If Georgetown Prep had any misgivings about playing in the Interstate Athletic Conference consolation game, all the Little Hoyas had to do was look down the sideline to their opponent Tuesday afternoon.
Wearing its familiar road brown was arch-rival Landon.
So six days after suffering a shocking 7-6 loss in the IAC semifinals to St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, Prep rebounded with one of its best games this year, adding another chapter to rich Landon-Prep lore with a 10-9 victory.
“Their world fell apart. That one loss carried a heavy weight,” said Prep coach Kevin Giblin. “I thought we showed a lot of guts.”
In claiming a share of the IAC title, Prep (20-1) withstood a furious rally by Landon (15-5), which scored four goals in a 1-minute, 57-second span to cut a 10-5 lead to one with 5:25 left.
But after Landon’s Nick Rhodes won his fourth straight faceoff, Prep forced a turnover, then chewed up most of the rest of the clock in a brilliant display of keep away.
“Landon played great, they really had us on the run,” said Prep senior Ryan Shuler. “But we did a great job with possession. Once we were able to get the ball and settle it, I think we felt pretty confident we could hold them off.”
In his final high school game, the Georgetown-bound Shuler was the best player on the field as he scored three goals and dealt three assists. His bouncer at the close of the third quarter gavePrep an 8-5 lead.
“I told him in the locker room, big players need to play big in the big games,” said Giblin. “Last week against St. Stephen’s he had a tough day. We need him to have big days.”
When junior Henry Van Wagenberg (two goals) and sophomore Brian Casey (two goals) tallied to start the fourth period, Prep had a 10-5 lead.
But Landon rallied with goals by Alejandro Amaro, Josh Offit (two goals), Will Patch (two goals) and Will Comiskey. But the Bears couldn’t muster a significant possession after that.
“This was tough, having to play in the consolation game,” said Shuler. “But it helped a lot that it was Landon and that we had something to play for — a share of the conference title.”
PREP-LANDON
» After losing its first 18 games to Landon, Prep has won seven of the last 10 meetings.
» Of the last 18 games of the series, 14 have been decided by three or fewer goals.
» Prep shared the title with St. Albans, a 7-6 (2OT) winner over St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes in the IAC tournament final Saturday.
