox offense to lead 10-0 at the half.

The Cavs' stingy defense continued in the third frame, limiting the Warriors to just five shots and no goals, while the offense tallied four more goals to widen the lead to 14-0.

CHS struck first in the final period to go up 15-0 before the Warriors finished out the scoring with the final three goals of the game.

Senior John Bruce saw his first action of the season after suffering a pre-season broken hand.

"Getting John back gives us three full midfield lines now, and that helps us a lot as we head into the toughest part of our schedule," said Snider.

The Cavs return to action at home on Tuesday when they take on McCallie.

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Cavs Wrap up Spring Break with First Loss

March 27, 2009

By RICK WOODS
Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

 

      CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The CHS boys lacrosse team wrapped up a week in the Florida sunshine with a disappointing 8-7 loss Thursday night to the Clearwater Yellow Jackets.

"Clearwater was a good test for us -- exactly what we needed right now," said head coach, Kurt Snider. "I think if we had played them on Monday night, the outcome would have been different. It's a long week of practices and games and we just ran out of gas."

      After arriving in Florida late Sunday, the Cavs played Monday night and were dominant in their 16-8 win over St. Pete, but the week of hard practices seemed to take its toll, and by the second half of Thursday's game against Clearwater, the energy was gone. And while the Cav players were running on empty and trailed in nearly every statistical category, they were in the game to the very end with a chance to beat a very good, and very aggressive Yellow Jacket squad.

"We saw some really good things tonight," Snider said. "We played smart, we moved the ball well, and I think we played well."

      Clearwater scored the first goal of the contest on their first offensive possession, but CHS came back with four consecutive goals by Geoff Pippin, Nathan Holland, Sam Stout and Jamie Chapman to take a 4-1 lead into the second period. The teams traded two goals each in the second quarter before the Yellow Jackets bettered the Cav defense for three consecutive goals to tie the score 6-6 at the half.

      Cookeville (4-1) scored the only goal in the third period on a picture-perfect fast break led by Tyler Reed, who found brother Grant in front of the crease for the finishing touch, and the Cavs were up 7-6 heading into the final frame. It was the last quarter when the Cavs' fatigue was most apparent, as Clearwater dominated ball possession and out-scored Cookeville 3-1, with the game-winning goal coming with less than a minute to play.

      The Clearwater team was led by Matthew Henderson who tallied seven of his team's nine goals, the other two coming from Austin Johnson.

      For Cookeville, Grant Reed and Chapman had two goals each, while Nathan Fontenot, Stout, Holland and Pippin each had one goal. Assists were recorded by Dylan Graves (2), Pippin, and Tyler Reed. Ethan Woods had 13 saves in goal. In summing up the week Snider said, "I told the guys tonight after the game, we're a better team today than we were Monday. We're moving the ball better, and our lacrosse IQ improved as the week went on. I thought we improved skill-wise, and now we need to focus on execution and patience."

      The Cavs look to get back on the winning track on Tuesday in Chattanooga as they take on Notre Dame.

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Cavaliers Dominate Dragons

March 24, 2009

By RICK WOODS
Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

 

       ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A big first half helped the Cookeville boys lacrosse team pick up an impressive win over the St. Petersburg Dragons on Monday night. Propelled by 12 goals in the first two quarters, the Cavaliers cruised to a 16-8 victory. CHS remains in Florida a few more days this week during spring break, and will play Clearwater on Thursday night.

      The Cavaliers (4-0) left little doubt about the outcome from the beginning, scoring five goals in the first quarter and seven in the second to break out to a 12-2 advantage. The Cavs added two more goals each in the third and fourth quarters, while the Dragons narrowed the final margin with five goals in the fourth.

      Ten different players got in the scoring column for Cookeville. Jamie Chapman and Geoff Pippin each scored three, Sam Stout and Ben Craves added two apiece, and Dylan Graves, Grant Reed, Tyler Reed, Nathan Fontenot, Andrew McBroom and Matt Sliger each found the net once.

      Stout and Pippin help set up several goals as well, as Stout had four assists and Pippin two. Ethan Woods had a solid game in goal, collecting 11 saves in three quarters of play. Jordan Clark came on in the fourth quarter and saved four shots.

      Pippin won 11 face-offs, and didn't take a face-off in the second half as the Cavaliers played younger players in the final two quarters.

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Cavaliers win third straight game

Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009

By RICK WOODS

Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

 

       HENDERSONVILLE -- The CHS boys lacrosse team won their third straight game Tuesday night taking a 12-3 victory over an outmanned and less experienced Hendersonville Commando squad.

      The Cavs dominated play from the start and took a commanding lead giving Coach Kurt Snider the opportunity to get all the CHS players varsity game experience.

"It's good to be able to mix JV and varsity together in game situations," Snider said. "The JV players learn so much faster when they can be mixed in with the more experienced varsity guys. This is exactly what I was looking for today, everyone getting game experience."

      What Snider was not looking for was inconsistent play from his Cavaliers.

"It can be frustrating in games like this when you dominate early, then you get sloppy and kind of lose focus. At times tonight it was like we were not really paying attention," he said.

      Ten different players scored goals for the Cavaliers. Sam Stout and Nathan Holland each had two goals, while Jamie Chapman, Tyler Reed, Geoff Pippin, Andrew McBroom, Grant Reed, Aaron Bacon, Heath Randolph, and Dylan Graves had one score each. Graves, Randolph, and Pippin each had one assist.

       The Cavs fired 39 shots and picked up 46 ground balls in the game while Hendersonville managed just 10 attempts and 27 ground balls.

      The CHS team now turns its attention to their Spring Break trip to Florida and two-a-day practices.

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Cavaliers give Houston problems

 

By RICK WOODS
Special to the HERALD-CITIZEN

      COOKEVILLE -- Outstanding play by Junior midfielder, Geoff Pippin, and another strong performance by the defense led the Cavalier boys lacrosse team to an 8-3 win over Houston High Sunday afternoon at the Upper Cumberland soccer Complex.

      Pippin scored four goals, won seven face-offs, and scooped up seven ground balls to lead the offensive effort for the Cavs, while senior goal keeper Ethan Woods anchored the defense with 14 saves.

      "Geoff had a great game," said coach Kurt Snider. "He is the catalyst for our offense - he gets us the ball on the face-offs and initiates the attack. He's gotten off to a great start in our first two games."

      The CHS defense held their second straight opponent to just three goals.

      "Defenders Nathan Xander and Josh Bruce had the assignment of covering their best players, and really shut them down," Snider said. "Ethan's game in the goal was outstanding. Defense is the strongest part of our game right now."

      The Cavaliers struck quickly to open the game, when Pippin took a feed from Sam Stout and fired a shot past the Mustang goalie just 29 seconds into the contest. Late in the first period Pippin tallied another goal, this time assisted by Dylan Graves, to give CHS a 2-0 lead at the end of one period of play.

      The Cavs went up 3-0 at the 8:58 mark of the second quarter when Pippin scored an unassisted goal to complete the hat trick. The Mustangs responded just over a minute later as Carr Waters bounced a shot into the net to pull HHS within two points at 3-1.

      CHS dominated play in the third period scoring four times on goals by Jamie Chapman, Pippin, Tyler Reed and Graves, while Houston managed a single score by midfielder Mark Morton. The final frame saw each team score once; the Cavs goal coming on a shot by Andrew McBroom, and the Mustangs goal by Waters.

      Unlike the first game of the season, the Cookeville offense relied more on passing and team work. Six of the eight Cookeville goals were assisted by good passes from a teammate to the open shooter.

      "We are much better offensively when we're moving the ball and hitting cutters," said coach Snider. "Today we did a better job of sharing the ball, and got away from the dodge the defender mentality."

      Recording assists for the Cavs were Heath Randolph (1), Graves (3) and Stout (2).

      The Cavs travel to Hendersonville Tuesday for a 5 p.m. matchup with the Commandos.