Chiefs topple Trojans in 123rd Wood Stick Classic

Dylan Butler

There’s many reasons why Kevin Overlander wears the coveted No. 32 jersey for the Manhasset lacrosse team. 

“He wears 32 in honor of Johnny Driscoll, an outstanding player and person,” Manhasset coach Bill Cherry said, referring to the former Indians standout who died following a lengthy battle with brain cancer in 2002. “He wears it because of his attitude, his character and his academic prowess.”

On Saturday night, though, the senior middie wore that number because of his athletic ability, helping lead the Indians to a 9-7 win over rival Garden City in the 123rd edition of the Wood Stick Classic at Ed Walsh Field in Manhasset. 

“This was probably the game of his career here at Manhasset,” Cherry said. 

Overlander netted a hat trick and added an assist, but perhaps his biggest contribution came on the opening faceoff, which he won from Garden City sophomore standout James Sullivan. 

“That was huge,” Cherry said. “[Sullivan] is one of the best in the country. It set a great tone for the game.”

It was an even bigger win because it also set up the Indians first goal, scored by Georgetown-bound senior Sean Grimm 50 seconds into the game, on an assist by Overlander. 

“That first goal was really huge for us,” Manhasset goalie Dylan Meyer said. “We knew they were a great team and we wanted to jump on them early. To have that first goal was great for our confidence.”

Garden City (7-3), which saw its three-game winning streak snapped in a series that dates back to 1935, twice tied the score in the first quarter, but each time Manhasset (8-3) had the response. 

The Indians had six one-goal leads and never trailed.

“I thought they took advantage of their opportunities,” Garden City coach Steve Finnell said. “We don’t give up too many goals that often. Nine is a lot for us. I thought they played great, jumped out on top of us, we got us back to 3-3 and that was it. We were a step off tonight and that’s a credit to Manhasset.”

While Overlander and freshman Matt Gavin (two goals) led the offensive charge, Meyer keyed the defense with seven saves. 

“It’s a great game to play against Garden City and I just wanted to make all the plays I could,” Meyer said. 

Cherry said the Yale-bound senior goaltender has elevated his game at a critical juncture of the season. 

“The last couple of games he’s been on fire, seeing the ball real well and getting it out and getting us running,” he said. “It’s always nice to have somebody back there when you make a mistake who plays as well as he does.”

The Indians paid special attention defensively to Garden City standout Justin Guterding and the Duke-bound attack was limited to two goals and an assist as was fellow sniper Cody George.  

“We thought that him and Cody George have cannons for shots,” Cherry said. “You have to know where he is. Our kids and our coaches did a great of making everyone aware of where the two big guys were.”

Meanwhile, the Trojans had no answer for Overlander, who broke a 3-all tie with back-to-back goals to send Manhasset into the locker room at the half with a 5-3 lead. He added a third goal with 4:09 left in the third to extend the Indians lead to 6-4 after Guterding made it a one-goal game a little less than three minutes earlier. 

“I was just all about the hustle tonight and I knew if I gave it all and the entire team gave it all we’d win this one,” Overlander said. “It’s all about the hustle and the heart.”

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