The Spalding boys lacrosse team comes to every game with a simple approach that’s not always easy to execute.

Over and over, coach Evan Hockel repeats to his team “Weather the storm, next play.”

The demanding Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference schedule brings plenty of those instances and the newly anointed No. 1 Cavaliers have had a successful navigation so far.At home Tuesday against No. 3 Calvert Hall, Spalding built an early lead, weathered one of those storms in the second quarter and dominated the second half to come away with a sturdy 11-6 win.

Brady Mollot (three goals, one assist) provided the first half spark on attack; goalie Jacob Neuman (11 saves) helped keep the Cardinals scoreless for the first 21 minutes of the second half and the Cavaliers (13-1, 5-1) dominated play in the middle of the field to walk away with the win. It’s their fifth straight conference win after a tough 10-9 loss at Boys’ Latin to open the slate.

“Yeah, we’ve been saying for awhile, ‘Weather the storm, next play” because we’re playing great teams every game and it’s not always going to be perfect,” Hockel said. “I’m really proud of the way they’ve bought into that and they really do stay focused on the next one because it’s always the most important.”

Mollot provided the early energy to help Spalding take early hold of the game.

With 2:16 to play in the first quarter, he gave the Cavaliers the lead and then fed teammate Joey Matassa less than 30 seconds later to push the advantage to 4-2 entering the second quarter.

Mollot opened the second quarter scoring and then Gordon Bennett made it 6-2 before the Cardinals (10-2, 5-2) made their push. With faceoff specialist Ben Cuomo getting on a roll at the X, they converted on goals by Peyton Forte, Jack Williams and Will Schwanke to cut the deficit to 7-5 at the break.

But strong play in the middle, some quality defense and Neuman turning back any chances that reached him, the Cavaliers methodically pulled away for the comfortable win. Defenseman Robby Hopper, strong throughout, contributed on attack with the opening goal of the third quarter. Jack Newell scored twice in the half to help them further pull away.

“We’re just a team that never gives up. We always stick together as a unit and we never get down on ourselves,” Neuman said. “We always stay high and ride the waves and weather the storm as well. They went on a run with the three goals [in the second quarter] and we just stayed calm and had each others’ backs.”

After a run to the semifinals last season, the Cavaliers, deep and together with that valuable experience, are looking for more. But they know there’s plenty of work left first.

“We made it far last season, to the semifinals, but didn’t finish with anything, so our biggest goal is to walk out of this year with a ring,” Neuman said. “We want to win the championship. But, first, we got to keep working hard in practice, win the next game and keep piling on the victories.”

The Cardinals got a fine 12-save performance from goalie Brady Stangle and goals from six different players in the loss. Calvert Hall coach Bryan Kelly credited the home team.

“They won the middle of the field,” he said. “That’s what we put on the board — we had to win the middle of the field and we just didn’t clear well, didn’t ride well. They beat us in every facet, so credit to them.”

Both teams return to conference play at 4 p.m. Friday with home games — Spalding hosts No. 13 Severn and Calvert Hall plays No. 7 St. Paul’s.

Calvert Hall — 2-3-0-1— 6

Spalding — 4-3-2-2 — 11

Goals: CH — Forte, W. Schoonmaker, Mitchell, Williams, Schwanke, Steer; S — Matassa, Hopper, Mollot 3, Newell 2, Bennett 2, Moss, Wolf

Assists: S — Matassa, Mollot, Addleman

Saves: CH — Stangle 12; S — Neuman 11

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