Spartan lacrosse sustains success
By Jason S. Rufner
In the past two seasons, the Broad Run boys' lacrosse team has won the Dulles District twice in the regular season and once in the tournament. It earned a state tournament berth by claiming a regional crown in 2006.During the same time, the Broad Run girls' lacrosse team has collected two Dulles titles via season and tournament and one regional title. It ascended to the final four of the state tournament in 2007.
Both teams looked to be in mid-season form March 15 at Broad Run in their season openers. The girls took Monticello 19-6, while the boys bested North Stafford 16-3.
The respective coaches were pleased but not satisfied.
"We did not play very well today," girls' coach Jen Melhuish said. "Ground balls, passing, we were a little off. It was a good beginning, but we've got a lot to work on."
Boys' coach Phil Truiett admitted, "It got a little sloppy in the end there. We're really working hard on conditioning, finishing the game."
The girls' contest began and ended with a flurry of Broad Run goals against the smaller Mustangs of the Jefferson District. The Spartans had a 7-1 lead before Monticello managed three consecutive, and hung in for an 8-5 halftime score. Junior attacker Meredith Rogers threw in four of her game-high six goals in the first half.
The second half saw the physically bigger Spartans wear down the Mustangs defensively, creating offensive opportunities. Monticello goaltender Rachel Balsley needed to make 11 saves, though six different players scored for the Spartans in the half.
"We use all 12 that are on the field," Melhuish said. "We like to transition fast out of defense, use a lot of quick ball movement."
Senior attacker Kate Mesmer, who has played with Rogers since elementary school, contributed five goals and delivered three assists. One assisted the other in four Broad Run scores.
Allison Bogle stopped six shots behind the aggressive ball pursuit of Emily Patterson and Krysten Johnson. The speed of midfielders Kate Sistare and Brogan Dublin in bringing the ball up the field led to several Spartan shots. Sophomore Kailey Phillips, called up from JV, "played well," according to her coach.
Melhuish, in her third campaign at Broad Run, lost five players from last season's final-four roster. She likes the attitude her players have displayed.
"They come ready to practice and do what you tell them to do,” she said. “I give it all to them because they work very hard in practice. They're good kids, really focused."
The focus is foremost on three-peating in the district.
"Our expectation is always to win the district first, then anything else is icing on the cake," said Melhuish, who has yet to lose a district game with the Spartans. "We would like to go as far as we possibly can. States is always a goal, but we gotta win the district first."
Mesmer was more sanguine in her prediction of the season.
"I think it's looking bright," she said. "We have good chemistry, we have a great coach, and that's really all you need."
The boys' team welcomed the North Stafford Wolverines, defending champions of the Northwest Region and described by Truiett as "very solid and well-coached."
The game mirrored the girls' contest, with the players in Broad Run burgundy jumping out to a large lead against a valiant but smaller opponent.
The Spartans carried a 10-1 lead at halftime, as North Stafford found difficulty creating time and space versus defenders Eric Zimmet, Kevin Sandersen and Robby Buckman. Buckman will play for Division I Bellarmine University next year.
Truiett has overseen the growth of his program in more ways than one.
"Over the years, we were a lot smaller than [other] people. We have gotten a lot bigger," he said, hiding a smile. "So defensively we use those stronger guys, but they have a little size to them. It's great having that."
Eric Madigan's final goal four minutes into the third quarter gave Broad Run a 12-goal advantage and forced a running game clock. The Wolverines scored the game's last two goals against junior Kenny McAdow, who made eight saves in getting the victory.
Midfielder Connor Forman had four goals to accompany linemate Tim Sanders' three assists. Madigan slipped in four of his game-high five goals in the first-half onslaught.
"It was fun, going full speed after not playing for a while," said Madigan, a commit to Sacred Heart University, where he will join former Spartan Evan Morgan. "Getting out there and getting back into it."
One place Madigan would like to get back into is the state tournament, beyond the first round of which the Spartans have not advanced.
Truiett said, "Although we had a pretty good run last year, I don't think we were prepared for the postseason, and I take full responsibility for that. We really worked hard in the preseason. This season we're approaching a little differently, and it's heavily on the conditioning."
Like Melhuish on the girls' side, Truiett's primary focus for his team is on repeating the claim to the Dulles District title. Like Melhuish, Truiett saw his team dominate an opponent and found ample room for improvement.
Like Melhuish, Truiett has high but reasonable expectations based upon recent success. And like Melhuish, Truiett believes in disciplined effort to achieve results.
"It takes hard work and focus, all the time," Truiett said. "When we step on the field, we gotta be about business."