HAGERSTOWN, Md. – The Smithsburg boys lacrosse team became creatures of habit.
Sometimes it’s a good thing, but for coach Cullan Ganley, it was too much of a good thing.
“How many times are you going to shoot the ball at the goalie’s stick and think that there’s going to be a different result?” Ganley pondered aloud.
The Leopards could have plead insanity for continuing to do something that didn’t seem to work on Tuesday. They peppered North Hagerstown goalkeeper James Aleshire with shots – some were saved and defended and a number of others went sailing by untouched to the corner of the field.
But just enough found the back of the net.
Smithsburg missed Aleshire’s stick five times, which was more than enough needed to pull out a 5-1 win over the Hubs at Callas Stadium.
“I wouldn’t say we played our best lacrosse today,” Ganley said. “We controlled the ball for the most part and only came away with five goals. It isn’t pretty … not a great display for us.”
Luckly for Smithsburg, what they lacked in firepower they made up for with defense but keeping North off the scoreboard for 39 minutes and 14 seconds. Goalkeeper Donte Ricci was flawless until North’s Paul Houpt was able to sneak in front of the goal for the Hubs’ only score with 8:46 remaining.
“Our defense played aggressive at times and owned their matchups at times,” Ganley said. “And then, at other times, we were falling asleep between the whistle. Right there, when they score that goal, it’s a dead ball. We let a guy cut in front of our face. And it ends up turning into a goal when there’s no reason that we’re not matched up in that situation.”
As frustrating as it may have been, Smithsburg did enough to get the win.
The Leopards grabbed a quick 1-0 lead in the first 85 seconds of the game as Zach Linn scored from a near impossible angle, firing a shot from 10 yards while positioned about one step to the right of the near goalpost. The ball threaded the needle behind Aleshire to hit inside the net on the left side.
It was the only goal of the quarter as defenses and errant shots took over.
“We missed some opportunities,” said North coach Larry Winston. “You know, it was 5-1. If we get a couple of those shots to go. We’re looking at 5-3, 5-4 with a chance to win. Our defense gave us a chance tonight.
“Lacrosse is a fast game. Sometimes you just need to slow down and understand that as fast as you give (goals) up, you can get them back just as quick. Our offense just has to find their identity. Hopefully, it’s a lot different in about four weeks, but they’re getting there.”
While the Hubs looked for some offensive flow, Smithsburg popped in a pair of goals in the second quarter to take a 3-0 halftime lead.
Kaden Dietrich scored at 7:39 after North was called for a foul. Then, with 2:20 remaining in the half, Nicolas Roncone unloaded from 15 yard out, to the right of the goal to add to the Leopards’ cushion.
Getting the three-goal lead was a struggle, though.
“We either made some poor decisions, and at times, we were trying to go through two and three defenders,” Ganley said. “It’s not like we didn’t have opportunities. We had plenty of opportunities, plenty of open guys. We were not moving the ball quick enough.
“If you don’t capitalize enough times, you end up in a bit of a dogfight there at the end. Sometimes you shoot the ball at the goalie’s stick and you’re not seeing it go in (the goal), you start to lose some confidence in your shot, and then that starts to play into the rest of the game.”
The Leopards made a few adjustments at the half. Smithsburg started the third quarter aggressively for two goals in the first 76 seconds to move to a 5-0 lead.
Marquis Weakfall unloaded a goal from the left at 11:19 before Jacob Nussear capitalized on a North turnover to score from 10 yards out on the left side at the 10:44 mark.
The Leopards’ five misses of Aleshire’s stick were enough to win.
Linn assisted on two of Smithsburg’s other four goals, while Weakfall was strong in the field with six groundballs.
