CREVE COEUR –Emmett Rossiter mixes height with great hands.
Johnny Schlattman blends creativity and quick feet.
Together, their chemistry helps Chaminade create scoring explosions.
Schlattman and Rossiter each earned hat tricks, and the duo combined for five assists as Chaminade continued its torrid start with a 14-2 victory over Guerin Catholic, Indiana on Saturday.
Chaminade (4-0), which is averaging 17 goals per game, is off to its best start since going 6-0 to start the 2011 season.
Josh Steinhubl also contributed three goals for the Red Devils. The new faceoff specialist after the graduation of All-American Joe Cavanaugh, Steinhubl immediately put Chaminade on the scoreboard by scooping up the opening draw, sprinting down the center of the field and scoring 12 seconds into the contest.
Then, the Rossiter-Schlattman combination started to click.
Rossiter deposited a left-handed shot off a perfect feed from Schlattman 1 minute 38 seconds into the contest- the first of four goals where the two spotted each other through a maze of defenders.
“We’ve been playing together forever, and we worked together over the summer, so it’s been an ongoing bond and chemistry-build,” Schlattman said.
But after a week of wet weather, slick sticks produced errant passes and Chaminade went eight minutes without scoring. It allowed Guerin Catholic, located in Noblesville, Indiana, to settle into the game.
When the offense struggled last season, Chaminade relied on Bryce Sullivan, an All-American forward who could expertly dodge defenders and create goals by himself.
On Saturday, the Red Devils relied on ball movement, player movement and making the extra pass to regain its offensive rhythm. It also relied on the chemistry between Rossiter and Schlattman, who connected on a give-and-go to make the score 3-0 with 1:18 remaining in the quarter.
“They find each other, and their vision in the skip lanes is great,” Chaminade coach James Spink said. “We have players who play really well together, and it’s a lot of fun to let them feed on that and give them a scenario where they can be creative and flex their own IQ a little bit.”
Midway through the second quarter, Schlattman cut toward the goal, received a pass in stride from Rossiter and one-timed it into the back of the net to extend the Red Devils lead to 7-1.
Chaminade recorded assists on five of its first seven goals.
“We’re leaning on the players to make the calls and read the defense, more so than (coaches) calling it,” Spink said. “There are definitely some growing pains in that, but I feel pretty good with where we are.”
Tate Roberts, Steinhubl and Andrew Benedict scored in the final three minutes as a well-oiled Chaminade offense cruised into halftime leading 10-1.
“We just calmed down. We looked to run our offense and play with all the guys on the field, not just a few,” Schlattman said.
On defense, the tandem of Ethan Divis, Andrew Hayden and Sam Deeba prevented dangerous shots from reaching new goalie Phil Robson, who replaced graduated netminder Jack Sorth.
Robson made four quality saves and handled the ball and his crease with confidence.
“A lot of people before the season were thinking we wouldn’t be much without Bryce (Sullivan), Joe (Cavanaugh) and Jack (Sorth), but we’ve practiced hard and new people have stepped up,” Schlattman said.
Rossiter scored twice to open the third quarter, and Peter Fesler unleashed a rocket that gave Chaminade a 13-2 lead after three quarters.
“Once we got our offense going, we got the open looks we needed,” Rossiter said. “As long as we run our stuff, it works and we score.”
Guerin Catholic was led by junior Evan Bair, who scored both goals, and senior goalie Zane Coda, who made 19 saves.
After an opening night victory at Webster Groves, Chaminade traveled to Florida for a pair of games before returning home to face Guerin Catholic on Saturday.
Chaminade will try to continue its strong start during a busy stretch against local teams which begins at 7 p.m. Monday at O’Fallon.
“We’re really coming together as a team, and we’re excited for the rest of the season,” Schlattman said.
