Casertano Leads Blue over Iroquois Nationals
Oct. 6, 2007
MADISON, Conn. - Native Americans introduced us to the game of lacrosse. The Yale men's lacrosse team rudely introduced the Iroquois to Ivy League lacrosse in an exhibition contest. Senior attacker Tyler Casertano tallied four goals in a 12-6 Bulldog victory over the Iroquois National Team on a beautiful night at the Surf Club's Strong Field.
The contest, played before an estimated 2,500, began as a defensive struggle with shots going ringing off the goal pipes at both ends of the field. Iroquois goalie Spencer Lyons came up with five big saves and had lots of help from the goal posts before Yale's sophomore Nick Tsouris broke the scoreless tie with a low shot that found the net with 4:25 left in the first quarter. Almost two minutes later, sophomore Brendan Gibson took a feed from freshman Brian Douglass and flicked one home from 10 feet away to make it 2-0, which is how the first stanza ended.
The Iroquois, who finished fourth at the 2006 World Championships and was the home team at the Surf Club, got on the board early in the second when Jerome Thompson tallied from 12 feet out to cut the lead to 2-1. However, Casertano quickly gave the Blue another two-goal advantage on a nice move outside the crease.
Junior Michael Karwoski, a week away from the official start of his hockey season, gave the Bulldogs a 4-2 advantage with 5:59 left in the half with a nifty move to the left of home team's cage. That was the final tally of the first half.
Yale newcomer Patrick Coleman notched his unofficial first collegiate goal by opening the second-half scoring on a move from 15-feet outside the crease. His shot on a clearing break found the upper part of the net. Casertano added his second of the night two minutes later to give the Blue a three-goal lead.
The Iroquois Nationals cut the lead to 6-4 midway through the third before Gibson notched his second of the night for a 7-4 score with 3:58 left. Freshman Brian Douglass hit the net to increase the margin to four in the fourth and then Casertano and Karwoski hooked up for a score and Yale had its biggest lead of the game. Casertano added another on a man-up situation to make it 10-4.
Junior attackman Colin Ford gave the Elis an 11-4 advantage by converting a pretty Lucas Aronson (who also had a goal) pass late the fourth.
Senior Yale goalie George Carafides finished with 10 saves including a number of big stops in the second half on quality scoring chances.
Yale Head Coach Andy Shay, who grew up with many Iroquois friends and teammates in Northern New York, was impressed with his team's effort at both ends. "We played one of the best games we've played in a while, though we didn't finish shots tonight," said Shay. "Their goalie was phenomenal. Our defense played great and proved they are better and tougher than we thought. We also got good looks out of our freshmen."
The game, which was part of the Hammonassett Native American Festival, was played with 20 minute quarters and began with the Iroquois National Anthem as well as the American one. There was also a presentation of the Yale and Iroquois flags and welcoming messages from a few politicians before the field was blessed by two of the Iroquois tribe.
The Bulldogs are action again next weekend with the Christian Prince Memorial Tournament on Oct. 14 in and around Reese Stadium. Yale will take on LeMoyne, Lafayette and Massachusetts.
SCORING
Period Team Goal Assist Time
1 Y Tsouris 4:25
1 Y Gibson (Douglass) 2:47
2 I Thompson 15:50
2 Y Casertano 14:32
2 I Thompson (Vyse) 10:03
2 Y Karwoski 5:59
3 I Schindler (Thompson) 19:23
3 Y Coleman 15:47
3 Y Casertano (Gibson) 13:50
3 I Jones 8:03
3 Y Gibson (Karwoski) 3:58
4 Y Douglass (Casertano) 19:45
4 Y Castertano (Karwoski) 14:22
4 Y Casertano 7:30
4 Y Ford (Aronson) 5:56
4 I Jones (Kane) 4:47
4 Y Aronson (Flaherty) 1:59
4 I Schindler (Thompson) 1:04
