OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Salisbury’s Matt Cannone scored his fourth goal of the game with just 11 seconds remaining to cap an 8-1 as the No. 1-ranked Sea Gulls rallied from a six-goal deficit over the final 15:45 to post an 11-10 victory over fourth-ranked Stevenson Saturday night at Mustang Stadium.

The loss snapped an 18-game conference winning streak for the Mustangs (12-3, 6-1 CAC) and was their first in nine games at Mustang Stadium.

Stevenson led 9-3 with 52 seconds remaining in the third quarter following the second goal of the game from freshman Stephen Banick
(Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic) off an assist from sophomore defender Warren Pumphrey (Annapolis, Md./St. Mary’s).

However, Salisbury (15-0, 7-0 CAC) scored the next three goals in a span of just 1:01, including two from Tony Mendes, to pull within
three at 9-6.

Menendes, Matt Cannone and Ryan Clarke combined to score the last eight goals for the Sea Gulls with three each coming from Cannone and Mendes.

Salisbury outscored the Mustangs 6-1 in the fourth quarter while winning 6-of-7 face-offs and holding a 13-2 edge in shots. For the game, the Sea Gulls won 14-of-21 face-offs and outshot Stevenson 39-28, including 24-11 in the second half.

The game featured 18 penalities including for a total of 16:30, but neither team could capitalize as they went a combined 3-17 on extra-man opportunities.  The two teams also combined for three man-down goals.

Banick totaled two goals and three assists for a game-high five points while senior Nick Rossi (Lutherville, Md./Towson) finished with a career-high three goals. Sophomore Chris Dashiell (Salisbury, Md./Parkside) had two goals.

Cannone also had a game-high five points with four goals and one assist while Mendes also netted four goals. Clarke had two goals and
two assists.

Senior Ian Bolland (Mountain Lakes, N.J./Mountain Lakes) finished with a season-high 13 saves, including nine in the first half. His
counterpart Alex Taylor finished with nine saves.

Stevenson reutrns to action on Wednesday, April 18 as the Mustangs host a CAC contest versus Frostburg State on Senior Day. Face-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

- Stevenson Men’s Lacrosse -

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Stevenson men’s lacrosse senior Justin Lea (Elkridge, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) scored all four of his goals in the first half as the sixth-ranked Mustangs built an 8-2 halftime lead before holding off a late rally by No. 8 Denison for their sixth-straight win Saturday, 12-9 at Mustang Stadium.

Stevenson (11-2) outshot the Big Red 32-13 in the first half, including 19-5 in the first quarter while scoring seven second-quarter goals.

The Mustangs improved their record to 8-0 at home this season and 3-2 against teams ranked in the USILA Division III Coaches’ Poll.

Denison (9-1) was one of just four remaining undefeated teams in Division III entering Saturday, joining No. 1 Salisbury, No. 2 SUNY Cortland and Lyndon State.

Lea finished the game with a career-high six points while tying his career-high with four goals for the second consecutive game. In three games since returning from a broken hand that forced him to miss eight of the team’s first 10 games, Lea has totaled 10 goals and 13 points.

Lea scored four of Stevenson’s first eight goals as it built a six-goal lead at the half. He then assisted on the Mustangs’ final two tallies just 27 seconds apart in the fourth quarter to push the team’s lead to five with 6:00 remaining after Denison cut its deficit to 10-7.

After junior Tyler Reid (Clinton, Conn./Xavier) scored to give Stevenson its largest lead of the game at 9-2, the Big Red responded with five of the next six goals, including two from Eddie Vita to pull Denison within three.

Vita and Chapin Speidel each had three goals for the Big Red who entered the game with nation’s fifth-best scoring offense.

Lea was one of eight different goal scorers for the Mustangs. Freshman Stephen Banick (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic) had two while Reid finished with a goal and an assist. Freshman Pat Candon (Long Beach, N.Y./Holy Trinity) had two assists.

Junior Kyle Holechek (Reisterstown, Md./Loyola Blakefield) led the Stevenson defense with four caused turnovers while senior Ian Bolland (Mountain Lakes, N.J./Mountain Lakes) had six saves.

Senior Doug Reidt (Towson, Md./Hereford) won 12-of-23 face-offs and totaled seven ground balls.

Stevenson travels to Marymount (Va.) on Wednesday. Game time is at 7:30 p.m.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – In just his second game back from injury, Stevenson men’s lacrosse senior Justin Lea (Elkridge, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) scored a career-high four goals while the defense held its opponent to five goals or less for eighth time this season in a 14-5 victory Wednesday at Mustang Stadium.

The win was the fifth-straight for Stevenson (10-2, 5-0 CAC) who won its 17th consecutive CAC contest dating back to Apr. 7, 2010. It was also the seventh in as many games at home for the Mustangs this season and moved them into sole possession of first place in the CAC standings, one game ahead of rival Salisbury.

In two games since returning from a broken hand, Lea has totaled six goals and seven points versus Hood and St. Mary’s (Md.). He scored three of the Mustangs’ first seven goals, netting his third with 10:03 remaining in the second quarter to give Stevenson a 7-2 lead.

Freshman Stephen Banick (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic) scored the first of his two goals just eight seconds later as the Mustangs
led by six before taking an 8-3 advantage into halftime.

Stevenson held a 32-7 edge in shots at the half and a 53-22 margin for the game.

Senior Nick Rossi (Lutherville, Md./Towson) scored the first of back-to-back goals only 18 seconds into the third quarter with a man
advantage that jump started a second half in which Stevenson outscored the Seahawks 6-2, including 4-1 in the third quarter.

Sophomore and reigning CAC Player of the Week Chris Dashiell (Salisbury, Md./Parkside) picked up the second of his three assists on
the goal by Rossi as he now has a team-high 20 assists this season. During the team’s five-game win streak, Dashiell has totaled 22 points and 15 assists.

A total of 11 different players scored for the Mustangs, including freshman Sam Wyatt (Brentwood, Tenn./Brentwood) who netted his first career goal to start the second quarter.

Defensively, junior Kyle Holechek (Reisterstown, Md./Loyola Blakefield) totaled six ground balls and three caused turnovers while
juniors Kyle Fendlay (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) and Parker Bratton (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) each had three ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Senior Ian Bolland (Mountain Lakes, N.J./Mountain Lakes) and freshman Kevin Cain (Rocky Point, N.Y./Rocky Point) each had four saves.

Stewart D’Ambrogi had a goal and an assist for the Seahawks (7-4, 4-1 CAC) while Patrick Mull finished with two assists. Stu Wheeler made 19 saves.

Stevenson hosts No. 8 Denison on Saturday at Mustang Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Ask any Baltimore football fan over the age of 35 the significance of the morning of March 29, 1984 and you’ll see their expression change as a flood of memories rushes over their countenance.

Thursday marked the 28th anniversary of Robert Irsay and the Baltimore Colts sneaking out of town in the middle of the night, leaving countless grown men and women — like my father and grandparents — to only sob when learning the news that morning.

(Video package courtesy of WMAR-TV in Baltimore)

Many say they’re over the bitterness of the Colts’ departure while others will take that anger to their graves. And younger fans, such as those of my generation and younger, either aren’t that terribly interested or will never fully grasp the emotions of that night and morning and the days and years that followed.

All of those perspectives are perfectly acceptable as long as the feelings of each person invested in Baltimore football are respected.

It took time, but Baltimore wound up better in the long run as the city secured another team and won a championship before the Indianapolis Colts ever tasted Super Bowl glory. The Ravens have become ingrained in the community as much as a franchise can be in the modern and more lucrative era of professional sports.

What I didn’t realize, or perhaps had simply forgotten over the last 16 years, was March 29 also being a more positive day in the history of Baltimore football. Twelve years after those Mayflower trucks pulled out of Owings Mills, Art Modell announced his newly-relocated franchise would be renamed the Ravens — the Marauders and the Americans were the other two finalists — in the first tangible step of establishing a distinct identity for a new NFL team in Baltimore.

The team’s move from Cleveland had been announced several months earlier, but learning the result of a fan poll to name the franchise somehow granted more authenticity to the idea of NFL football once again being played at Memorial Stadium that fall.

A plethora of detailed accounts by more talented, authoritative writers can easily be found, so I don’t feel the need to rehash the circumstances or emotions surrounding each relocation at length.

But I do believe in the importance of remembering and respecting the city’s football heritage, recognizing where we once were and how those events impacted our lives as well as our loved ones, many of whom are no longer with us.

March 29 represents both the darkest day in the history of Baltimore football and part of a new beginning.

And it’s why I’ll remember and think about my father and grandparents a little more than usual on this day.

YORK, Pa. – Stevenson men’s lacrosse junior Kyle Holecheck (Reisterstown, Md./Loyola Blakefield) was named CAC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after leading the Mustangs to a pair of victories last week, including a 9-5 win over No. 2 Tufts at Mustang
Stadium.

Holecheck totaled 13 ground balls and six caused turnovers in wins over Tufts and Mary Washington, who was receiving votes in today’s USILA Division III Coaches’ Poll.

Holocheck is the first Mustang to be honored by the CAC since Kyle Moffitt was named Offensive Player of the Week on Apr. 18, 2011. The last time a Stevenson defender was honored with the conference’s top weekly honor was back on Mar. 21, 2011 when Evan Douglass was named Defensive Player of the Week.

The Mustangs, who are currently ranked 15th in Division III in scoring defense, allowed just 11 goals in two games last week, including five against Tufts who entered the week ranked ninth in scoring offense. Holecheck totaled eight ground balls and six caused turnovers against the Jumbos.

Stevenson allowed just six goals in a 13-6 victory over Mary Washington and is 88-2 all time when allowing six goals or less while
winning 55 out of the last 56. The Mustangs have allowed six goals or less in eight out of nine games this season.

Stevenson puts its 14-game CAC winning streak on the line on Wednesday when it travels to Dover, Delaware for a 4:00 p.m., contest with Wesley at Miller Stadium.
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It’s been a tough start to National Football League free agency for Baltimore Ravens fans.

Even for the most realistic fan of the Purple And Black (I’d like to think of myself in that group), it’s impossible to be excited about a six day span that has seen five players (LB Jarret Johnson, DL Cory Redding, G Ben Grubbs, S Tom Zbikowski, S Haruki Nakamura) depart, just one free agent (C Matt Birk) return and no free agents added to the roster.

The realistic Ravens fan knew this could be coming. Between them, the five players share just one Pro Bowl appearance (Grubbs was invited to Hawaii this season as an injury replacement) and all were able to cash in on the open market. The Ravens, having spent significant money during the regular season to extend would-be free agent DT Haloti Ngata decided none were “cornerstone” players and wouldn’t overpay to keep them.

The Ravens are instead working to spend a boatload of money to extend QB Joe Flacco and RB Ray Rice, both players they do believe are “cornerstone” parts of the organization.

The realistic fan also knows the Ravens still have work to do in free agency before the process is finished. It was revealed this week that return specialist (and part time Wide Receiver) Ted Ginn Jr. visited Owings Mills last week. The team could still look to find help along the Offensive Line and at Linebacker as well, and could even add another Safety at some point.

Additionally, the realistic fan is aware that the upcoming NFL Draft is likely to help shape the 2012 season for the defending AFC North champs, with some players (like WR Torrey Smith and DE Pernell McPhee) not likely to fully develop into contributors until after the season has started.

AND the realistic fan knows the 2012 season will also be defined in part by the continued development of young players. Entering the 2011 season, the team’s secondary was considered to be one of the bigger question marks about the roster. Just months later, the CB trio of Lardarius Webb, Cary Williams and Jimmy Smith represents one of the more solid units in football.

Yet even the most realistic Ravens fan still agonizes over the thought “can enough be done to get this team over the hump and into a Super Bowl for the first time in 12 years?”

A reasonable level of concern is understandable at this point. In addition to the pre-existing question marks facing the team (uneven O-Line play, lack of a size receiver, age and injury related decline from defensive playmakers, Special Teams issues), there are additional depth issues created by the first batch of free agent departures.

It’s an uneasy time for Ravens fans.

The majority of Ravens fans have not swayed far from reality in how they’ve viewed Week 1 of the actual NFL offseason. As can be expected, some have gone off the deep end entirely. The reminder I got Sunday could serve as a nice “reality check” itself for fans in both groups. It’s probably something you already know about.

I assume you’ve heard that free agent quarterback Matt Flynn agreed to a three year, $26 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks. As the deal involved only $10 million of guaranteed money, most analysts agreed it was a particularly fair and perhaps very good deal for a team that is trying to improve on a third place finish in the NFC West last season.

I actually think the deal was a great move for the Seahawks. In fact, just days ago during our weekly “Free Advice” segment on “The Reality Check” (weekdays 2-6pm on AM1570 WNST.net for the one of you that doesn’t listen already) I encouraged the Seahawks to pull the trigger on the move. I can only assume my endorsement was the final approval the team needed to get the deal done.

But the facts about Flynn don’t change. The quarterback was believed to have so little pro talent coming out of LSU that he slid to the seventh round of the NFL Draft. While they’ve been impressive, he’s made only two starts with the Green Bay Packers as is still mostly an unknown commodity.

An unknown commodity who has $10 million guaranteed coming his way.

You see, the Seahawks are in a place where they had to make a significant move that could backfire. Matt Flynn might be more Rick Mirer than Matt Hasselbeck in the Emerald City, which could possibly doom Pete Carroll’s tenure.

Yet if the team didn’t pull the trigger, they could face a reality that involves more Tavaris Jackson. That would almost certainly doom Carroll to a sub .500 record until he was dismissed.

The Seahawks had to pull the trigger partly due to desperation. It’s a feeling the Baltimore Ravens have experienced in the past with mixed results. It’s a feeling that Baltimore Ravens fans should enjoy not experiencing this year.

The Ravens haven’t been able to accomplish much during free agency, but they haven’t had to. They’re not a desperate organization seeking a single fix to exit mediocrity. They’re a superior organization merely looking to make a few moves to reach “the next level.”

The Ravens have a quarterback. The Ravens have talented players at other offensive skill positions. The Ravens (still) have one of the best defenses in the league.

Desperation isn’t a word General Manager Ozzie Newsome, Head Coach John Harbaugh and Owner Steve Bisciotti even have to consider. Neither do Ravens fans.

It’s a significantly better place to be. I appreciated the reminder.

Carry on.

-G

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Stevenson men’s lacrosse senior Kenny Whittaker (Dundalk, Md./Archbishop Curley) scored three goals while sophomore Sam Ramatowski (Bowie, Md./Annapolis Area Christian) won 15 face-offs as the ninth-ranked Mustangs beat York (Pa.) 7-5 Wednesday at Mustang Stadium in the CAC opener for both teams.

Stevenson (5-1, 1-0 CAC) is now 11-0 in conference openers, including 5-0 in the Capital Athletic Conference and 6-0 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference. The team is also 5-0 at Mustang Stadium.

Whittaker tied a career-high in both goals and points while Ramatowski posted a career-high in face-off wins, winning 15-of-16. Whittaker also had three goals and three points in a 20-4 victory over Hood on
Mar. 31, 2010.

Defensively, the Mustangs held their opponent to six goals or less for the sixth time this season while holding the Spartans (3-3, 0-1 CAC) scoreless in the fourth quarter as Stevenson broke a 5-5 tie with goals from freshman Stephen Banick (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic) and sophomore J.P. Coombe (Annapolis, Md./St. Mary’s).

The team’s leader in goals, assists and points this season, Banick finished with three points on two goals and one assist. Sophomore Chris Dashiell (Salisbury, Md./Parkside) had one goal and one assist.

The Mustangs held a 57-24 edge in shots and had twice as many ground balls, 50-25, but were 0-for-6 with the extra-man. The team has not scored on its last 11 extra-man opportunities.

York’s Tyler Powell finished with 20 saves, including seven in the first quarter, while seven different players had at least one point for the Spartans.

Stevenson travels to No. 3 SUNY Cortland on Saturday. Game time is at 3:00 p.m.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – A total of 10 different players scored for the Stevenson men’s lacrosse team, led by four points from freshman Stephen Banick (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic) as the No. 4 ranked Mustangs remained unbeaten in four games this season with an 11-3 victory over future MAC rival Widener Wednesday at Mustang Stadium.

Stevenson (4-0) won its 14th-straight regular-season home game dating back to the 2010 season while tying a season-high with 11 goals.

The Mustangs totaled a season-high 51 shots, outshooting the Pride 51-21 while winning 13-of-17 faceoffs, led by senior Doug Reidt (Towson, Md./Hereford) who was 10-for-12. He also had a career-high eight ground balls.

Defensively, Stevenson forced 24 turnovers while holding Widener to just three goals. Through four games, the Mustangs have allowed just 18 goals for an average of only 4.5 per game. The defense has not allowed more than six goals in a game this season and is currently ranked 16th in Division III in scoring defense.

Banick finished with three assists to increase his team-lead to nine. He also leads the team in points this season with 14.

Freshman Billy Burgoyne (Boonton Township, N.J./Mountain Lakes) posted the first multi-point game of his career with two goals and one assist while senior Kenny Whittaker (Dundalk, Md./Archbishop Curley) scored his first points since he netted a goal in a 10-6 win over Salisbury
on Apr. 24, 2010. He finished with one goal and one assist.

After a goal by Michael Bassani gave the Pride (0-4) a 1-0 lead with three seconds left in the first quarter, Stevenson scored the next 11 to take an 11-1 lead with 10:00 remaining in the fourth.

Widener was whistled for nine penalties totaling 8:30 leading to two extra-man goals for the Mustangs. Bassani had two goals to lead the Pride while Bobby Schluter made 17 saves.

Senior Ian Bolland (Mountain Lakes, N.J./Mountain Lakes) had 10 saves for Stevenson while sophomore and 2011 CAC Rookie of the Year Ryan Rubenstein (Sykesville, Md./Boys’ Latin) had three caused turnovers and four ground balls.

Stevenson faces the second of six top-20 opponents on its 2012 schedule Saturday when it travels to No. 9 Lynchburg. Game time is at 7:00 p.m. The Mustangs are 1-0 against ranked teams this season following an 11-5 victory over No. 17 Haverford on February 18.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Stevenson men’s lacrosse head coach Paul Cantabene became the second-fastest in Division III to win 100 career games while the No. 5-ranked Mustangs remained unbeaten in three games at the new Mustang Stadium with a 6-4 victory over Western New England
Saturday night.

Stevenson (3-0), who boasts a home record of 51-8 since 2007, had seven different players score at least one point, including junior Tyler Reid (Clinton, Conn./Xavier) who led the team with three points on two goals and one assist.

Cantabene now owns a career record of 100-30 in eight seasons with the Mustangs for a .769 winning percentage which ranks him seventh among active winningest head coaches in all three NCAA divisions. He is third in Division III behind Salisbury’s Jim Berkman and Cabrini’s Steve Colfer.

Cantabene is also the 40th active coach in Division III with 100 wins.

Also of note, Cantabene’s counterpart on Saturday, Western New England’s John Klepacki, is 11th among active winningest head coach in all three NCAA divisions and fifth in Division III.

Tonight’s game featured four ties and five lead changes and was tied at 4-4 at the end of the third quarter following the second goal of the game by the Golden Bears’ Patrick White. White, who led all returning players in points and goals last season, finished with two goals and three points.

The fourth quarter proved to be the difference for the Mustangs as they scored twice on goals by freshman Stephen Banick (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic) and sophomore Chris Dashiell (Salisbury, Md./Parkside).

Senior Ian Bolland (Mountain Lakes, N.J./Mountain Lakes) totaled three of his season-high 11 saves in the fourth quarter as Stevenson was outshot, 11-6.

Junior Andrew Bishop (Lothian, Md./Southern) netted his first goal of the season in his first career start and 31st career appearance while freshman Michael Crowe (Arlington, Va./Yorktown) picked up his first career point with an assist on Reid’s first quarter tally.

The Mustangs wrap-up their four-game homestand to open the 2012 season on Wednesday, March 7 when they host a non-conference contest with future MAC rival Widener. Game time is at 7:00 p.m.

Honorable Mention: Golf-PGA Tour Honda Classic (Thursday & Friday 3pm live on Golf Channel, Saturday & Sunday 3pm live on NBC); Boxing-Friday Night Fights: Joan Guzman vs. Cosme Rivera (Friday 9pm from Hollywood, FL live on ESPN2); Women’s College Basketball: ACC Tournament-Maryland vs. Virginia/Boston College (Friday 8pm from Greensboro, NC live on Comcast SportsNet PLUS); Tennis: ATP Tour Delray Beach International Tennis Championships (Final Sunday 3pm from Delray Beach, FL live on Tennis Channel), ATP Tour Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (Tuesday-Thursday 7am, Friday & Saturday 8am from Dubai, UAE live on Tennis Channel); High School Basketball: MPSSAA Playoffs-Games include Springbrook vs. Mervo, Paint Branch vs. Kenwood, Westminster vs. Blake, Sherwood vs. Southwestern, Glen Burnie vs. Meade, Leonardtown vs. North Point, North County vs. Old Mill, Arundel vs. Chesapeake (Anne Arundel), Milford Mill vs. Aberdeen, C. Milton Wright vs. Woodlawn, City vs. Digital Harbor, Franklin vs. Patterson, Centennial vs. Howard, Stephen Decatur vs. Atholton, Annapolis vs. J.M. Bennett, Reservoir vs. Wilde Lake, Lake Clifton vs. Chesapeake (Baltimore County), Dundalk vs. Owings Mills, Randallstown vs. Douglass, Loch Raven vs. Edmondson Westside, Patterson Mill vs. Harford Tech, Elkton vs. Edgewood, Perryville vs. New Town, Bohemia Manor vs. Sparrows Point, Havre de Grace vs. Overlea, Western STES vs. Pikesville (Games Thursday-Sunday)

10. Brad Paisley (Thursday 7:30pm 1st Mariner Arena); Boyz II Men (Friday 7pm Rams Head Live), Chevelle/Middle Class Rut (Monday 6:30pm Rams Head Live); Fun. (Friday 7pm Recher Theatre); O.A.R. (Tuesday-Friday 9:30 Club); Chiddy Bang (Tuesday 8pm U Street Music Hall); Lauryn Hill (Wednesday 8pm Warner Theatre); Young Jeezy (Saturday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring); Carolina Chocolate Drops “Leaving Eden” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

You probably don’t know how much I enjoy Chevelle. It’s fine, I’m not mad. But someone will have to accept the responsibility of passing along a few tickets my way. I don’t care which one of you takes the responsibility, just make sure it gets done.

I’m doing the Tuesday night gig from Jerry DePizzo and the boys in DC. Unlike Chevelle, you all know EXACTLY how much I love the guys from Of A Revolution…

Lauryn Hill is one of the greatest musicians in the history of the planet. This dates back to her days at St. Francis School in California…

Not familiar with Carolina Chocolate Drops? Probably about time for you to take a few minutes…

9. Tim Meadows (Friday & Saturday Baltimore Comedy Factory); Donnell Rawlings (Thursday-Saturday Magooby’s Joke House); John Oliver (Friday & Saturday DC Improv); “Hugo” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday)

Here’s the thing. I don’t always think every comedian that comes to the area is very funny. That’s not the case with the group hitting the Mid-Atlantic this weekend. They’re all freaking funny.

“Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” wasn’t very funny, but Tim Meadows was pretty funny in “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” (Language Semi-NSFW)…

You may remember Donnell Rawlings better as “Ashy Larry” from Chapelle’s Show. (Language definitely NSFW)…

John Oliver is just freaking brilliant…

I wish I had more time to watch The Daily Show.