The Lacrosse Club of Hogtowne wrapped up it's 2007-2008 season this past weekend with a pair of FLL playoff games.  The first a semifinal matchup against the Palm Beach Lacrosse Club.  The game was physical from start to finish.  Palm Beach held a 5-3 halftime advantage under the lights at Tequesta Trace Park in Weston, FL.  Hogtowne came out roaring in the third quarter and took an 8-6 lead into the final period.  Jeff Rant led all scores with 3 goals and 3 assists. Goalie Jeff Goren led a stingy second half defensive effort in holding a talented Palm Beach offense to only 2 goals.

Sunday Hogtowne took on Fort Lauderdale for the FLL Championship.  The game, a rematch of a regular season 8-7 OT win did not turn out as Hogtowne would have hoped.  The Fightin Mooks jumped to a 4-2 lead in the first quarter.  Attackman Danny Stevens notched a spectacular diving behind-the-back goal to cap the run.  Lauderdale found their offense in the 2nd period and their defense anchored down as the Flamingos out-scored Hogtowne 5-1 to take a 7-5 lead into the intermission.  Hogtowne was unable to contain the potent Lauderdale offense and the Flamingos claimed the 2007-2008 FLL Championship with a 14-10 victory over Hogtowne.

Congrats to Fort Lauderdale, thanks to everyone who came out in support of The Lacrosse Club of Hogtowne.  See you next September.

The Lacrosse Club of Hogtowne picked up two victories this past weekend to improve to 8-0 on the season.  The first game pitted Hogtowne against a depleted Palm Beach Lacrosse Club.  Hogtowne scored early and often and led 8-3 at the break.  After a brief Palm Beach run in the 3rd quarter to close the gap to 11-6.  Sparked by a phenomenal low-to high rip by midfielder Brian Corrente, LCH outscored Palm beach 7-2 in the final 20 minutes of the game to seal the victory.  With the victory, LCH (somewhat) avenged a tough 9-8 loss in the seminfinals of the 2007 FLL Playoffs.

After a great tourney party and some much needed rest, Hogtowne took on reigning league champion Ft. Lauderdale.  Hogtowne would strike first, as attackman Tony Williams netted his first of 5 goals on a fast break.  Lauderdale would answer and then some, holding a 3-2 lead at the end of the first period.  The second quarter would see more of the same as Lauderdale took advantage of their scoring opportunities and led 5-3 at the half.

It looked like Lauderdale was going to slowly grind out a victory when they scored their 6th goal midway through the third period to extend their lead to 6-3.  Hogtowne got two crucial momentum-swinging goals in the 2nd half of the third quarter, the first off a tough ride which saw LSM Mark Furey strip the Lauderdale goalie and ended with midfielder Brian Corrente finding attackman Tony Williams for the goal.  The goal that brought LCH within 1 came on a Jeff Rant dodge and dump to Tony Williams with only :09 left in the third quarter.  

Momentum had clearly swung in the direction of Hogtowne, who took a 7-6 lead off goals from Rant and attackman Rob Digiore.  Lauderdale tied the game at 7 on a crafty shovel shot goal from attackman Bo Lamon.  LCH went man-up for the final 17 seconds of regulation but failed to find the back of the net.  LSM Chris Capizzi stepped up and stripped a Lauderdale midfielder and Hogtowne was able to gain posession just before time expired.

Hogtowne started with posession and a man-up opportunity in overtime, but Lauderdale's D rose to the challenge and cleared the ball to their offensive zone.  Hogtowne attackman Jim Sparazza ended up in the undesirable position of "attackman guarding midfielder on defense" and stepped up big, stuffing his man, putting the ball on the turf which initiated a Capizzi to Barros to Williams to the back of the net, game-over transition.

 Many thanks to the Tampa Thunder for putting on a great crossover tourney and party.

The Lacrosse Club of Hogtowne defeated the Embry Riddle Eagles by a score of 18-6 on Sunday in a rainy Daytona Beach, FL.  Hogtowne got off to a slow start, failing to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities in the first quarter.  Midfielder Brian Barros beat his man and notched the first goal of the game with about 4 minutes left in the first quarter.  Soon after, attackman Jim Sparazza found a streaking Bryan Corrente for a 2nd Mook goal.  

Hogtowne held a 2-0 lead after the first period.  Embry Riddle came out firing in the 2nd, popping in two quick goals to tie the game at 2.  Hogtowne outscored Embry Riddle 5-2 throughout the remainder of the first half on goals from Danny Hogan (2), Danny Stevens, and back to back goals from defenseman Scott Ramey and Kevin Schoneck.  Ramey's goal came on a broken ERAU clear that ended up with all three LCH close defenseman on the offensive half of the field and contributing to the goal.

Hogtowne put it in cruise control for the 2nd half, capitializing on many man-up oportunities and limiting the Eagles' scoring opportunities.  Jeff Goren put in a solid 60 minutes of lacrosse between the pipes once again.  Hogtowne is off the final weekend in October and will next be in action on November 4th against Jacksonville in a FLL North matchup.

The Hogtowne Lacrosse Club started the 2007-2008 season this past Saturday with an 11-8 victory over the UCF Knights in Orlando.  The Knights started quick and maintained a lead for most of the first half.  Hogtowne was able to even up the score at 6 before the half.  Hogtowne outscored UCF 3-1 in the 3rd period and held UCF to two 2nd half goals.  Jeff Goren and split halves in the game and both had strong performances.  Tony Williams led all scores with 6 goals including an impressive dive from behind the cage.   Rob Lombard and Brian Corrente turned in stellar efforts from the midfield with 2 goals a piece.

Hogtowne will next be in action against FSU Sunday October 14th in Flagler Palm Coast.