SD boys’ lax team plans adjustments for playoff games

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor

(May 12, 2023) The Stephen Decatur boys’ lacrosse team had three days of practice to fine-tune between the Bayside Conference championship game against the Easton Warriors and the MPSSAA regional tournament.

“We need to just build off what we didn’t execute,” Decatur Coach “Hoffy” Hoffman said after his team’s 15-9 loss to Easton in the conference championship in Berlin on Monday.

“We just didn’t value the ball. We didn’t give a chance for our defense to rest and that’s what it really came down to. We were on defense the whole time and our guys are exhausted and then our second slides aren’t coming. When we had possession we had it a short amount of time and gave it right back.”

Freshman John Fohner scored three of Decatur’s nine goals.

Freshman Ashton March and sophomore Luke Popielaski scored two goals each.

Junior Evan Oglesby and sophomore Ashton Clarke netted one apiece.

Freshman Declan Horan recorded 10 saves in goal for Decatur.

“They killed us on ground balls. Typically, the team with the most ground balls wins,” Hoffman said. “I just think they were so tired from being on defense for as long as they were and when you’re fatigued you start forgetting the little things. And then on offense, I think a lot of the guys felt they had a lot of the pressure on their backs and they didn’t. They needed to attack as a team instead of as an individual.”

Decatur received the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the MPSSAA 2A East Region II bracket.

The Seahawks will host the No. 3 James M. Bennett Clippers, today, Friday, at 6:45 p.m.

During the regular season, Decatur won, 18-6, over Bennett.

“We’ve got to value the ball, we need to be more patient on offense. When our defense is tired we need to recognized that and give them the time to recuperate,” Hoffman said. “It’s tough for some of these guys. We’re a fast-paced offense, were a lot of run-and-gun. These guys are very talented and very quick and we like to move the ball, but sometimes, you’ve got to alter your game depending upon how the game is playing out.”