BY MARCUS KRANZ ’27
On Saturday, April 16, the Jericho Jayhawks hosted the Division Avenue Blue Dragons. The Jayhawks entered the matchup riding a six-game losing streak after winning their season opener.
From the opening whistle, Jericho played with energy and confidence. Max Spector ’26 got the scoring started at the 8:33 mark of the first quarter. Division responded quickly, scoring less than a minute later to tie the game. However, Spector struck again shortly after, giving the Jayhawks the lead. On the play, Spector was pushed to the ground right as he released the shot. Jericho held a 2-1 lead heading into the second quarter.
Midway through the second quarter, captain Hudson Gingold ’26 extended the lead with a goal from the edge of the crease, slipping the ball through the goalie’s legs. A few minutes later, Alan Liu ’26 buried another goal for the Jayhawks from about 10 yards out. The Jayhawks went into halftime leading 4-1.
Jericho came out strong again in the third quarter. Just a minute and a half in, Matthew Luongo ’26 scored on the edge of the crease. Shortly after, Spector completed his hat trick with another strong finish, continuing his standout performance. Division answered midway through the third quarter, but Jericho quickly regained control as Austin Weiss ’27 scooped up a ground ball and sprinted 40 yards upfield. Weiss then set up J.P Wang ’26, who found Luongo for another goal, making the score 7-2. Luongo then buried his third goal of the game soon after, pushing the lead to 8-2 heading into the fourth.
Even with a comfortable lead, the Jayhawks stayed aggressive, especially after previous late game struggles earlier in the season.
In the fourth quarter, the game became more physical, with several skirmishes breaking out between the teams. Jericho scored twice in quick succession, with Luongo and Spector each adding their fourth goals of the game. Liu later scored his second goal, as the Jayhawks pulled away and looked set to end their losing streak. In the last minute of the game, Division added one final goal bringing the score to 11-3.
Ultimately, the Jayhawks secured an 11-3 victory against the Blue Devils, snapping their six-game losing streak. Goalie Jonathan Perlman ’27 made an impressive 18 saves in the win.
After the game, captain Adam Cohen ’26, who had 9 ground balls and 2 takeaways, spoke about how the team stayed together during their tough stretch and what this win could mean moving forward. Cohen said, “My fellow captains and I kept the guys together through the unexpected rough stretch by keeping the sport fun for my teammates. The only way to get these guys engaged and showing up for practice is to get them smiling and going, and that’s what we did. When we finally got back in the win column, it was the most rewarding thing. The boys were happy, and now we are full steam ahead, focusing on the next game.”
Looking ahead, Cohen felt this win could be a turning point for the team. He said, “I believe this win will get the boys ready to go. We haven’t won as many games as we expected to at the beginning of this season, but we really showed our true potential as a team against Division. With some tough games approaching in the second half of the season, that win sets a precedent for our team that no one should be surprised if we shock someone.”
Spector also emphasized the team’s positive mindset during the losing streak. “You just have to try to keep everyone locked in and keep their heads up. If you and your guys continue to play with a chip on their shoulder even when you lose, eventually something will go your way,” said Spector. “A win like that one gave us the confidence that we needed after losing it in a few games that I thought we should have won. Wins like these bring the team together and the momentum we needed after losing heading into the second half of the season.”
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