Memorial, Twp. lax teams net mixed results

Brent Middlemiss got his first career victory as a head varsity coach in his first game with Brick Memorial's boys lacrosse team when it beat Jackson Liberty, 6-3. But the victory came at a price.

JEFF GRANIT staff Brick Memorial's Justin Vinton (left) and Justin Schulthorpe sandwich Howell's Nick Caporaso during a game on April 3, which Howell won by a score of 11-1. Rob McSweeney, who scored two goals, suffered a sprained ankle and Middlemiss said he is "week to week." His presence was sorely missed in an 11-1 loss to Howell in which a thirdquarter goal by Dan Burke pulled the Mustangs to 6-1. "Without McSweeney, it really threw us off," said Middlemiss. He's a big cog and we had to put people in situations they're not used to. Howell is a very established program that's been around more than 10 years and our younger players were a little shellshocked."

It was followed by a 12-4 loss on Saturday to New Egypt as Nick Marks scored twice and Burke and Wes Buckley had the other goals. Brick Memorial pulled to 4-2 before New Egypt put in four unanswered goals in the third period.

"We committed too many penalties - we had 16 and they had seven so we were down a man for about an entire quarter," said Middlemiss. "You can't do much if you have to play that much defense."

Joe Dimino played well in goal with 15 saves. He had 14 in the opener while John Tietjen and Jay Auriemma scored goals late in the game after Jackson Liberty pulled to 4-3. Other goals came from Brandon Person and Burke, who played well on defense with Dave Moore and Dan Lamela. Mike Heitz also played well as a defensive midfielder.

The Mustangs play host to Colts Neck High School on Wednesday and travel to Christian Brothers Academy on Thursday this week.

Brick Township, meanwhile, is off to a 1-1 start after it came back from a 7- 4 season-opening loss to Toms River East and beat Neptune, 11-4. Brick Township's Mike Colabella opened the scoring early in the game before Toms River East tied it and led, 4-3, at halftime and 6-4 after three quarters. Tim Firrman drilled home two goals and Ken Bogert fired in another and each had an assist. Chad Faulkner had 13 saves in goal.

The Green Dragons opened up leads of 3-0 after one quarter and 5-1 at halftime against Neptune while Faulkner again turned away 13 shots. But Neptune threw a scare when it scored two quick goals in the third quarter before Brick Memorial answered back with four straight goals of its own by Jim Whalen, Firrman, James Murphy and Bob Koste. The latter two finished with two goals each and each had an assist.

"The thing I'm happiest about is that we scored 15 goals and 13 of them were assisted," said coach Steve Maurelli of the two games. "It shows teamwork, which we're emphasizing this year."

Whalen and Firrman each had three assists and one goal while other goals were scored by Ken Daskalovitz, Anthony Francese, Frank Poalillo, Mike Auriemma and Bogert. Pat Kearns had an assist.

Brick Township plays host to Jackson Memorial on Thursday at 3:45 and Marlboro on Saturday at 1 p.m. on the artificial surface at Drum Point Complex.