Flip-flopping between the first and second midfields, sophomore Ryan Lamon has played himself into a starting role for No. 4 seed Mount St. Mary's semifinal date in the Northeast Conference tournament against top-seeded St. Joseph's on Thursday afternoon.
The Severna Park resident and Severn graduate recorded a game-high four points on two goals and two assists coming off the bench in Saturday's 10-8 win at Hobart, and coach Tom Gravante said Monday that Lamon will join juniors Evan Gormley and Justin Gosnell (Havre de Grace) on the first line.
"He's been in and out," Gravante said of Lamon, who has played in 14 games and started in seven. "We've rotated guys in and out to find the most consistent players. We're probably going to move him up to the first line on Thursday because he's been playing well and to give us a lefty up there."
Prior to Saturday's victory, Lamon had posted five goals and three assists for the Mountaineers (5-9). But Gravante said he was confident that Lamon could be more productive.
"I have been quietly on him over the last two to three weeks in terms of playing better because he's capable," Gravante said. "He finally had a game and responded. He's a hard-working kid. He just needed to make smarter decisions, and that has to happen in practice. He finally had a game, and that's what happens. He had two [goals] and two [assists] and our big lefty on attack, [senior] Mark Hojnoski, didn't have a point. That's unfortunate and that's how it goes on some days, but that's what needs to happen. Players need to make plays and produce to win a ball game, and if some guys are having a bad day, other guys have to have the pick-me-up and the answer, and Ryan did."
Gravante said Lamon played in the final minutes of each quarter against the Statesmen with Gosnell (20 goals and five assists) and Gormley (15, 2) and should fit in nicely with them against the Hawks (10-5).
"He'll give us the ability to throw some different looks at St. Joe's," Gravante said. "They're all right-hand dominant. It's nice to have a natural lefty on the field who can snap a shot or drop to a different side of the cage."