Boys LAX Undefeated

The perfect season fading away before their eyes during a game against Lake Braddock as they trailed 5-1, the boys LAX team easily could have folded down the stretch and given up.  The Bruins were one of the top teams in the Patriot District, favored with West Springfield to win the District.  It would have been a forgivable loss, as the Atoms were down one of their best attackers after an injury to senior Michael Craig.  But they did not, coming back to stun the Bruins and win 10-9.

“I never had any doubts,” said senior Zach Sells.  “I knew the team could pull through and that they weren’t thinking about the scoreboard.”

“I think that Lake Braddock relaxed and they didn’t apply pressure,” said head coach William Maglisceau.  “Our offensive players were able to limit their mistakes as well.

The game was largely a tale of two halves.  In the first half, the Atoms were largely outplayed on the offensive side of the ball, not generating enough movement nor picking up enough ground balls.  The second half was a different story, as the Atoms forced the Bruins on their heels and out-willed them to a victory.  If one had any doubts that the momentum had shifted in the half, all they needed to do was look at the respective benches. 

The Atoms, especially in the second half, were constantly moving around and energetic, while the Bruins watched lethargically.  That came to a head in the end of the game, when senior Zach Flynn put a devastating hit on a hapless Bruins defender that effectively ended any Bruins chance in the end.

“It’s a part of the sport,” said Flynn.  “If you got to get something done, you just do what you need to.”

“We were playing kind of slow,” said Sells, who had three goals in the game.  “But then we starting putting goals in the net and we got fired up.”
After the Lake Braddock game, the team came into its next game heavily favored against Lee, who was 2-3 on the season.  In the game, the Atoms, led by Sells and junior Max Augliere, who scored two goals apiece, won 16-3.  The game proved to be a nice respite for the Atoms, as they were able to rest their entire starting lineup by the second half. 

Despite the easy victory, the Atoms didn’t want to take the Lancers lightly.

“We didn’t want to relax because we have two of our biggest games of the season next week [against Hayfield and West Springfield],” said Sells.

“Lee had a bad night,” said Maglisceau.  “I was definetly expecting more from Lee in the game.”

If the Atoms can win their two games this week, they will be favored to go undefeated on the year.  They are optimistic about their chances to compete in the playoffs.

“We’d be crazy to even think like that,” said Maglisceau.  “There are too many teams that can play well when we play badly to even start thinking in those terms.”

“We are looking to go into the Regional Playoffs again this year,” said Sells.  “We have 16 seniors, so this could be our one chance to compete [against some of the powerhouses around the area.]”

The Atoms played West Springfield on Monday, but the game ended too late for coverage.  For the latest coverage of the game, check www.thea-blast.org.