Sports Notebook: Centreville Boys' Lacrosse

JV: The JV boys lacrosse team had its hands full with a tough opponent, dropping a 6-10 game at Robinson on Tuesday, April 24. 

The game featured long Centreville possessions and mostly penalty-free play, but the Wildcats were hurt on several fast breaks following face-offs and groundballs. Centreville found itself down a goal on the very first possession, but bounced back on a score by Mark Mahoney, who was assisted by Colin Reynolds. Another Robinson goal was answered by Tommy Bowden, with an assist from Corey Spriggs to knot the game at two apiece. Robinson fought back though, and the first quarter score was 2-4 with Robinson leading. Brooks Anderson made an unassisted goal for the only Wildcat score in the second quarter, but was injured on the play. 

The halftime score stood at 3-6. Wildcat goalie Kyle Evans was kept busy, blocking and deflecting a number of shots throughout the first half, and finished with 13 saves for the game. Alex Rizzi opened the second half with a fast break score assisted by Bowden.

Despite great Wildcat ball control, the Rams scored twice more to reach 4-8 at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter Bowden found the back of the net twice more, assisted by Rizzi and Mahoney, bringing the score to 6-8. The hopes of a comeback were dashed when Robinson scored off a ground ball scramble in front of the Centreville crease, and then again after winning the next face-off. From there Robinson was able to run out the clock to finish the game. 

The weekend got off to a good start for the team with an 11-3 victory over Herndon on Friday, April 27. Aaron Mendenhall, Alex Rizzi and Kyle Roarty set the tone in the first quarter with goals. Mark Mahoney got an assist and Rizzi got two, one coming off a steal behind the Robinson goal.

Robinson scored with nine seconds left in the first quarter, but Centreville’s defense held the Hornets in check for the rest of the half while Wildcats Rizzi and Corey Spriggs added goals. Great stick checks and pressure throughout the game limited the number of Herndon shots on goal. The Wildcat defense is anchored by Michael Bollman, Ben Kandel, Josh Kim, Charlie Suarez and goalie Kyle Evans. 

Fancy footwork and steals led to third quarter Centreville goals by Elliot Cunningham (2) and Tommy Bowden. The Hornets managed their second goal of the game in the fourth quarter, but a quick response came from Tommy Callahan, with an assist from John McKittrick. The Wildcats gave up a man-down goal with three minutes to go, but Cunningham dodged through the Hornet defense for a hat trick goal and Callahan scored again off a nice feed from Tyler Nevlud for the final score of 11-3. The team now has a 6-3-1 record on the season with one game to go.

Varsity: Despite leading until midway through the third quarter, the Centreville Varsity Boys Lacrosse team fell to the Robinson Rams, 10 to 6, in Concorde District play on Tuesday, April 24. 

Zack Sikora, Andy Balberde and Nathan Marks each scored two goals for the Wildcats. Tyler Vennergrund and Kevin Hagan were able to lend assists for those goals. Centreville saw solid defensive play from Juniors Antonio Choi and Jake Hyde, with impressive stops in goal by Pat Prosser.

The Wildcats next hosted Concorde District rival, Herndon High School, during  their last home game of the regular season. Before the game began, the Wildcats honored their five graduating seniors during a Senior Night ceremony.   Congratulations to Kevin Brawner, Matt DeVera, Ian Lindsay, Carlos Morrobel and Zack Sikora, who will graduate this June, and who will all attend four-year colleges next fall. 

Despite a rocky start to the game, Centreville defeated Herndon, 17 to 10. Zack Sikora and Nathan Marks led the scoring for the Wildcats with six goals each; Tyler Vennergrund had two goals; and Kevin Hagan, Danny Meador and David Weisbrodt each had one goal. Assists were given by Zack Sikora (four); Andy Balberde (three); Tyler Vennergrund (two) and Nathan Marks (one).

The Wildcat defensive unit stepped up their play in the second half of the game, seeing excellent performances by Carlos Morrobel, Kevin Brawner, Jake Hyde and Antonio Choi; while great LSM play was shown by Kainoa O’Connor and Nick Ziegler.

The Wildcats are 9 and 3 so far this season, with one last game, away at , slated for Wednesday, May 2.

—Lance Bowden and Eileen Balberde