Severn’s ‘Gilman’ clear tops Greyhounds in final second

by Nelson Coffin

Although the term “Gilman clear” may be a bit of an anachronism by current standards, some graybeard lacrosse fans instinctively use that expression to describe a desperation heave from a defensive player into the offensive end of the field.   

According to the laxlibrary.com website, “The ‘Gilman!’ is a special clear that everyone will need to use at least once in their coaching or playing lifetime. You shouldn't use it very often, but when you do, it can get the job done. In fact, it's hard to get some younger and inexperienced players to stop doing the ‘Gilman!’ when they get in trouble in their defensive end of the field.”

The website also concludes that the play “is named for the famed Gilman School in Baltimore. No one will ever know for sure. But seeing as how Gilman School lacrosse is one of the oldest and most famous high school programs in the country, and has cranked out big names in the sport for decades, what else could it be?”

With all of that in mind, the irony of the “Gilman” being used against the Greyhounds in last week’s 11-10 setback to Severn can’t be dismissed.

With time running out in a taut 10-10 deadlock, the all-junior trio of goalie Chase Krukiel, defenseman   Connor Gattie and attackman Nick Todd combined to use the long clear to great effect for the Admirals. 

Krukiel deflected a Greyhound shot, Gattie scooped up the ball and rocketed it down the field where Todd collected the ball and deposited it into the net with less than a second remaining in regulation to set off a wild celebration.

“The play by Connor Gattie, is one of the smartest plays I’ve ever seen,” Severn coach Keegan Wilkinson said. “I’m really proud of our team for our effort, and Gilman played a really great game.“

Todd was also impressed with Gattie’s presence of mind in a pressure-packed moment.

“Connor made a great play — a really smart play at the end,” said Todd, who finished with a game-high four goals and two assists, while noting that Connor Gattie’s brother, senior attackman Kevin Gattie, helped gain possession of the ball in the waning seconds.

Senior attackman Chase Carpenter led the Greyhounds with three goals and an assist. Senior midfielder Jadon Chaney chipped in with a goal and three feeds.

The Admirals continued their fine play later in the week by beating vaunted neighborhood rival Severna Park, 11-8. The Falcons have solidified their billing as the premier public school program in Maryland by winning nine straight state titles.

Even so, Severn was up to the task against Severna Park while gaining a measure of revenge for a 9-8 setback when the teams last clashed in 2019. Senior Sam Long and junior Myles Goger combined for seven goals to pace the Admirals.

Gilman-Severn clash was not the only key game that went down to the wire last week.

Trailing, 11-6, in the third quarter, McDonogh’s defense buckled down to blank Archbishop Spalding the rest of the way while the offense provided just enough punch to secure a 12-11 triumph.

With senior Maryland commit Brady Mollet (3 goals, 3 assists) wreaking havoc on the Eagle defense, things were looking up for the Cavaliers until McDonogh’s offense started flexing its muscles with a boost from FOGO Ciaran Sweeney.

A four-goal effort by Wyatt Guerra, Harry Schniedwind, Carter Pett and TC Goodman near the end of the third period put the Eagles in a perfect position to eventually draw even on Hunter Metz’s game-high fourth goal early in the final frame. 

Goodman then converted a nice look from Matt Tees to net the game-winner with two minutes left.

In other A Conference action, Boys’ Latin handled Mount St. Joseph, 15-5, Calvert Hall downed John Carroll, 18-7, and Loyola Blakefield topped St. Mary’s, 11-8

Senior attackmen Joe Ryan and Ethan Wojcik, senior midfielder Danny Kammer and junior midfielder Logan Raynor staked Archbishop Curley to an early 4-0 advantage on the way to a 16-5 B Conference win over Indian Creek. 

St Vincent Pallotti dropped St. John’s Catholic Prep, 13-6, while Park beat Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 9-5.