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BHS lax rebounds with 18-8 win over McLean
Battling through blustering winds and an even more high power Osbourn Park offense, the Battlefield boys lacrosse team started off the season on a pretty miserable foot, trailing 12-4.
Yet the Bobcats showed signs off life with a 5-0 rally to close the game, suggesting the team just may have more fight in it than the earlier part of opening day suggested.
McLean found that out firsthand March 31 when four Bobcats tallied hat tricks to the Highlanders' one, leading to an 18-8 route and BHS' first win of the year.
According to the purple and black's head coach, Kevin Marsh, BHS is much more "resilient" this year than last year.
"Lacrosse is like the NCAA basketball tournament; teams are going to go on runs," he said.
What the Osbourn Park game taught him and his players is "not to quit. The game isn't over until the final whistle blows," he said.
Against McLean, David Rosenberger, Matt Mullins, Jon Hanlon and Corey Schumacher each earned three goals for the Bobcats (1-1) while McLean's Cameron Payne was the only Highlander to do the same.
"We were hesitant to run our plays against OP," said Mullins.
This time around, however, he said, Battlefield used discipline to its advantage when McLean's defenders rushed at them.
"They overplayed a couple times," he said.
Schumacher added that he noticed the defense attacked straight ahead, meaning a little fancy footwork could help beat the opposition. That worked perfectly for Mullins in the fourth quarter when he ran alongside the McLean bench, kept a tight cradle, dodged defenders and deposited a bouncer to the McLean goalkeeper's right side with 3:47 showing on the game clock.
His goal gave BHS its second of five consecutive goals to close out the game.
"Some days you just need to mix it up," said Mullins.
Schumacher explained that this year's offense works with pitch-and-go plays or sometimes "just a simple roll.”
"We were just trying to move the ball (ahead) and not getting the coach to yell," he said.
Marsh said one of the keys to success is avoiding unforced errors, which McLean did capitalize on in the second half.
Payne mentioned he managed to beat the BHS defense simply by staying on his feet.
"They slipped and I dumped it off," he said. As for his own goals, "We were down and we need a play and I was just trying to help my team win," he said.
Something the boys have done well is click together as a unit, Schumacher mentioned, as he discussed how his veteran teammates are willing to take on a "leading role" more so than before. Instead of barking at rookies or underclassmen for mistakes, they "cheer them on," he said.
Marsh added that he has five seniors "we rely on." Attackers Mullins and Rosenberger are "certainly setting the tempo for us," he said, while midfielders John Grundy and Tim Frerichs are proving to be the team's best off the faceoff.
Marsh credited Ty Lysinger for being "our smartest defender. He's the one talking out there."
Battlefield is also working with two men in goal this year: junior Connor Mullins and sophomore Morgan Hill.
"You've just got to adjust to (their) playing style," said Schumacher, noting Morgan attacks more and Connor is more laid back.
As for expectations, Schumacher's laid out the terms for this season in simple fashion: "beat Loudoun Valley" and "get the district" crown.”
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