CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - On Tuesday, May 5, John Jay hosted Hen Hud, and the Wolves didn’t waste any time taking control. They scored just 45 seconds into the game and quickly built a 12-0 lead en route to a 19-4 victory. But the tone for the rout had been set weeks earlier.
After suffering an unexpected 6-4 loss to Scarsdale earlier in the season — a game many believed would be an easy win — the Wolves came away with a new mindset.
“That’s helped us take care of business,” said Dash Stewart. “We learned not to take anybody lightly.”
So when the opening faceoff came at 5 p.m., John Jay was ready.
Colin Kazanecki won the draw, and the Wolves immediately went to work. From behind the cage, Stewart used a Dino Rajamani pick, curled around the net, and scored on a wraparound to make it 1-0.
Less than a minute later, the duo reversed roles. Stewart worked from X and found Rajamani cutting in front for another quick strike and a 2-0 advantage.
Moments later, Porter Bysshe capitalized on Kazanecki’s strong work at the faceoff circle. John Jay briefly settled into its offense before Rajamani exploded from the left side and fired home another goal to make it 3-0 with 9:46 remaining in the first quarter.
Jack Hartney, Holden Hughes, James Tesi, Jack Casey and Stewart all added first-quarter goals as the lead ballooned to 8-0.
The loudest cheer of the opening period, however, came on goal No. 9.
After scooping up the ball off a faceoff, long-stick defender Bysshe had a clear lane to the cage. Instead of forcing the issue, he stayed patient and picked his moment carefully.
“I try to make the best decision I can make,” he said.
The result was his first goal of the season.
Hen Hud did have its moments. Nick Harris made a strong save late in the first quarter, but the momentum didn’t last. The Sailors turned the ball over deep in John Jay territory, and Patrick Ryan raced the length of the field before scoring at the buzzer.
Hen Hud managed a pair of goals midway through the second quarter, briefly slowing the Wolves’ momentum, but John Jay quickly responded with goals from Tesi and Stewart to restore order.
With a 14-2 lead, the comfortable margin allowed the Wolves to give younger players extended minutes, and Chase Sable made the most of the opportunity.
“Dash had a good ride, I saw an opportunity to cut, and I was one-on-one from there,” the sophomore said after scoring his first varsity goal.
Freshman Chase McCourtney also contributed with an assist.
“We had 15 seconds left in the period, so I was running down,” he said. “When I put my head up, I saw Holden Hughes cutting. I passed it, and he scored.”
In goal, Blake O’Callaghan eventually gave way to sophomore Oliver Browning, who continued to impress in limited action.
“Just watching him and practicing with him every day, I learn a lot,” Browning said of O’Callaghan.
Still, Browning admitted entering games cold can be challenging.
“Not playing for a couple of games and then getting sent out there, it is what it is,” he said.
With the starting job likely opening next season, Browning said he is staying focused on the present.
“I just want to have a good year,” he said.
Bysshe, meanwhile, sees promise in the program’s future.
“The younger guys are the best,” the junior said.
All that remained was the finishing touch. Sable capped the scoring after cutting to the cage and finishing off another strong setup from Kazanecki.
“Colin Kazanecki made a good dodge, he slid, I saw an opportunity to cut, caught it and shot,” Sable said.
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