University of St. Thomas Lacrosse

Published Date: 04/18/2010

Editor note:  The following article was written by Tommie alum Kevin "Hollywood" Reed.  In addition to Kevin being on the P&G Board, he was instrumental in leading a group of alumni to St. Johns to help cheer on the Tommies.  Kevin's sideline reporting of this key conference game is greatly appreciated!

When the University of St. Thomas plays St. Johns you can throw wins and losses out the door.  Saturday was no exception.  St. Thomas entered the game 7 – 0 on the season, while St. Johns came in with a 9 – 2 line and both those losses coming against top 5 nationally ranked teams.   Either coach would agree, a successful regualr season means winning the Tommie – Johnnie game.

The setting was ideal, Clemens Stadium,  a beautiful day and Purple and Red.  The game started off with a Tommie goal, followed by two St. Johns goals, which had the Tommie faithful more than a little concerned.  Solid defense and crisp mid-field play would allow St. Thomas to recaputure the lead going into the half.

The beginging of the 3rd quarter had St. Thomas holding dearly to a 4-3 lead.  Tommie parent Don Hasbargen said what was on every Tommies fan’s mind, “I just wished the clock would go by faster”.   While the clock wouldn’t  tick any faster, St. Thomas would add four goals and the third quarter closed with St. Thomas taking a 8-5 lead.

Then came the Johnnies.  St. Johns opend the 4th quarter by scoring two goals and pulling the game to a one-goal margin.  The tense crowd of roughly 800 awaited the next goal …  either St. Johns would tie it or St. Thomas would take a two-goal lead.  With only six minutes left in game, it would be St. Thomas taking a 9 - 7 lead.

Six minutes can be either an eternity or the blink of an eye.   Could Peter Moosbrugger’s stout Tommie  defense keep St. Johns from coming back?  As the minutes ticked by… 4 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute and finally, yes the horn.  The defense and St. Thomas goalie Tom Thone held and the game was  over …  St. Thomas held it’s razor-thin, two-goal margin.  Final score: 9-7.

Coach Moosbrugger put it best, “It’s a typical Tommie – Johnnie game.  It’s a battle of hard play and lots of pressure.  It was clearly the toughest game of the season.”  Offensive Coordinator Jimmy Reilly added, “Although some of our shots were a little off, their goalie played had outstanding saves on our good shots.  He played a fabulous game.”

St. Thomas got a hat-trick from attackman Joe Costello and Jason King provided additional firepower from the attack unit.  Costello noted,  “It was a really tough game.  We just went out and played hard.  We would have loved to have kept our 3rd quarter momentum going, but as our offense slowed, our defense came through.”

Coach Reilly stated,  “These are the games we need to win, every goal counts. We need to keep grinding out win.”

Every goal did count.