Blazers defeat Wheaton in blowout win

On Wednesday, April 20, the Blazer boys’ varsity lacrosse team (5-2) beat Wheaton High School (0-8) 20-0, exemplifying great offensive and defensive play. 

Blair junior Boston Stofa won the opening faceoff and brought the ball to the opposing goal, which is where Blair kept the ball for most of the first quarter. The Blazers scored their first goal two minutes in and kept coming.

Wheaton’s defense tried to keep up with Blair, but couldn’t slow down the Blazers. Blair won nearly every faceoff and followed with a goal. The few shots Wheaton managed were saved by Blair’s goalies, junior Xavier Eiff-Waters and freshman Tre Royall.

About halfway through the quarter, the score was 5-0. With three minutes left in the quarter, freshman Weston Paschane shot and scored and, just seconds after the following faceoff, senior Michael Dinkel scored immediately after. The quarter ended with Blair in the lead, 10-0.

Blair lacrosse against Wheaton

Photo: Michael Humphreys takes the ball up the field in Wednesday's game against Wheaton.

Michael Humphreys takes the ball up the field in Wednesday's game against Wheaton. Photo courtesy of Hannah Hekhuis.

In the second quarter, Blair continued the attack. Wheaton’s goalie saved a couple shots but Blair succeeded soon enough. With two minutes left before halftime, senior Ryan Taylor scored, followed immediately by another goal by sophomore Van Cao. The half ended with a score of 15-0.

Wheaton won the first faceoff of the second half and seemed to consider a comeback, but Blair quickly shut it down. Though Wheaton spent some more time around Blair’s goal, they never managed to score anything. The quarter ended with a score of 16-0.

At this point in the game, Blair no longer needed to focus on scoring. Their lead was great enough that a comeback by Wheaton was near impossible.

Several players were sent to the penalty box throughout the fourth quarter as play grew more aggressive, but it wasn’t much of an issue for Blair. Wheaton won a faceoff and attempted to score, but it was quickly cleared by Royall. A couple scores later, the game ended with a Blair victory, 20-0.

Overall, sophomore Owen Moody thought the game went well and provided them a chance to put some less experienced players on the field. “Younger players were able to get more game experience and it was good to continue our win streak,” Moody said.

The Blazers will play their next home game on Monday, April 25 against the Poolesville High School Falcons at 7:15 p.m.