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
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
"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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.