Spruance, Tower Hill hold off Appo for big lacrosse win

Zachary Bowen (1) of Appoquinimink works the ball past the defense of Tej Vaddi (31) of Tower Hill in the Tower Hill at Appoquinimink boys lacrosse game on Tuesday.

Evan Yauchuczek (8) of Appoquinimink charges the ball down the field in the Tower Hill at Appoquinimink boys lacrosse game on Tuesday.

Russel Applegate (18) of Tower Hill celebrates with his team mates with a leaping chest bump after scoring a goal to tie the game at 4-4 in the Tower Hill at Appoquinimink boys lacrosse game on Tuesday.

Evan Yauchuczek (8) of Appoquinimink leaps to try to block a pass by Tower Hill goalie, Michael Gianforcaro (27), in the final seconds of the first half of the Tower Hill at Appoquinimink boys lacrosse game on Tuesday.

Cross Ferrara (34) of Appoquinimink celebrates scoring a goal in the Tower Hill at Appoquinimink boys lacrosse game on Tuesday.

Kevin Turner (7) of Tower Hill works for a loose ball in the Tower Hill at Appoquinimink boys lacrosse game on Tuesday.

Noah Given (4) makes a save on a shot by Russell Applegate (18) of Tower Hill with some defensive help by team mate, Connor Graser (11) of Appoquinimink in the Tower Hill at Appoquinimink boys lacrosse game on Tuesday.

Jamie Spartan (16) of Tower Hill celebrates with his team mates after scoring in the Tower Hill at Appoquinimink boys lacrosse game on Tuesday.

MIDDLETOWN – Three minutes can seem like forever in a lacrosse game.

Especially when there are guys with sticks chasing you.

Tower Hill’s James Spruance felt just how long it could be Tuesday night, as the junior tried to keep the ball away from a desperate Appoquinimink defense. The midfielder maintained possession, and even set up a final goal as the fifth-ranked Hillers held on for a 10-8 victory over the No. 2 Jaguars.

“That was probably the most running I’ve ever done,” Spruance said. “Especially those last minutes, just trying to possess the ball. My calves were cramping up on every step, but that was the best feeling in the world. That was a good win.”

It was made even better because the Hillers (6-2) rallied from an early 4-1 deficit. And they kept Appo (6-2) from getting a chance to tie in the final 3:00.

“It was a great win,” Tower Hill coach Brad duPont said. “The kids have been working really hard. We’ve had some issues we’ve been working out with chemistry. They’re really jelling as a group and played very disciplined and unselfish lacrosse.”

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Zach Bowen and Cross Ferrera each scored twice as the Jaguars jumped out to a 4-1 lead with 7:05 left in the second quarter. The Hillers tied it with a burst, as Chris Miller, Spruance and Russell Applegate each found the net in a 44-second span. Then Will Togo’s shot off a Spruance pass trickled in to give Tower Hill a 5-4 lead.

But Appo seized the momentum going into halftime, as John Dunbar and Ferrera scored just nine seconds apart to push the Jaguars ahead 6-5.

That momentum lasted just 11 seconds into the second half, as Tower Hill’s Kevin Turner scored straight off the faceoff. Miller added a man-up goal, and Applegate finished a 60-yard burst with a score for an 8-6 lead with 4:40 left in the third quarter.

Dunbar bounced one in to get Appo back within 8-7, but Turner worked his magic again off the fourth-quarter faceoff with a second goal just 10 seconds into the period.

“Just seeing the ground ball off the draw when Spruance popped it up, it was just easy to come down,” Turner said. “I didn’t see anyone in front of me, so I just saw the shot twice and was able to make them both.”

“He’s never scored that many with a short stick,” duPont said of Turner. “We just moved him to long stick. Those were a couple of big ones.”

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Bowen pulled Appo within 9-8 on a twirling shot with 9:04 to play. But Hillers goalkeeper Michael Gianforcaro kept the Jaguars from tying it, and Tower Hill called a timeout with three minutes left and decided to try to run out the clock.

“I would get the ball behind, and they were doubling and tripling us,” Spruance said. “But I trust my guys, I trust my stick, and I knew we were going to win.”

The Hillers called another timeout with 1:51 left, and Carter Cucuzzella poured in the clinching goal off a pass from Spruance just nine seconds later.

“It was an open shot, and I knew if I made it I would just put it away,” Cucuzzella said. “I just had to go for it.”

Then the Hillers won the next faceoff, and Spruance and his teammates again played keepaway to seal the win.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.