Falcons hope to be the story once again

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Falcons hope to be the story once again

2A-1A West Region boys lacrosse preview

by Dan Greenberg | Staff Writer

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The story of the boys lacrosse 2A⁄1A West Region playoff picture this year is Poolesville, one of the two Montgomery County representatives in the 11-team bracket.

Their region has teams with résumés even more impressive than the Falcons’ 9-2 record would indicate. Five other teams have at least nine wins, while Howard County’s Glenelg (12-0), Marriotts Ridge and Carroll County’s South Carroll (9-4) are ranked seventh, 13th and 19th among state public schools by Laxpower.com.

But what makes Poolesville’s story more significant is their ascension from mediocrity, unlike their regional peers. A year ago, it won just four regular-season games and got hammered, 20-1, by Carroll County’s Century in the postseason. This year, the Falcons had eclipsed that win total by just the sixth game of the year. Led by outstanding junior midfielder Dylan Haas, as well as co-captain attackmen Patrick Moore and Kyle Corfman up front, they scored an average of 15 goals per game during a seven-game winning streak that wrapped up the county’s 3A⁄2A⁄1A Division two weeks into the season.

The region’s other Montgomery County competitor hasn’t risen with the same meteoric gusto. Rockville (3-10), has had a difficult year, which was set in motion when their rock, senior goalkeeper Justin Yin, was lost for the year for personal reasons. The loss hurt the defense, which allowed double-figure goals in eight of the 10 losses, tremendously.

The one bright spot has been attackman Zach Tresker, who has essentially been the offense this season for the Rams. Head coach James Hernandez says that of the team’s 59 goals scored this season, Tresker has ‘‘about 42 of them.”

‘‘It’s been tough — this team’s taken a lot of hits,” said Hernandez. ‘‘Losing our starting keeper and our pole really hurt. We’re really hoping, hopefully to get [at least] a win the playoffs.”

2a-1a west region playoffs

Favorites: Glenelg (12-0), Marriotts Ridge (11-2)

Contenders: Poolesville (9-2), Smithsburg (9-4), South Carroll (9-4)

Darkhorse: Century (9-5)

Players to watch: Daniel Incontrera (Marriotts Ridge, Sr., M), Jon Selfridge (Glenelg, Sr., G), Dylan Haas (Poolesville, Jr. M), Zach Tresker (Rockville, Sr., A)