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04/15/2017 12:00 AMThe Valley boys’ lacrosse squad is off to a red-hot start in the 2017 spring season. The Warriors have played three games through the first two weeks and won all three of them to own an early record of 3-0. In last week’s action. Valley faced off against Cromwell for a road game and posted a 22-4 blowout over the Panthers. Two days later, the Warriors hosted Old Lyme and dispatched the defending Shoreline Conference champions by a 17-11 final.
Head Coach George Hudson feels that the Warriors’ stellar performance was a direct result of their pinpoint preparation as a team.
“Our offense worked together really well. We’ve definitely been working on that,” Hudson said. “Defense has stepped up, and we’re talking more. I think those are big things for us.”
The Warriors had everything working when they went on the road for their game at Cromwell on April 11. Valley jumped out to a quick lead by scoring four goals to Cromwell’s one for the opening period. In the second quarter, the Warriors netted two goals and Cromwell scored one to make it 6-2 at the half. Valley’s offense exploded in the second half as the Warriors netted nine goals in the third quarter and seven more in the fourth en route to a 22-4 victory.
There were strong performances all around the field for Valley in its lopsided triumph. Senior Rocky Harpin scored eight goals and dished out three assists. Senior captain Ryan Davis tallied four goals and assisted on four others. Sophomore Sean Cole put the ball in the net twice and also picked up seven assists. Senior captain Jonathan Brophy added four goals, Davis Burleson had two goals, Charlie Ferrucci and Dylan LaPlace both scored one, plus LaPlace also recorded an assist. Senior captain Jacob Azzinaro made 16 saves on 22 shots in the Warriors’ victorious effort.
Coach Hudson has been simplifying his team’s strategy, and that approach paid off against Cromwell. Numerous Warriors possessed the ball throughout the contest and, as a result, they racked up assists while spreading out their scoring.
“It’s just the basics. Move the ball. Don’t be selfish. Everybody’s got to get a touch,” Coach Hudson said. “That’s what we keep going back to. Let’s just play lacrosse.”
That’s exactly what the Warriors did in their subsequent home game against Old Lyme, which has been a perennial force in the Shoreline Conference and Class S in recent seasons. Valley took it to Old Lyme right out of the gate by scoring seven goals in the first quarter, while limiting the Wildcats to two. The Warriors won the second quarter 4-2 and brought an 11-4 advantage to halftime. Valley scored four more in the third with Old Lyme scoring three to make it 15-7. The Wildcats outscored Valley 4-2 in the fourth, but it was too little, too late for the Wildcats, as Valley secured the 17-11 victory.
Valley made a major statement by beating Old Lyme. Coach Hudson attributed the performance to the fact that his athletes played within themselves and struck the right balance between being aggressive and conservative.
“Honestly, our lacrosse IQ is really strong. We know when to go. We know when to slow down, and we know when to push it in transition,” said Hudson. “My team knows lacrosse, and they know themselves. These boys are really great this year.”
Once again, the Warriors featured a balanced offensive attack. Davis had four goals on the afternoon, while Brophy added three goals with an assist. Harpin and Burleson both had three goals and two assists. Ferrucci had two goals and two assists, Cole had one goal and two assists, and LaPLace had a goal with an assist for Valley. Azzinaro swatted aside 15 shots for another win in goal.
Coach Hudson said that his senior captains were vital in Old Lyme win, and added that they’ve been huge in all three victories this season. Hudson has been impressed how Azzinaro, Brophy, Davis, and Hunter LaPlace have stepped up for the Warriors thus far in 2017.
“Jake has been phenomenal in goal all three games so far this season,” said Coach Hudson. “I think the leadership of Brophy has been important to the team, and Ryan Davis as a face-off guy has really set the tone coming into possessions for us.”
While Coach Hudson feels pleased about his team’s strong start, he knows it’s important that the Warriors don’t get too far ahead of themselves as they work their way into the heart of the campaign.
“We’re taking it one game at a time. For us, it’s the next practice and the next game,” said Hudson. “I want us to get better every game and play as a team. I want everybody to buy into the team effort. Win the games we’re supposed to and steal a couple, too.”
From the Sidelines
Last season, the Warriors went 8-8 on the year to make it into the qualifying round of the Class S State Tournament, where they lost to Haddam-Killingworth, 12-7.
Valley will face Old Lyme again, this time on the road, at 3:45 p.m. on Monday, May 8.
For the rest of the Warriors’ regular season schedule, they have home games against Old Saybrook, Waterford, Fitch, Haddam-Killingworth, North Branford, and Cromwell, along with road tilts versus Morgan, Old Saybrook, Hamden, Haddam-Killingworth, and Ellington.