Boys Lacrosse: ‘General’ Daly leads Haverford assault

HAVERFORD >> It’s been several years now that Cole Lukasiewicz and Jack Daly have been playing together in the heart of Haverford’s attack. The pieces around the duo have changed, and they’ve matured from young talents to senior leaders. But in building on two seasons of historic growth for the Haverford program, it’s clear that neither player is ready to see the upward trajectory flatten out yet.

Daly did the bulk of the work Thursday evening, with four goals and six assists, a one-man wrecking crew as the Fords dispatched Ridley, 13-6, in Central League action. Daly had a hand in five of six first-quarter goals to stake the Fords to a 6-2 advantage it never looked in danger of surrendering. Daly made all the right reads. He attacked if Ridley unwisely sent short sticks his way. When Ridley gave him space behind the net, he dished to open Fords. When they pursued, he created distance and an angle to shoot.

“Cole and Daly, they’re generals down there,” defender Tom Fredericks said. “They run the whole offense. You know you’ve got to push out on Jack; Jack’s got a heck of a shot. You just can’t give him space. He’ll shoot, he’ll score every time. It’s just awesome.”

Haverford led 8-2 before Matt Haines scored twice to add some cushion at halftime. But Daly set up Kyle Bennett’s second goal four minutes into the second half on a smart skip pass, then Daly bombed one home at 4:55 of the third to make it 10-4 and remove all doubt. Combined with Lukasiewicz, who scored and dished three helpers, they were too much for Ridley to handle.

“Me and Cole have been best buddies since, I don’t even know,” Daly said. “We play together all the time, and with him moving to midfielder, I think he’s one of the best midfielders around. So we’ve been working well together.”

Daly and Lukasiewicz only accounted for half of the equation, though. Through three quarters, the Haverford defense had allowed just eight total Ridley shots, and the Fords outshot Ridley 39-15 on the day. Part of the reason was the aggression of a unit led by Fredericks, knowing a young and injury-riddled Ridley frontline looked tentative early.

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Haverford’s Jack Daly keeps the ball from Ridley’s Evan Bosak in the first half Thursday. Daly contributed four goals and six assists in a 13-6 Fords win. (Digital First Media/Pete Bannan)