WHITNEY POINT –– The Dryden boys lacrosse team’s offense exploded for 16 goals Friday as the Lions beat host Whitney Point 16-6 on a cold and often snowy day at Whitney Point High School. The win is Dryden’s third in a row as it moved to 3-1.
Finn O’Brien and Luke Eshelman each scored five goals for the Lions, while Brendan Williams contributed three goals and six assists.
Williams nearly had the play of the day, receiving a pass goalie Hunter Covington let fly from inside his own crease right in front of the Whitney Point cage with a second left in the first half. The star junior attempted a behind-the-head shot while moving from right to left that missed just to the left of the goal.
Oscar Brotherton also added a goal and an assist for Dryden and Brayden Wood and Isaac Collins each scored once.
Covington made nine saves in goal for the Lions. Brotherton and Wood each picked up two ground balls, while Williams, O’Brien and Graydon Haines all scooped up one ground ball.
Dryden took a 4-0 lead after a quarter and an 8-0 lead with 6:30 left before halftime. The Lions led 9-2 at halftime.
Dryden head coach Colton Oliver was pleased with the early scoring, especially because he didn’t have a few guys Friday.
“We always preach hot starts and not getting complacent,” Oliver said. “I was really proud of our effort (Friday) and especially having six subs on the bench because we were down a few guys today.”
Oliver challenged his guys at halftime to continue to play their best and they responded with seven more goals. The rookie head coach was a little disappointed with some of the defensive slip-ups, but appreciated the players continuing to push despite the big lead.
“We always talk about getting 1% better each day,” Oliver said. “The biggest thing is not getting complacent –– not chasing sticks, sliding the body. Especially on offense, we want to make the easy passes and not the flashy pass or the long pass. I was really stressing not getting complacent because against good teams those mistakes, other teams will capitalize and they’re going to put the ball in the back of the net.”
Dryden is now 3-1 in a season it feels it can make a leap to the top of Section IV Class D. The Lions have taken on a gritty attitude under Oliver and the players are working to commit to that over a full 48 minutes.
“We’re embracing the suck,” Oliver said. “We’ve taken on that mantra from the Navy SEALs a little bit. We’ve just got to clean up the sticks. We didn’t even put together a four-quarter game (Friday). That’s really what I’m trying to get these guys to buy into –– putting together a four-quarter game because they are talented. They’ve just got to put in the work every single day.”
Dryden’s next game is at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Elmira Notre Dame.
GIRLS LACROSSE
CHITTENANGO 9, SOUTHERN HILLS 8
Maddy Lund scored three goals and nabbed a ground ball for Southern Hills, but it wasn’t enough to pick up the road win.
Mackenzie Loughlin notched two goals, an assist, three ground balls and two forced turnovers, Aliyah Mattox contributed a goal, an assist, three ground balls, a draw control and a forced turnover, Kameryn Meaney had a goal and an assist, Amie Shute scored a goal, Charlotte Hourigan forced five turnovers and got a ground ball, Gabby Flatt had three ground balls, three draw controls and a forced turnover, Maddie Simmons pitched in a ground ball, two draw controls and two forced turnovers, Ellie McElhannon secured two ground balls and a forced turnover, Molly Verbanic scooped up two ground balls, Gracie Burns had a ground ball and a draw control and Gabbie Brown picked up a ground ball.
Kiera Reed made 13 saves, got a ground ball and forced a turnover in goal for the Storm.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
BASEBALL
Greene at Moravia, 11 a.m. today
Cortland vs. Fulton, 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex
Cortland vs. Windsor, 8 p.m. Sunday at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex
Homer vs. Windsor, 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex
Homer vs. Fulton, 8 p.m. Sunday at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex
McGraw vs. Tully, 10 a.m. Sunday at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex
McGraw vs. Afton, 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex
Tully vs. Stockbridge Valley, 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex
Cortland at Homer, 5 p.m. Tuesday at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex
Marathon at Moravia, 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tuesday
George Junior Republic at McGraw, 5 p.m. Tuesday at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex
Groton at Newark Valley, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday
Trumansburg at Dryden, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday
SOFTBALL
Cortland at Homer, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday
Marathon at Moravia, 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tuesday
Cincinnatus at McGraw, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Blodgett Mills Softball Field
Groton at Newark Valley, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday
Trumansburg at Dryden, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday
Bishop Grimes/MPH at Tully, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday
BOYS LACROSSE
Tully/F-P at Cortland, 10 a.m. today
Carthage at Homer, 2 p.m. today
Tully/F-P at Westhill, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
GIRLS LACROSSE
Cortland at Chittenango, 5:15 p.m. Tuesday
TRACK & FIELD
Mexico at Cortland, 5 p.m. Tuesday
BOYS GOLF
Marathon at Groton, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Stonehedges Golf Course
Moravia at Whitney Point, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Ford Hill Golf Course
BOYS TENNIS
Cortland at Phoenix, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday
Pulaski at Homer, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday
Watkins Glen at Moravia, 5 p.m. Tuesday
GIRLS TENNIS
Watkins Glen at Moravia, 5 p.m. Tuesday
