This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
05/08/2016 12:00 AMValley Regional boys’ lacrosse Head Coach George Hudson decided to shake up a few things last week to send a message to his young squad that features just two seniors. First, he altered the team’s practice sessions by quickening the pace to make things flow better and add some fun to the regiment. Second, Coach Hudson wanted his players to appreciate the ball more and take better care with maintaining possession to help the pace of the game. The Warriors took this advice and ran with it by playing perhaps their best game of the season in a 12-8 road victory over North Branford on May 3. The T-Birds, who are 9-2 in just their second year as a varsity lacrosse program, are unbeaten against everyone except Valley, which had defeated North Branford 11-8 in the season opener in Deep River on April 8.
“I wanted our guys to cherish the ball. I felt like we had been too careless and were forcing things too much. We also were letting other team’s dictate the pace more often and I wanted them to control the flow of the game,” said Coach Hudson. “I thought we came out well and executed how we wanted to and played our game-plan against a very good team.”
Valley, which is 5-6 this spring, came out of the gates with four goals in the first quarter to grab the early 4-2 lead against the T-Birds. North Branford fought back in the second period by outscoring the Warriors 3-1 to even up the score at 5-all at the break. Then during halftime, Coach Hudson had another message for his team after North Branford had seized momentum in the match.
“I told them to trust in the plan. Keep playing hard and follow the plan,” Hudson said. “We changed up our defense midseason, which is unusual, and guys really bought in as our slide package and the next man up stepped into position if another guy was beaten and it worked well.”
The teams went back and forth in the third period and Valley held a slim 9-8 lead heading into the fourth. It was then that Warriors started executing their game-plan to perfection on both ends of the field by holding North Branford scoreless, while tacking on three more goals to finish with the 12-8 victory.
“I think in the fourth we won some face-offs, slowed tempo to limit their opportunities, and played smart lacrosse. The kids really bought into what we were trying to do and it paid off,” Hudson said. “Also, Jake [Azzinaro] played out of his mind in goal.”
Azzinaro stopped 11 shots on goal for the Warriors. Leading the charge on offense, senior captain Jonathan Lacoske had three goals, Brad Rider finished with three goals and an assist, and Charlie Ferrucci scored two goals and had three assists. Additionally, Jonathan Brophy had a pair of goals and assists, Rocky Harpin scored one and assisted on two, and Soren Frantz notched a goal.
Next up on May 6, Valley hosted another Shoreline Conference adversary in Morgan (5-5), which the Warriors had taken a 10-9 loss against back on April 12. The Warriors’ shot at revenge came up just short and the Huskies won what began as an offensive game, but became a defensive struggle in the second half. Valley couldn’t match Morgan’s intensity early as it trailed 3-2 at the end of one and was trailing 7-4 at the break. In the third quarter, the pace slowed to a crawl and each team scored just one goal. Valley was still within striking distance down 8-5 heading to the fourth, but Morgan’s defense put on the clamps by shutting out the Warriors in the frame, while adding one goal for the 9-5 final.
“I thought we came out flat against a good team, which can’t happen. The Shoreline Conference is full of good teams this season, so you have to come out ready to play. The rain may have made it tough to get going, but that’s no excuse,” said Coach Hudson. “After we fell behind early, I think we got a little tight. Playing from behind is definitely not one of our strengths and going down early kind of spiraled on us. In the second half, we cleaned it up a bit, but by then, the damage was done and second-half comebacks are not our forte.”
Rider had two goals for Valley, while Lacoske, Ryan Davis, and Ferrucci scored one apiece. Azzinaro had 15 saves in the contest.
In its final game of the week, Valley traveled to non-conference foe Waterford on May 7 and took an 11-3 defeat. Lacoske, Rider, and Brophy had the goals for Valley.
On the season, Valley is now 5-6 with four games to play. The Warriors have a shot at the postseason, but Coach Hudson knows they need to play the way they did against North Branford if they want to get there.
“We made some changes to become more meticulous in practice and let took the reins off to make things a little faster paced,” said Hudson. “I also sat down with the junior class and talked to them about how everyone needs to be a leader—not just our two senior captains. I think that will help us this year as we try to accomplish our goals and it will also do well for us in the future.”
From the Sidelines
Valley’s wins this season have come against North Branford (11-8 and 12-8), Cromwell (13-3), Haddam-Killingworth (7-6), and Old Saybrook (20-5).
In order to make the State Tournament, Valley must win seven games or finish in the top 16 teams of the final Class S standings. The Warriors are currently ranked 15th.
The remaining games for Valley this season are: Tuesday, May 10: vs. Cromwell at 4 p.m., Thursday, May 12: at Old Lyme at 4 p.m., Saturday, May 14: at Fitch at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 17: at Old Saybrook at 4 p.m., and Thursday, May 19: vs. Ellington at 5:30 p.m. Senior Night