Lions push but can't get ahead of Easton

EASTON — Queen Anne’s County High’s boys lacrosse team pushed and pushed.

It just could never get ahead of Easton.

Blake Royer converted a Drew Schmidt assist for the go-ahead goal late in the third quarter before the Warriors used a fourth-quarter surge Wednesday to cement a 14-11 victory over the Lions on senior night at Easton.

Despite the loss, Queen Anne’s (7-4 overall, 2-1 North Bayside) can still create a three-way tie for first place in the division Friday when it hosts Kent Island (7-4, 3-0). Defending Bayside Conference champion Easton improved to 9-2, 3-1.

“It’s a good win,” Easton head coach Dennis Keenan said. “You need games like that with rivals.”

Landon Chaney (two goals) broke a 1-1 tie midway through the first quarter to start 4-0 Easton scoring burst. Blake Royer (four goals) scored off an Eddie Whelan pass, Hudson Royer found the back of the net, then set up Charlie Kaminskas’ goal for a 5-1 Warrior lead after the first quarter.

But Queen Anne’s pulled within 5-4 on goals from Jamieson Kendall, Jacob Hanson and Jamsen Krukiel in the opening 4:47 of the second quarter.

Easton extended its lead, as Hudson Royer set up younger brother Blake midway through the second quarter. Schmidt (four goals, three assists) netted his first goal with 3:07 left in the quarter for a 7-4 Warrior lead.

Again the Lions responded.

Sam Yetman scored with 3:07 remaining before half. Jackson Shiley scored his second goal of the game to draw Queen Anne’s within 7-6 with 54.8 seconds to go in the half. But Tyler Rardin unloaded a laser with 31 seconds to go for an 8-6 Easton halftime lead.

“Brad Niesz does a great job,” Keenan said of Queen Anne’s head coach. “Those Queen Anne’s kids are tough, gritty. They’re skilled. They’re fast. They’re always a thorn in our side.”

Kendall (three goals) scored twice in the opening 2 minutes of the second half to forge the game’s second tie at 8-8.

Tyler Rardin won the ensuing faceoff, got the ball to Schmidt and the senior broke right, then fired a shot into the left corner past Lions goalie Dino Blue (10 saves) for a 9-8 Easton lead with 9:26 left in the third quarter. Queen Anne’s responded as Tyler Crist’s goal beat Warrior goalie Jack Kilbourne (10 saves) with 5:30 left in the third, forging the game’s third tie at 9-9.

Rardin won another faceoff and got the ball to Chaney, who slipped by defenders and shot from close range only to be foiled by Blue.

But with 50 seconds left in the third, Schmidt spotted Blake Royer cutting toward the right post. Schmidt flicked a pass that Royer caught and dumped into the bottom of the goal for a 10-9 lead the Warriors never relinquished.

Just 33 seconds into the fourth quarter, Schmidt sprinted down the left side and flipped a shot into the net for an 11-9 lead. Crist answered for the Lions less than a minute later, again making it a one-goal game.

But Schmidt virtually sealed the game, setting up Campbell Taliaferro’s goal with 7:45 left, then scoring off a Rardin feed a little more than 2 minutes later for a 13-10 lead.

“He’s silky smooth,” Keenan said of Schmidt.

Easton widened its lead to 14-10 with 4 minutes remaining when Hudson Royer set up Blake’s fourth goal. Conlan Nagle’s goal trimmed Queen Anne’s deficit to three with 2:19 remaining, but the Lions would get no closer.

“It was a great game,” Keenan said. “Both teams played hard. It was a great high school lacrosse game.”