Hubs outclass Rebels for winning mark

April 16, 2010|By BOB PARASILITI

By Joe Crocetta, Staff Photographer

HAGERSTOWN -- Dave Tallant has noble aspirations for the North Hagerstown boys lacrosse team.

"Our goal is to play lacrosse and make sure we honor the game," he said.

Winning doesn't hurt, either.

The Hubs got over the .500 mark while keeping their honorable objectives intact with a five-goal first period en route to a 14-1 victory over South Hagerstown on Thursday during County Youth Lacrosse Day at Mike Callas Stadium.

North (3-2) scored twice in the first 1:20 of the game -- basically by rushing up the middle to the goal -- to establish the early lead and never look back.

"We were dodging," said Zach Eppard, who led the Hubs with five goals. "Alex Henry is a great dodger, but we have to give all the credit to the defense and our goalies. It all starts with them."

North set the tone in the first three minutes by keeping the ball in South's end of the field. Caleb Mittel and Eppard each scored in the first 1:20 and Henry added his first of three goals at the 9:07 mark for the quick 3-0 lead.

"My guys were watching the ball and not watching their guys," said South coach John Chirgott. "We've got to learn not to do that."

Then it was up to the defense, which contested every shot while keeping a firm mark on Hunter Phillips, South's top scorer.

Meanwhile, North's goalie tandem of Andrew Barnhart and Andy Baker kept the Rebels off the scoreboard until Phillips got free with 8:17 remaining.

The Hubs spent the entire evening in front of South's goal -- menacing Rebels goalie Drake Kessell -- or making charges from behind the goal for quick shots off the wings.

"We do a lot of drills on unsettled situations during practice," Tallant said. "We have been focusing on moving the ball and creating openings."

The Hubs owned a 7-0 lead at the half and pushed it to 13-0 by the end of the third quarter to start a running clock.

Mittel finished with two goals for North while Tyler Smith, Ben Unger, David Warren and Connor McHose finished with a score each.

The game was played in front of the Washington County Youth Lacrosse programs, which will be the feeder system for high school programs for years to come.

"We are growing," said Eppard. "We are growing because of all these youth players. Through the years, we will get better."

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