By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – Wednesday was Senior Night for the 4-2 Bellefonte boys lacrosse team.

After an earlier season 11-9 victory over Danville, the Red Raiders were looking to take the season sweep of the Ironmen.

The Red Raiders dominated the contest sweeping the season series 14-7.

Highlighting the night was Ryder Hamilton posting his 200th career goal.

“We were a little sloppy in the third and fourth quarter but we pulled it out,“ said Coach Rick Johnson. “We ended up getting a little more comfortable with the ball.”

Bellefonte had the first goal of the games as Ryder Hamilton hit a blast from  Nathan Benner at 11:01.

At 8:13 Matt Thompson tied it as he sent a shot past goalie Austin Smith.

Hamilton again put the Red Raiders as he was once again assisted by Benner at 6:33.

Off the start up, the Red Raiders again got it to Hamilton for the hat trick 6:15.

Hamilton again had a fourth this time at 5:30 to put Bellefonte up 4-1.

Defensively

The route continued as Nathan Benner scored to up the lead to 5-1 with 3:52 still left in the opening period.

Nate Cherinka got into the scoring act with 2:01 left as he blazed a screamer past Ironman goal Aidan Bingaman.

Danville Camden Koch made it 6-2 on a goal at 11:03 in the second.

Hamilton came big for Bellefonte as he scooped up the ball at midfield and blasted an open shot at 6:28, making it 7-2.

Back came Danville as Liam Moore found the goal, cutting it to a 7-3 contest with just over five minutes left in the half.

Less than a minute later Moore scored again to bring his team even closer with a goal at 4:26.

Bellefonte bounced back by Benner assisted by Hamilton adding some cushion at 8-4 with 4:16.

With 55 ticks left in the half, Benner hit the hat trick putting his team back up by five, 9-4.

26 Moore found the goal with 31 seconds left for the hat trick for Danville, cutting it to a 9-5 contest.

At the half, Bellefonte led 9-5.

Opening the second half the momentum started to slightly turn in the Ironme’s favor.  Galen Stamm blasted an opening shot at 11:52 to cut the Bellefonte lead to three, 9-6. Danville controlled the ball for much of the third period.

Bellefonte rallied back as Aidan Reed got a pass from Nathan Benner  and sent it home with just 5:23 left in the third.

Danville refused to go away as Camden Koch got the Ironmen back on the scoreboard with 4:30 left in the third, making it 10-7.

Facing a man down, Danville held their own taking the ball down into the Red Raiders side of the field.

It was anyone’s game as the final stanza started. Bellefonte’s defense was able to allow just two third quarter goals by Danville.

Bellefonte started strong as Benner once again came up clutch hitting a blast, upping it to 11-7 with 11-minutes left in the contest.

Hamilton extended the lead after being pummeled on an earlier play. He blasted a shot that gave the Red Raiders a 12-7 advantage with 8:32 to go.

Minutes later, Hamilton gave the Red Raiders some cushion. In the process, Hamilton posted his 200tb career goal.

At 2:07, Cherinka once again scored to secure the win for the home team.

Moore hit a late goal for Danville to cut it to 14-8 with :48 left.

From there the Red Raiders played an offense control offense to take time off the clock and send Bellefonte home the winners of a 14-8.

Bellefonte 14, Danville  8

DA 1  4  2  1 –   8

BE 6  3  1  4 – 14

Shots on goal: DA –  17, BE – 30

Saves: DA – Aidan Bingaman  14. BE – Austin Smith 15