John Jay's O’Callaghan notches 800th lacrosse save but loss to Somers stings

Blake O’Callaghan makes a save on his way to recording his 800th career save for John Jay. JIM MACLEAN PHOTOS

By JIM MACLEAN

It was another milestone day for John Jay senior goalie Blake O’Callaghan. “It’s a testament to all the guys I’ve played with throughout the years,” O’Callaghan said, but he was not in much of a celebratory mood.

O’Callaghan recorded his 800th career save in goal for John Jay, the most by any goalie in the history of the program, but he wasn’t happy as the Wolves walked off the field at home on Friday, May 15, after a 10-6 loss to Somers.

John Jay was hoping to make a statement against a good team ahead of them in the playoff standings, but Somers is the defending New York State Class B champions and the Tuskers were able to pull away in the third quarter for the win.

O’Callaghan did his part recording 13 saves between the pipes, including his milestone mark in the second half, as his coaches and teammates presented him with a framed poster to commemorate his record setting achievement.

“It’s a testament to all the guys I’ve played with throughout the years,” said O’Callaghan. “My defense gets out there and works hard every single day. We work as a group, it’s just a shout out to my teammates for making this possible.”

At this point in his John Jay career, O’Callaghan has been a major part of the program and he hopes to end it on a high note in the playoffs before heading off to play lacrosse at Princeton next year. He will play a big part in any playoff success for the Wolves in the coming weeks.

“Five year varsity goalie, four year starter, two year captain, 800 saves, program all-time leader, that speaks to him and what he has done on the field, and he’s even better off it,” John Jay coach Mike Bocklet said of O’Callaghan.

Both teams were fired up for the showdown on Friday night and the Wolves were up for the challenge in the first half. After falling behind 1-0, Dino Rajamani scored to even it up and then Riley McMahon scored to give John jay its only lead of the game at 2-1.

Dash Stewart scores a goal for the Wolves against Somers.

Somers tied it up before the end of the first quarter and took the lead early in the second, but Dash Stewart scored for the Wolves to tie it up at 3-3.

The Tuskers were able to regain the lead on a goal by Cameron Violante, and then came the big blow as Tristan Iglesias scored with just three seconds left before the buzzer to give Somers a 5-3 lead at halftime.

The Tuskers carried the momentum over into the third as Violante and Iglesias each scored again to make it 7-3.

Stewart scored his second goal of the game for John Jay to cut the lead down to 7-4, but Violante scored again and the Tuskers closed out the third with a 9-4 lead.

James Tesi scored to give the Wolves hope for a comeback at the start of the fourth, and McMahon scored his second of the game to round out the scoring for John Jay, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Tuskers lead as Somers closed out the 10-5 victory.

“That goal right before the half was a tough one, it gave them a two-goal lead,” said Bocklet. “They had two goals on low shot clock and those are big momentum goals, you’re playing good defense, but then they score. Somers is a really good team and we’re likely to see them again.”

With the loss, John Jay fell to 8-7 overall with one game left in the regular season. After five years on varsity, O’Callaghan and the other five seniors on the roster know now is the time to step it up with the playoffs set to start today, May 22.

“I remember every single defensive group,” O’Callaghan said of his teammates. “I’m just happy to be playing lacrosse. I remember my first save in eighth grade against Wilton; I was just a little kid and I didn’t think I’d get to this point. I’m super grateful and I just told the guys, every single day we come out to practice could be our last, so we have to work hard, have fun, believe in each other and be ready for the playoffs.”