By Allison Goldsmith
I&M Sports Editor
Showcasing a new offense, the boys varsity lacrosse team got back on track with a Maritime League victory over Bishop Connolly at home last Thursday 11-2.
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Photo by Bevin Bixby
Eddie Coffin scoops up the ground ball during the Whalers game last which in which they beat the Bishop Connolly Cougars 11-2. |
Nantucket improved to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the league prior to the spring vacation week.
The Whalers put in a triangle offense against Bishop Connolly after just one day of practice Wednesday following a shut-out loss to Martha’s Vineyard Tuesday.
“We got good looks at the goal and that’s what we are going to emphasize in the second half of the season,” head coach Rick Blair said. “In a triangle offense, you give up the ball and rotate, which we had success with years ago at the youth level. We have been a dodge-and-dish offense lately. This year we don’t have players that can do that. With the triangle offense, we are sharing the ball a little better and getting more people involved.”
The Whalers capitalized almost immediately with six goals from four different players in the first quarter. Will Martin and Taylor Thayer scored twice, while Gaven Norton and Ted Fales also scored in staking Nantucket to the 6-1 lead.
“Most of the first quarter to the middle of the second quarter when we ran that offense, we pretty much scored every time we did it. Then we got away from it and became a little more selfish with the ball, which is why we didn’t score as much in the second,” Blair said.
Bishop Connolly’s only goal came in a man-advantage situation with four seconds remaining in the first quarter.
“What we were looking for yesterday on defense was communicating and being smart on the clear and making the proper pass. We made some nice plays and saw some lazy plays,” Blair said.
Martin scored his third goal of the game in the second quarter to give Nantucket the 7-1 advantage at the break.
The Whalers returned to the set offense in the third quarter and added four more goals. Martin, Fales and Thayer all added goals to their tally and Joe Bopp scored his first of the day.
“I thought Joe Bopp played a really good all-around game in the midfield and that’s what we are looking for going into the second half (of the season). He picked up ground balls, saved a couple plays on the sidelines and hustled all over the field,” Blair said.
Martin led the Whalers with four goals, two assists and seven ground balls.
“That is what we are looking for from everyone. We want to see everyone contribute in all phases, not just dodging and scoring, but playing the complete game and playing their role whatever they are asked to do,” Blair said. “When you play the better teams, every good team has one good long-stick defender and if you rely too much on one person, it is a recipe for disaster.”
Thayer scored three goals and tallied one assist, Fales scored twice, Bopp had one goal and one assist while Norton scored once. Andrew Haddon tallied three assists. Keith Clemens made 11 saves in goal.
After the break, Nantucket is scheduled to travel to Bishop Stang Wednesday, host New Bedford Thursday and Hanover Sunday, May 4.
“It is frustrating not to be able to play during the break and not to have use of the fields but that is the way it is. We are hoping our guys are going to do some conditioning in the next five or six days. When we come back, we have two league games and a tough non-league game right away, so we better be prepared to play,” Blair said.
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