Wheeling Central Maroon Knights Earn Top Seed in Lacrosse Playoffs
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WHEELING -- Wheeling Central and Linsly were playing for more than just bragging rights in Wednesday's rivalry game.
The No. 1 seed heading into the postseason was on the line and the defending state champion Maroon Knights rose to the challenge with a convincing 19-8 victory at Fawcett Field.
"It was a great game," Central coach Kevin Maloney said. "We probably have one of the best coaching staffs in the state and our assistant coaches Travis Lufft and Mike Fahey put together a heckuva game plan. We take our hats off to Linsly, they battled but our boys were just hungry. We were looking forward to this matchup because it determines where we go and where we are seeded going into the playoffs. We just wanted to come out here with everything we possibly could and make something happen.
"Coach Brennen Maloney was also a huge key in the water game."
Central took command early, taking a 9-2 advantage into halftime.
"Coach put a game plan in and we were ready for them," Central senior Caleb Karnell said. "We came out hard and came away with the victory. Being the number one seed in the playoffs and having a home playoff game is great and hopefully we can come back and defend our title."
Linsly continued to battle in the second half but couldn't quite pull any closer as the Knights kept the intensity level high.
"It was just one of those days where we finally executed the game plan," Central assistant coach Mike Fahey said.
"Linsly is a tough place to play and this was a huge game for both sides in this cross town rivalry and our kids came together as a team and stuck together for the whole game.
"We have had leads on teams this year but we'd let them creep back in. That has been one thing we've been preaching is to keep the foot on the gas and I think we did a good job of that."
Linsly got no closer than 12-5 in the second half as the Knights pulled off the victory.
Senior J.D. LaHood led all Central scorers with five goals and one assist.
"Linsly is always a good opponent," LaHood said. "We just came out and we were prepared for this game and we prevailed. Our work paid off and it's huge to be the No. 1 seed."
Karnell and Braxton Anderson each collected three goals and three assists in the win, while teammates Andrew Burkle, Andrew Komorowski and Parker Watkins each garnered two goals.
Mason Smith handed out five assists and scored a goal and John Emmerth netted a goal and delivered an assist for the Knights.
Ryan Dembiczak gathered 33 saves in net for the Cadets.
"We were just outplayed, it's as simple as that," Linsly coach Matthew Perry said. "That's the reason why they are No. 1 on our side of the state. They've only lost two games and they are a great team. We have to work harder to be able to win that type of game."