A strong opening statement is a good first impression.
The Cavs made a strong first impression in their season opener, defeating Haverford College, 18-12, on Saturday, Feb. 23.
The Cavs started slow, allowing the first two goals to Haverford. But with 6:28 remaining in the first quarter as freshman Ethan Heisman found the back of the net for the first Cavs’ goal of the season.
Sophomore Anthony DiSanzo tied the game less than two minutes later with his first of the season.
But the Cavs quickly surrendered the lead again, allowing two goals in 28 seconds and falling behind by two again.
In the final minute of the quarter, the Cavs knotted the score again with goals in short order by Ben Laffoon and DiSanzo. The first quarter ended with the score tied at four.
Less than two minutes into the second quarter, the Cavs grabbed their first lead of the season on a goal by sophomore Mike Leyden.
After Haverford tied the score with 8:12 to play on a goal by Henry Millson, Leyden tallied his second goal of the game to put the Cavs in front for good with 6:33 left in the second.
Leyden added two more goals in the quarter that saw the Cavs score seven goals, including sophomore Joey Shallow’s first career goal and the first goals of the season for senior Bobby Thorp and junior Corey Elmer.
Sophomore Damien Sobieski joined the scoring fray in the third quarter, netting his first goal of the season. In the remainder of the third, Elmer would complete a hat trick of his own and Sobieski would score his second of the game, keeping the Cavaliers’ six-goal lead in tact.
The ninth-different Cavs’ goal-scorer of the game struck in the fourth quarter, as Andrew Layne buried his first goal of the season. Elmer added a fourth goal and Thorp scored his second to cap the scoring for the Cavs.
Elmer recorded nine points in his season debut, adding five assists to his four-goal display. Thorp finished with two goals and an assist for a three-point game to open his senior season.
Erick Zarzecki was solid in goal for the Cavs as well. Despite allowing 12 goals in his first action of the season, he also made 14 saves.
Haverford was led by Christian Clay and Geoff Geppert, who both scored three goals in a losing effort.
The road doesn’t get any easier for the Cavs. They travel to face No. 7 Dickinson College on Wednesday, Feb. 27, before facing No. 3 Lynchburg College on Saturday, March 2, marking two early tests for the No. 5 Cavaliers.
