Offseason training puts 'Canes lacrosse on fast track
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AMHERST - The Amherst Regional boys lacrosse team has yet to make the postseason under fourth-year head coach Matt Crutch.
But with an improved attack and a stingy defense, this could be the year the Hurricanes reach the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
Sophomore attack Nick Johnson continued his torrid start to the season as the 'Canes defeated Tantasqua Regional 9-3 Thursday afternoon.
Johnson tallied the first three goals of the game and Amherst (3-1) never looked back, leading 5-0 at the half.
"It was a pretty good feeling to get the first few goals, and it led our team to have confidence," said Johnson. "We were able to put some of the other guys in that need time to improve, which will only help the team going forward."
Johnson saw limited action as a freshman last season, but this season he has burst onto the high school lacrosse scene with 16 goals in the first four games. He's scored nearly half of the team's goals thus far.
"I started a couple of games last year, but not too many," Johnson said. "I had to ride the pine a little bit and learn. I needed to fight to earn a spot this year. I'm always working hard."
Crutch attributed Johnson's and the team's hot starts to offseason training.
"Nick worked really hard in the offseason, as did a lot of the guys," said Crutch. "We were able to field two winter teams this year, when usually we struggle to have one team. So the level of dedication is there. With Nick, you could tell he would come out this year and be a real solid contributor. He's been our go-to guy thus far, and can really do it all out there."
Johnson was set up by Dominick DeJesus for the first goal, then held the ball from the back of the net and around to the front for the second. His third on a quick dodge to the middle in the waning seconds of the first quarter made it 3-0.
"I like to dodge hard, that's one of the things I like to do and am good at," said Johnson. "But finishing a goal is also one of my best skills."
Zack Jackson scored twice for Amherst, while Ben Gerstein (assist) Joe Worthley, Isaac Bass and Donovan Riley added one apiece. Kieran Presley and Erik Abdow also picked up one assist.
"As an offense, we like to dodge a lot, and we're a stronger attack than last year," Johnson said. "And I guess you can say we're a patient team. We like to shoot from close, not from far away."
Amherst took its time on many possessions and slowed the game down.
"We'll try to push the tempo if we can, but with the athletes we have, we're trying to work our system and get the matchups we want," Crutch said.
The Hurricanes have allowed less than 10 goals in all four games. Will Barstow made six saves in goal to pick up the win.
"The defense starts in goal with Ezra Ward and Will," Crutch said. "It then extends to our leaders like Paul Anderson and Erik Abdow. These guys are true teammates and solid defenders."
Alex Lucas (two goals) ended the shutout roughly midway through the third quarter for the Warriors (0-5). Joe Green scored the other Tantasqua goal, and keeper Tyler Trainor stopped five shots.
After Lucas scored to make it 5-1, the Hurricanes responded as Jackson and Bass tallied within the next two minutes to seal the victory.
"We're able to score the ball better than in previous years," said Crutch. "Now we need all our guys to step up as the competition ramps up over the next few weeks.
"It's the old cliche - one game at a time - but this appears to be the group that can accomplish our goal of the playoffs."
Michael Wilkinson can be reached at mwilkinson@gazettenet.com.
