IMPERIAL, MO – Ladue senior Jacob Goldstein is not a typical faceoff specialist.
While many players head straight to the sideline after taking a faceoff, Goldstein heads straight for the goal.
“Most faceoff guys can’t shoot the ball, and when you can shoot the ball, you’re a threat,” Goldstein said. “If the defense slides to me, it’s an easy assist.”
Goldstein made lacrosse look easy on Friday by scoring eight goals, including four within 15 seconds of winning a faceoff as Ladue defeated Seckman 18-11 in the first ever meeting between the teams.
Ladue (3-7), which tied its biggest goal output of the season, received four goals apiece from junior Luke Lochmoeller and sophomore Max Weinstock.
It did not take long for Goldstein to become a threat offensively. After zinging a goal past Seckman freshman goalie Luke Whitener 35 seconds into the contest, he scooped the ensuing faceoff, made a beeline to the net and scored three seconds later.
It was one of four goals for Goldstein in the first quarter, the final one coming six seconds after Seckman’s Nate Greenfield scored to pull the Jaguars within a goal.
“Instant offense,” said Goldstein.
He opened the second quarter by winning the faceoff, driving into the center of the Seckman defense and delivering a pass to sophomore Max Weinstock, who scored just seven seconds after the quarter started.
“Jacob really sparked things for us by winning faceoffs and getting a bunch of fast breaks,” Ladue assistant coach Gordon Conrad said.
Seckman (4-7) began to show some frustration midway through the second quarter and spent several minutes in the penalty box, but Whitener prevented Ladue from building its lead.
He made two saves from distance off shots from Ladue senior Charlie Rosenbloom and two more on Goldstein, including a spectacular right leg save on a laser targeted for the far corner. Whitener made 15 of his 23 saves in the first half to keep the Jaguars within striking distance.
But another newcomer to the goalie position was denying the Seckman shooters on the other end of the field.
Nathan Goldstein, Jacob’s brother who normally plays on attack, volunteered for goalie duty due to a thumb injury to Ladue freshman goalie Marcus Goebel. He practiced the position for the first time on Thursday, then studied goalie technique Friday afternoon.
“I watched a couple hours of YouTube,” Nathan Goldstein said.
Goldstein made strong saves on Ronin Crain and DJ Erson and saved his best work for Maryville University-bound Eli Wingbermuehle, who launched several rockets towards the cage that were denied by the senior’s quick reflexes.
“At the beginning of the game, I was really tense, so I was having trouble seeing his shot, and he has a really good shot,” Nathan Goldstein said of Wingbermuehle.
The new netminder was helped by an outstanding defensive effort that started with the attackmen, who often prevented Seckman from successfully clearing the ball after a Whitener save. Forced turnovers in the midfield were the catalysts for Weinstock, senior Gabe Elzein and junior Luke Lochmoeller scoring in a 1 minute 23 span to build a 10-4 lead for Ladue late in the first half.
“The attackmen were riding hard,” Conrad said.
Jacob Goldstein continued to attack the goal in the second half. He converted a midfield turnover into a goal three minutes into the quarter, then ripped a shot that actually tore through the netting of the goal, requiring a delay in action while zip ties could be located to repair it.
“That felt good,” said Goldstein, a Gettysburg College signee.
Wingbermuehle, who also blazed a hole through a net with a blistering shot at Vianney last postseason, found his groove late in the third quarter. He scored while falling after taking a check to the head, and 35 seconds later, delivered on the man-advantage to slice the deficit to 13-9.
Wingbermuehle led Seckman with five goals and three assists.
But Ladue put a complete 12 minutes together in the fourth quarter. Turnovers caused by Rosenbloom and senior Adam Friedman and timely saves by Nathan Goldstein ended Seckman possessions.
“The defense did a good job staying in and not ball watching, which was really vital,” Nathan Goldstein said.
And offensively, the Rams showed they could score when holding the ball longer than 15 seconds during a possession. Excellent ball movement resulted in Lochmoeller’s fourth goal off a feed from senior Eli Tenenbaum. On a man-advantage, Weinstock potted his fourth goal to put the game out of reach.
“We figured if we kept moving the ball as soon as we got it, the defense would open up,” Lochmoeller said.
Ladue lost seven of its first eight games by playing a brutal early schedule and losing two heartbreakers by identical 14-13 scores to Marquette and Lindbergh.
The win Friday coupled with a victory over Howell United two days earlier has filled the Rams with optimism as they approach the final stretch of the regular season.
“We’re on a little streak,” Jacob Goldstein said. “Those tough (early-season) games made us more disciplined.”
Conrad added, “In this back half of the season, we’re trying to show that we’re a good team and we can be contenders.”
Game Notes: Seckman wore puzzle-piece jerseys with the words “Embrace Difference” on the back in observance of Autism Awareness Night. According to Seckman Lacrosse Club secretary Kelly Whitener, approximately $4,000 was raised for the cause.