Cavaliers hit road block in playoffs | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

TOWSON - Playing at home on grass, the Archbishop Spalding boys lacrosse team was capable of beating anybody. Playing away on artificial turf, it was an entirely different story.

Junior attackman Patrick Fanshaw fired in a career-high seven goals as third-seeded Calvert Hall routed Spalding, 16-5, in the quarterfinals of the MIAA A Conference playoffs. Senior attackman Sean Maguire scored three goals and assisted another for the host Cardinals, who raced out to a 5-0 first-quarter lead and never looked back.

"Spalding can be a dangerous team if you give them life. We wanted to really get after them in the first five minutes," Calvert Hall head coach Bryan Kelly said. "Our kids really came out focused and ready to play. We rode really well and faced off really well today."

Junior Joe Impallaria was virtually unbeatable in leading a 20-4 domination of the draws for Calvert Hall, which maintained possession for most of the opening 24 minutes in taking a commanding 10-2 halftime lead.

"Face-offs, face-offs, face-offs," Spalding head coach Zack Burke said when asked the difference in the game. "We didn't have the ball at all. When you play 10 minutes of defense in the first quarter, it takes its toll. Our defenders were dead tired midway through the second quarter."

On the rare occasions the Cavaliers did get a defensive stop during the first half, they were unable to clear the ball. Ground balls were also an issue, with the Cardinals finishing with an overwhelming 45-23 advantage in that category.

"We don't handle the ball well enough with our long sticks. That is an area we really need to work on," Burke said. "We couldn't get the ball off the carpet and we couldn't get it out of our own end."

Things could have been worse if not for a spectacular performance by Spalding goalie Tyler Powell, who faced an onslaught of 47 shots and came away with 22 saves. Powell frustrated Calvert Hall early by stopping the initial five shots he saw, but was eventually overwhelmed by the nonstop barrage.

"Tyler is the best goalie no one knows about," Burke said. "He came up big for us all year."

Fanshaw scored most of his seven goals while standing unattended on the crease. Attackman Jason McFadden (three assists) and midfielder Tyler Adelsberger (two assists) took turns dodging then dishing to a wide-open Fanshaw, whose defender was normally forced to slide.

"Patrick is a crafty player and a great finisher, but he was the beneficiary of other guys creating slides," Kelly said.

Calvert Hall (16-2) advances to face second-seeded Loyola on Friday night at Towson University. Top-seeded and undefeated Gilman will host McDonogh in the other semifinal. Gilman and Loyola are the only opponents to beat Calvert Hall this season.

Senior midfielder Rich May scored three goals and assisted another to lead Spalding (8-8), which upset regular season runner-up Loyola to earn the sixth and final seed in the playoffs. However, that game was held in Millersville, where the Cavaliers are clearly a different team. Four of the team's five A Conference wins came at home with county rival Severn the lone road victim.

It was a disappointing end to a breakthrough season for Spalding, which qualified for the postseason for the first time since moving up to the A Conference in 2005. The Cavaliers came into this season with just three league wins to their credit.

"I inherited seniors who had never won, so we had to change the culture and teach them how to win," Burke said. "I'm proud of what these guys accomplished this season, but I'm a realist. I understand we still have some work to do."

Spalding (8-8) 0 2 1 2 - 5

Calvert Hall (16-2) 5 5 2 4 - 16

GOALS: AS - May 3, Poiter, Scalley. CH - Fanshaw 7, Maguire 3, Brashears 2, McFadden, Rossi, Adelsberger, Kelly. ASSISTS: AS - K. Cooper, May. CH - McFadden 3, Adelsberger 2, Wittelsberger, Maguire. SHOTS: AS - 22. CH - 47. SAVES: AS - Powell 22. CH - Dutton 8, Miller 1. GROUND BALLS: AS - 23. CH - 45. FACEOFFS: AS - 4. CH - 20.