The Alternative Press

SUMMIT, NJ - Summit scored nine consecutive goals in the first half and coasted to a 17-4 victory against Columbia in boys' lacrosse action on Saturday at Metro Homes Field. The Hilltoppers moved to 4-1 with their fourth straight victory, while dropping Columbia to 1-2 on the season.

Summit's starting attack of Kyle Mahoney, James Kennedy and John Scioscia combined for 12 goals and 11 assists in the contest as the Hilltoppers built an 11-2 lead by halftime. Mahoney led the way with seven goals, while Kennedy had four goals and four assists and Scioscia notched a goal and seven assists. "They have been together for three straight years, and for James and Kyle it's their fourth year together on varsity," said Summit Head Coach Jim Davidson. "They are used to playing with each other and John fits in really well with them."

Mahoney opened the scoring with a shot from five yards out with 8:16 to go in the first quarter, but Columbia came back to knot the contest at 1-1 less than a minute and a half later. The Hilltoppers won the ensuing faceoff and took the lead right back when Danny Feeney scored off of a Scioscia assist with 5:29 to go in the quarter. Summit's defense led to offense for two more goals in the first quarter. A forced turnover created a pretty passing play that ended up with Kennedy scoring off of a Scioscia assist to make it 3-1 with 3:49 to go. In the final minute of the quarter, Kendall Baker picked up a ground ball and led the transition game to Scioscia, who found Kennedy wide open in front of the crease to give the Hilltoppers a 4-1 lead heading to the second quarter.

Summit continued its surge and put the game away by scoring the first six goals of the second quarter. For the third straight goal, Scioscia assisted on a Kennedy tally to make it 5-1 with 9:15 left in the period. That started a stretch of three goals in 1:21, with Mahoney scoring with 8:15 left and Scioscia tallying with 7:54 to go to put the Hilltoppers up, 7-1. Kennedy assisted on both goals.

Mahoney then started a personal scoring spree to extend the lead, as he recorded three consecutive goals to cap Summit's nine-goal surge and make it 10-1 with 2:32 to go until the half. After Columbia cut the deficit to 10-2, Mahoney came back again with his sixth goal of the half off an assist from Kennedy to give the Hilltoppers the 11-2 halftime lead.

Columbia scored the first goal of the second half, but Mahoney notched his fifth straight Summit goal and seventh of the game for a 12-3 lead with 7:54 to go in the third quarter. Marcel Godino, Joey Cordrey and Kennedy each scored later in the period as Summit took a 15-3 advantage into the fourth quarter. Godino tallied again in the fourth quarter, and Steve Whitman notched a goal with 4:35 left in the contest to complete Summit's scoring.

The Hilltoppers totaled their highest scoring output of the season, and matched Wednesday's 14-1 win over Westfield for their largest margin of victory this year. Three of Summit's victories during the four-game winning streak have come by double digits.

"Columbia upset us in overtime last year, so it's good to get back and get a win over them," Davidson said. "The schedule has been tough early on, especially against a nationally-ranked team like Delbarton (who defeated Summit, 10-6, on April 1), but the kids have improved from last year and we are progressing and moving along."

Summit will be tested in the next week with three games in four days from Wednesday through Saturday. The Hilltoppers travel to Morris Hills on Wednesday and Watchung Hills on Thursday before hosting West Morris Central on Saturday.