Senior midfielder Alex Kopicki scored two goals and had three assists and sophomore Brendan Gill scored three goals to lead fourth-ranked St. Paul's to a 13-5 victory yesterday over Landon of Bethesda, ranked No. 1 in the Washington area.

Eight players contributed offensively for the Crusaders (1-0), including Conor Ford (two goals, one assist), Tim Reed (two goals) and Trey Whitty (one goal, two assists). Doug Mueller and Jay Wich had a goal and an assist each against Landon, which was 16-3 last season and won its 18th straight Interstate Athletic Conference crown.

Yesterday, St. Paul's junior keeper Paul Spellman had 15 saves against Landon's offensive stars, John Bordley and Teddy Lamade. Spellman, with help from defenders Whitty, Matt Latchford, Pat Connelly and Andrew Gener, limited Bordley and Lamade to a combined two goals and two assists.

St. Paul's won only 9-8 last season when it was led by All-time leading point scorer Conor Gill (now at Virginia) and all-time leading goal scorer Pat Tracy.

"I expected a tough game, and we knew going in that this was going to tell us where we stood," said fourth-year coach Rick Brocato.

Pub Date: 3/20/99