CLARK, NJ – Arthur L. Johnson High School freshman Evan Parenti scored five goals to power the No. 5 seeded Crusaders past the No. 12 seeded Holmdel High School Hornets in the NJSIAA South, Group 1 First Round matchup by a final score of 12-5 Wednesday afternoon in Clark.
“We didn’t give up and just kept moving the ball quick and stuff started opening up,” Parenti said of his team’s effort.
Johnson got on the board first, when sophomore Eric Bretz put up his 23rd goal of the season at the 4:50-mark of the first quarter.
Holmdel answered a few minutes later, when Joe Hazel got room and tied the game with his eighth goal of the season at the 7:13-mark of the first quarter. In the closing seconds of the opening quarter, senior Kevin Burmeister gave his team the lead with his 26th goal of the season.
After the first 12 minutes of play, Johnson trailed Holmdel 2-1.
As the second quarter began, Holmdel scored again, just seven seconds into the quarter to take a 3-1 lead.
Johnson would get back into the game as the second quarter went along. Senior Jack Lomeli got his team to within 3-2 at the 7:12-mark of the second quarter with his sixth goal of the season. They continued to pressure Holmdel and give themselves chances to keep scoring.
Parenti tied the game at three at the 5:51-mark of the second quarter and gave his team the 4-3 lead with his second goal of the game at the 7:31-mark of the quarter.
Johnson led Holmdel 4-3 at halftime and the Crusaders would carry the momentum of three unanswered goals into the second half.
Full Coverage of Johnson Lacrosse NJSIAA South, Group 1 First Round Win Over Holmdel HS
