Matthew Handel scores nine goals in Westminster Christian lacrosse victory

Senior's final three tallies come after Cardinal Gibbons rallied to forge a 13-13 tie in the fourth quarter

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – Senior attackman Matthew Handel scored nine goals, including three to break up a 13-13 tie in the fourth quarter to lead Westminster Christian past Cardinal Gibbons, 16-13, Tuesday.

Handel’s response followed a Warriors' timeout with 5:22 remaining in the fourth quarter after Cardinal Gibbons scored four straight goals to erase a 13-9 deficit to start the period. 

In a game of runs, Westminster Christian jumped out to a 7-2 advantage led by Handel’s three goals after 12 minutes. Cardinal Gibbons then fought back with six goals of their own in the second quarter, including two each from senior attackman Brady Cone and junior attackman Reece Roundtree to tie the game at eight heading into halftime.

Westminster Christian's Matthew Handel, despite battling an injury, scored nine goals, including the final three of the game, to lift his team to a 16-13 win over Cardinal Gibbons / Photo by Michael Costeines

Capitalizing on its momentum, Gibbons added a goal by junior attackman Chase Roundtree to take its first lead of the game, with 8:56 remaining in the third quarter. However, the advantage was short lived as junior Anders Holly found the back of the net with 7:58 remaining in the period. After four more goals by Westminster Christian to go up 13-9, Cardinal Gibbons would make one final push led by two goals from Cone. A strong second half in goal by Wade Parker also stymied some of the Chiefs’ chances and gave Westminster Christian a big lift.

“We’re trying, I think it's maybe a South Florida version of lacrosse,” said Westminster Christian head coach CJ Fleming, candidly, on his team’s consistency. “That’s what we’re battling and I think it's our biggest adversary. Injuries and consistency. I think if we play real consistent lacrosse, we are a scary, contending team. But as you saw today, we had our ups and downs. Last year we leaned on Matty heavily. This year we’re trying to play good team lacrosse with him. He is probably the best player in all of Miami, I don’t think that’s a secret. I think he’s going to Army next year. He had a day and he’s injured. It kind of shows you the type of guy he is. He is a captain and leader with his play.”

Of Westminster Christian’s 16 goals, three came from Holly. Before his gam-tying goal, Holly added the Warriors’ lone goal of the second quarter on a man advantage. That goal proved critical as it broke a three goal surge by the Chiefs in the second quarter.

Anders Holly may been overshadowed by the performance  of teammate Matthew Handel, but he scored three goals, including two very important ones, to help Westminster Christian defeat Cardinals Gibbons / Photo by Michael Costeines

“Usually, we go up in the beginning and then we let the team breath and comeback,” said Holly. “We have been working on just keeping the hammer down, pedal on the gas, and finishing through. We did that better this game but we want to do it more consistently now.”

Cardinal Gibbons’ intensity seemed to flip between the first and second periods and after the two initial goals by Cone. The Chiefs also took advantage of Westminster Christian penalties on the man advantage on three separate occasions. Cardinal Gibbons also appeared to lock up defensively after giving Westminster Christian open shots on lanes in the first period.

Outside of Cone and Roundtree, Cardinal Gibbons picked up goals from junior attackmen Will McGuire and Caden Denahan in the second quarter. McGuire and Reece Roundtree also added a goal each during the Chiefs’ final run in the fourth quarter.

For either team, the X-factor was the play and stick of Handel. He now has 43 goals which is by far the most on the team. He is also tied for the team lead in assists per game (1.3). His nine goals against Cardinal Gibbons were one off his season-high of 10 set against Ransom Everglades.

“Our team been hurt really badly the past couple weeks,” said Handel. “We’re starting to get our bodies and numbers back. I think we’re getting our chemistry back to and I think that showed in the second half, more so then in the first half. I try and like to think I have a killer instinct. If I can have that every game that would be great. It was great to do it today and get our team a win to get back over .500.”

Westminster Christian improves to 6-5 with the victory while Cardinal Gibbons falls to 3-6.