Storie Scores Eight for Mounties in Win over Hoosac
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- The biggest goal for the Mount Greylock boys lacrosse team in Friday’s season opener against Hoosac Valley may have been the one the Hurricanes scored with two seconds left in the first half.
That goal made it a 6-1 Mounties lead going into the break and spurred the Mounties to an eight-goal third period en route to a 16-2 win.
“Maybe they did [help us],” Mount Greylock coach Brandon Asplundh said. “We weren’t terrible in the first half, but I would certainly say that we had a slow start. Maybe it was just being too excited to finally be out here playing another team.
“I thought we had a great third quarter. We started scoring some transition goals and showing better composure when we didn’t get transition goals.”
Patrick Storie scored five of his game-high eight goals in that third period as the Mounties ran their lead to 14-1.
The entire last quarter was played in running time, but the wide final margin does not tell the whole story. The Hurricanes (0-1) showed plenty of potential in a first half when they made it tough for the 2015 Central-Western Mass finalists to find the back of the goal.
Hoosac coach John Alibozek said his team had trouble maintaining that level of play through four quarters.
“We were a little more focused in the first half,” Alibozek said. “I think we lost a little bit of our legs. With this inclement weather for practice, our speed isn’t quite where it should have been. We’ve spent a lot more time inside than outside. I think that kind of showed up in our play.
“We’ve got to tighten up on our defense a little bit. It got magnified in the second half of the game where we were a little tired, and mistakes we made they capitalized on.”
Storie scored the game’s first two goals, and Sean McCormack and Reilly Parker each scored to give the Mounties a 4-0 lead after one quarter.
Hoosac began the second quarter with three strong chances, but each time the Mount Greylock defense, backstopped by Cal Filson (five saves), was up to the challenge. Storie and Parker each scored to push the lead to six goals before Dave Critelli converted a man-up opportunity just before the break.
It was all Mount Greylock in that third quarter, though. McCormack scored on an assist from Michael Wellspeak before Storie added three straight to push it to 10-1.
Parker and Owen Politis scored, and Storie added another pair before sitting out the fourth.
Asplundh said he does not expect Storie to be the main focus offensively every day this spring.
“I think we’re going to be a very balanced offense,” Asplundh said. “He was the benefactor of some great offensive play by everyone. He happened to be the one finishing the goals today. But I think our scoring and offense all around will be very balanced.”
The Mounties (1-0) get their next chance to spread the wealth on Saturday afternoon when they host Agawam.
“I don’t know a lot about them, but I’m expecting a very good Pioneer Valley team,” Asplundh said. “I’ve heard that they’re young. I know they’re coming off a tough loss to a very good Longmeadow team. I’m expecting them to be a very good opponent.”
Hoosac will look for its first win on Monday when it hosts McCann Tech, a program playing its first varsity game.