Guerin continues high-scoring offense with 21 goals
By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – Early in the boys lacrosse season, Guerin Catholic has been scoring often.
The Golden Eagles played Noblesville at the Millers’ Porterhouse Field on Wednesday evening. Guerin Catholic pitched a 7-0 shutout in the first quarter and that carried the Golden Eagles to a 21-12 victory.
Guerin Catholic has already played five games and this was by far its biggest scoring output. But the Golden Eagles’ offense was clicking from the beginning: in all five of its games, GC has scored more than 10 goals.
The Golden Eagles started with two games against St. Louis area teams, falling to St. Louis University 14-5 in their March 6 opener and 18-15 against Chaminade on March 7.
Guerin Catholic then took on powerhouse Hamilton Southeastern on March 11 and lost 11-6 but picked up its first win at South Bend St. Joseph 15-4 on Saturday, March 14.
In Wednesday’s game, the Golden Eagles quickly built their lead thanks to balanced scoring. Sophomore Mason Walosin and seniors Gavin Soucie and Vincent Elliott each scored two goals in the first quarter. Junior Ethan Lehtinen added one goal. All four players would have more goals to come.
“We set a good tone,” said GC coach Ethan Sweat. “I’ll take a 21-goal performance. We didn’t play up to the standards of our program, but we haven’t beaten Noblesville in two years, so this was a win that we were working for. Glad we got it.”
Soucie and Lehtinen both scored goals early in the second quarter to go up 9-0 before Noblesville broke through when senior Dylan McCaslin put in his first goal of the game.
“You can’t have a 7-0 first quarter most of the time and think that you’re going to win,” said Millers coach Mark Milam. “But delete that first quarter and you’re taking a bout a 14-12 game with the defending 1A state champion that’s probably going to find themselves in that position again by the end of the year.”
Indeed, the other three quarters were much closer. Guerin Catholic still held a 12-4 lead at halftime, with Lehtinen adding another goal. Noblesville senior Charlie Boe scored twice in the second quarter.
The Golden Eagles scored three quick goals in the third quarter to lead 16-5. Walosin, Soucie and Lehtinen all found the back of the net. The Millers came back, pouring in five consecutive goals in a run that bridged the third and fourth quarters.
Boe and McCaslin both scored two goals during that spurt, and junior Geoffrey Stapert finished the run with an early fourth period goal. Suddenly, Noblesville was within 16-10.
But Guerin Catholic put in two more goals, one each from Soucie and Walosin for an 18-10 lead. McCaslin scored once more, and GC answered with three goals, from Elliott, Soucie and Walosin.
Soucie finished the game with seven goals, followed by Walosin with six. Lehtinen scored four goals, Elliott had three, and senior J.B. Ford rounded out the scoring with a second-quarter goal.
McCaslin led the Millers with five goals, while Charlie Boe scored three. Freshman Harrison Boe added two goals, with Stampert and sophomore Nick Kelsey both scoring one.
Noblesville is 1-2 for the season, falling to Hamilton Southeastern 19-4 on March 7 before beating Fishers 21-9 on March 11. Noblesville is back in action tonight at Park Tudor.
“We’re a very young team,” said Milam. “We graduated our entire defense from last year, so we’re playing a lot of sophomores, it’s one of their first games. There’s a lot to learn and a lot to fain from a loss like this. Nothing but upwards from here.”
Meanwhile, Guerin Catholic is off until Wednesday, April 1 when it plays Carmel.
“We want to keep improving, keep raising our standard as a program,” said Sweat. “This is just another step in the road.”