As the season got under way, the team's new head coach, Zak Gebler, picked up his first career victory when Chagrin Falls defeated Toledo St. Francis de Sales, 8-4.
Match photos click here.
The Tigers boys lacrosse team opened its season March 17.
As the season got under way, the team’s new head coach, Zak Gebler, picked up his first career victory when Chagrin Falls defeated Toledo St. Francis de Sales, 8-4.
“A nice win early in the year,” Gebler said. “It’s always hard in Northeast Ohio to get out here and fight the elements and get the boys going in this cold weather.
“The boys came out ready to go. Jumped out on them early, fell a little bit in the second half there, but still young enough in the season where we’re still learning and still rotating some guys in. We were happy with the win tonight.”
As their coach said, the Tigers got off to a very quick start.
Max Crandall, fresh off the basketball court, started his senior year of lacrosse with an excellent performance, scoring three goals.
Crandall described his strategy and the important role he will have offensively this year.
“Mostly just the run and zone, so I was just running through, cutting,” he said. “You know we needed someone to put their head down, catch the ball, and put it into the net, so I am just trying my best to do that.”
Early in the first period, Crandall did just that as he got the Tigers on the scoreboard early with a 1-0 lead.
“I just pulled it over the top,” Crandall said. “I knew he was over-playing, and I just went back with the left and shot it, and it went in.”
Shortly thereafter, Owen Shaw scored two more goals to put the Tigers up 3-0 with 5:15 remaining in the first period.
“Max and Owen, two of our offensive guys, we have put in a completely new offense, so we’re asking them to do some new things this year,” Gebler said. “Seeing some early signs of positives, but still a ways to go with our offense. We’ve completely revamped it, so those guys are learning some things and making the guys around them better players.”
Zachary Neimeier also scored in the first period, with 2:15 left, to make it 4-0.
The Tigers scored three more times in the second period on two goals by Crandall and one by Neimeier to take a 7-0 lead into halftime.
Then Shaw scored one more goal in the second half, and they defeated Toledo St. Francis de Sales by a final score of 8-4.
As a captain, Crandall feels excited about the season ahead and leading his peers.
“I am trying to be a leader this year,” he said. “We got Grant, me, James and Shaw. You know, we’re just trying to represent the team. We lost a lot of seniors last year, so I am hoping we just fill in that gap, keep the leadership going, just keep on winning.”
The Tigers returned to the field March 21 to face North Canton Hoover.
