Junior Charlie Yaw turns on the jets. (Katie Rankin’22/Media)
The CA boys lacrosse team extended its winning streak to 7, as the Vikings picked up victories over Licking Valley, Westerville Central, and Olentangy Berlin.
Academy traveled to Licking Valley on Tuesday, April 16, and held off the Panthers, 16-13. The Vikes’ offense was firing on all cylinders to begin the game. Senior Malcolm Klingbeil opened the scoring, before feeding freshman Zach White for a goal.
Licking Valley responded, but junior Andrew Swartz and White each beat the keeper to give CA a 4-1 lead. The Panthers scored again, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace. White completed a first-quarter hat trick, and senior Keenan Bellisari followed with a goal of his own. Swartz then took a pass from White and deposited it into the back of the net to push the advantage to 5. Though Licking Valley put a pair of scores on the board, the Vikings seemed to be firmly in control.
Academy entered a cold spell in the second period, and the Panthers grabbed the momentum. Licking Valley outscored the Vikes 5-0, and headed into the locker rooms with a 2-goal lead.
Barren kicked off the final period with a goal, and Licking Valley answered with two scores. Bellisari found the back of the net to stick the dagger in the Panthers, and CA drained the clock out on a hard-fought win.
CA took out its frustration on the Panthers in the third quarter. Klingbeil netted a pair of goals in quick succession, and another scoring explosion was underway. After Licking Valley got one back, Bellisari and fellow senior David Barren both scored to give the Vikings an 11-10 advantage. The Panthers knotted the game, but a goal from Swartz put Academy in front for good. Klingbeil and Barren each scored to cap the flurry, and the Vikes had built back a cushion with 12 minutes remaining.
The Vikings then hosted Westerville Central on Thursday, April 18, and came away with a 12-9 victory. Behind two goals from Swartz and one from White, Academy jumped out to a lead at the end of the first quarter. Klingbeil tallied a hat trick in the second period, and White and Barren each tacked on a score, as the Vikes owned an 8-4 advantage at the break. CA continued to dominate in the third quarter. Barren followed two more scores from Swartz with another goal of his own, and it seemed as though the Vikings had pulled away.
Though White beat the keeper to give Academy a 12-5 lead early in the fourth period, the Warhawks wouldn’t go down quietly. Westerville Central ripped off 4 consecutive goals, but it was too late, as the Vikes sealed the win.
CA hit the road again on Saturday, April 20, and thumped Olentangy Berlin, 21-7. Barren led the Vikings with 7 goals, and Bellisari added 4. Swartz and White each had hat tricks, and junior Charlie Yaw logged a pair of scores. Sophomores Campbell Gwin and Robert Mills both found the back of the net as well, and Academy coasted to another victory.
The Vikes will look to stay in the win column, as they host Buckeye Valley on Tuesday, April 23 before traveling to St. Charles on Thursday, April 25.
