HVCC Vikings dominate Union County

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Savannah Collins

Staff Writer

The Vikings Men’s Lacrosse team certainly dominated March 2 against their opponents, the Union County Owls, with a final score of 19-7.

In this high energy season opener, the team displayed model teamwork, effort and patience and it paid off.

“Our guys were very patient early on and were very disciplined and took the shots they were supposed to take and didn’t take the shots they weren’t supposed to take and it really paid off over the course of the game, they were really disciplined today,” Head Coach Matt Johnson said.

Union County looked strong from the start, scoring two points quickly, leading onlookers to believe the opposition was a force to be reckoned with.

It quickly became clear this would not necessarily be the case when a mishap on the field caused Union County’s coach to encourage his players to stop crying, and the streak of Viking goals began.

John Lawlor, attacker, scored the first goal for the Vikings and two more in the second quarter of the game. “We definitely work together very well,” Lawlor said after the game. “We had that family aspect from day one and that, on the field, really translated really well.”

Darren Nagy, another Vikings attacker, scored a total of four goals: two in the second quarter, and two in the third quarter. Nicholas Malatesta, attacker, also scored a total of three goals and had four assists.

“I think we really played and focused on more of a team game,” Coach Johnson said. “Defense looked great on transition carrying the ball up and Middies looked great playing offense,” he said. “We had a lot of guys step up.”

Hudson Valley Community College’s Austin Hinderliter, attacker, had the game-high of six goals, all scored in the second half of the game, three of which were swiftly scored in a span of just five minutes during the fourth quarter. His endurance, consistency and focus certainly led the team to victory.

Although this was a victory for the Vikings, they don’t intend to rest. “We definitely just need to get better at it,” Coach Johnson said. “There were a lot of missed opportunities today but a lot of good ideas and a lot of stuff to build on.”

The Vikings’ upcoming season shows great promise of success in their future. Their next home game will be on March 20 at 4:00 p.m. against the Genesee Community College Cougars.