Lacrosse goes 2-1 in Opening Weeks

The Avon Lake Lacrosse Club varsity team ,which went winless last season, is now 2-1 after its most recent win, a 10-8 victory over Eastlake. That success was sweeter since it was against a varsity team.

“This is our first victory over another varsity-level team," club president Brian Lamb said. "Eastlake has been a varsity club team for four years, so we should be proud of beating them today."

Coach Kevin Walz gave the game ball to Elliot Smith for his leadership and scoring. Smith notched seven goals in the win. Devon Henry chipped in two and Clay Sharb, one. Smith and Anthony Capucini each contributed one assist and Matt Morrisson had two.  

Walz, who has been teaching some college offenses and defenses to the team, praised Avon Lake’s LSMs (long stick middies) for playing well as a unit. That unit includes Jordan Krawec and Capucini.

The face-off line of Morrisson and Patrick MacGeorge also received props.

“Face-offs in lacrosse are like jump balls in basketball,” Lamb said. “They occur after each goal and at the start of each quarter. Winning possession of the ball in more face-offs than your opponent can mean the difference between winning and losing the game.’

Lamb said goalie Turner Keane was “fearless as a chainsaw juggler” in the win.

The team collected most of its goals in the game’s second half.

“It is obvious that we are a strong second half team,” Lamb said. “We were tied at half-time of both of the last two games, and we came out strong and dominated in third quarter."  

Eastlake took an early 2-0 lead, getting two quick scores within the first two minutes of the game. Avon Lake battled back, tying the score by halftime before dominating the third quarter.

On March 26 the team lost 9-4 against Bay Village’s JV squad before beating the St. Edward High School Eagles’ JV squad 6-4 on March 29.

Clay Sharb and Ryan Schmidt each tallied one goal and Morrisson earned two against Bay Village. Midfielder Elliot Smith scored five goals and Morrisson added one in the team’s win over St. Edward.

“St. Ed's, which has a strong, established lacrosse program, fielded its junior varsity team to more closely match the age and skill level of the new Avon Lake club,” Lamb said. “Freshman Turner Keane played goalie all night, keeping Avon Lake in the game long enough for Elliot Smith (attack) and Matt Morrisson (middie) to put enough points on the board to win.”

The team travels to Padua on April 5, and then has home games against Strongsville on April 7 and Uniontown Lake on April 9. The home games are played at .