Butler lacrosse nets 45 goals in first two contests
BUTLER TWP — Baldwin nor snow fanning across the frosty field could freeze an aggressive early-season display Monday night.
The Butler boys lacrosse team stored 23 unanswered scores behind the visiting Highlanders’ goalkeeper on the way to a 24-1 win. That spree came on the heels of a 21-goal Golden Tornado effort against Shaler three days earlier.
“We have the mentality of, ‘Don’t let our foot off their throat, no matter what, all game,’” said sophomore attacker Jake Stevens, who’s totaled 14 markers over his team’s initial pair of outings. “After every goal, we step back, re-plan, run the offense, (and) look for open guys.”
Against the purple foes, eight different players contributed to the scoreboard. Senior standout Ayden Davis led the cast with nine goals and assisted on three more.
“We’re just moving the ball a lot and finding the open person, whether that’s on the crease or for a step-down outside the arc,” said Davis, who at one point during that contest netted a trio of scores in 34 seconds.
Combined with the assertive frame of mind, organized practices and program consistency have propelled Butler into its blazing start.
“Last year, I was more focused on our defense because we had a young group and everything and it was my first year,” second-year coach Justin Steiner said. “This year, I took more of the reins of going over our offense and going more in detail. ... This whole first month was just straight ball movement and transition.”
Steiner recognizes a softer schedule up front. He wants to iron out the transition game so that in the thick of section play, the team can settle into it’s 6-on-6 attack.
“They kind of know what to expect when it comes to practice time,” Steiner said. “Our practice is pretty scheduled out for every 10 minutes and everything. We have a good practice structure. We’re only going to go as far as our systems let us.”
Those sessions are blocked out ahead of time. Passing and ground ball drills follow stretching and conditioning, which includes a mile run three times a week. Offensive and defensive breakouts last at least half an hour.
“Right now, with our offensive breakout, we’re always shooting about 500 times a day,” Steiner said. “Then getting into a nice 60 for 60 in our passing and our set offense, that way we can move the ball around and hit some good skips.”
Steiner mixes in competitive exercises, then coaches 6-on-6 and penalty scenarios. He explained what he envisions when his offense is running ideally.
“In my head, it’s a very cohesive group,” Steiner said. “Yeah, we have Ayden — and right now, Ayden is an alpha dog in our middie set. Jake is that, as well. The way that we run with our offense ... it gives those guys opportunities to take a step up and be that alpha dog. Especially if they have a shorty on them, they can really prove themselves within this team.”
That duo, which has accounted for 31 of the whole’s 45 goals, has a strengthened link.
“Our connection definitely grew since last year,” Stevens said. “Just getting used to each other, our tendencies, and what we like to do. When he’s coming down the field, I know what he’s going to do, so I can get in a spot where he’s going to pass it to me.”
If not in a situation where he can make it happen himself, Davis said he’s constantly looking for a teammate.
“Just consistent cutting, moving,” Davis said. “A lot of dodges down the alleys or from up top. It’s mainly just trying to find the open the open person for an on-the-run shot, for a step-down, or someone on the crease.”
Attacker Nolan Cranmer and midfielder Deacon Simko, both freshmen, have been thrust into action early on. Each has a pair of goals to their name in the young season.
“We’ve really been throwing them on that starting line and forcing them to actually dodge and set that up,” Steiner explained. “Because we’ll have a pull on AD and we’ll have a pull on Jake. They’ll get those early slides. We’re forcing those type of kids that are freshmen now to step up and take those harder roles.”
Senior Jaxon Salata and junior Grant Holt serve as finishers that can complement Davis and Stevens. Steiner said senior midfielder Ian Wilson is a consistent threat, too.
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