DHS breaks through for first JV boys lacrosse win

The Davis High boys junior varsity lacrosse squad posted its first win of the season in Stockton on March 12, defeating St. Mary’s, 14-11. Then, in last Friday’s Break the Record Night celebration, the Blue Devils fell to visiting Jesuit, 11-5.

In the DHS win, the Rams displayed foot speed and sharp passing early on, but Devil Yared Haile found attacker Isaiah West open to tie the game, 1-1.

Through the first period, Davis’ Jed Arvin scored unassisted and freshman midfielder Jake Hammond followed suit from his own face-off — but St. Mary’s led 4-3 after one quarter.

However, the second quarter would belong to the Blue Devils …

Hammond scooped up another face-off, streaked toward the goal, then sharply dished to West for a score just eight seconds into the stanza. Another successful Hammond attack on goal gave the locals their first lead of the game at 5-4.

With St. Mary’s in foul trouble, the DHS man-up set converted four-of-four penalties, part of a five-goal scoring spree by three sophomore attackers. Griffin McNamara scored off a West assist, Arvin sent one to West and McNamara flicked another to Arvin, bringing the score to 10-4. Although the Devils had struggled with clears, freshman midfielder Tom Thornton scooped up a grounder, broke through a triple-team on the sideline and left two defenders on the ground as he crossed the center line.

The third quarter started with two Ram goals. But Haile answered back with assists to freshman attacker Justin Reno and West, while Hammond shoveled in two more goals off face-offs. At that point, the locals led 14-6.

The Rams came up with five goals in the late stages of the game, but DHS held on for the win behind three saves by relief goalie Max Williams, who was giving Connor Spann a well-earned rest.

Hammond’s explosive performance earned him a call-up to the Blue Devil varsity squad.

In Friday’s game at Ron & Mary Brown Stadium, Davis started the first quarter still in stride from Tuesday’s win, but found themselves in a 2-0 deficit, thanks to the agility and shooting of Jesuit standout Chase Browning.

Another Browning tally seconds into the second period had Davis reeling until freshman Devil Connor Amesbury fought down the sideline for a clear, setting-up Arvin to dodge in for the first DHS goal.

After that, a horde of Blue Devil defenders forced Jesuit into a crease violation. The play led to sophomore defender Brian Johnstone picking up a grounder and drawing a penalty that resulted in another Arvin goal off an assist from McNamara.

Strong work by goalie Spann and more coordinated defense overall allowed the locals to kill two penalty situations. Haile stepped up the effort, earning five takeaways. Amesbury also was relentless, with seven groundballs, as was sophomore midfielder Jake Guida with three grounders and a takeaway. Still, Davis trailed 3-2 at intermission.

The third quarter was owned by the Mauraders, who scored six goals, and would have had more without the some work by Spann on back-to-back saves.

Early in the fourth quarter, faced with a 10-2 deficit, the Devils pulled themselves together. A Haile takeaway gave Amesbury the opportunity to dodge in for a goal. Meanwhile, the DHS defense — paced by Johnstone and Jake Griffiths — tightened up their end of the field, blocked a Jesuit fast break and cleared the ball for an unassisted McNamara goal.

Soon after, a sharp Reno-to-Arvin pass became a quick-stick assist to sophomore attacker Josh Rix for the final Blue Devil tally.