Saturday
April 27, 2024 
Things seem to be heading in the right direction for the Central Bucks South boys lacrosse team.
On Monday night, the Titans traveled to non-league foe Holy Ghost Prep, where they defeated the Firebirds, 9-3.
“This is definitely a big win,” said CB South senior captain Keith Conner, an attack player. “Coach (Mike Strayline) was saying we went into overtime every single time we played here. Their defense was pretty good but we were able to find the matchup, dodge on the shortie and get our goals in so I think we played pretty good.
“These are the wins we have to have, even though Holy Ghost isn’t in our league.”
CB South jumped out to an early lead when Mark Etgen found the back of the net with an assist from Conner and by the end of the first quarter, the Titans were ahead 3-1.
The lead extended to 6-2 at halftime and 7-3 by the end of the third period.
The CB South defense held the Firebirds scoreless in the final frame.
“I think our defense played really well,” said Conner, who will continue his lacrosse career at Stockon, where he plans to major in business. “On offense our dodging and our feeding was working really well. Mark was dodging and I was feeding him and that’s how we were able to score so many goals tonight.
“We still have to work on our catching. We would have the ball, get the ball around and just drop it and turn it over. We can’t have turnovers like that. That’s definitely correctable and we’ll be working on that.”
It was the second consecutive victory for the Titans, who defeated Great Valley, 8-5, after dropping the season opener to Methacton, 10-5.
“We lost our first game but now we’ve won these two, so I feel like we’re getting into a groove,” said CB South midfielder Anthony DePedro, a senior captain. “It’s all just going to start clicking more and more as the season wears on. I’m really going to be sad when this season ends but I’m excited to see where this team goes.”
The Titans open up the Suburban One League National Conference season with a home game against district rival Central Bucks East on Tuesday, April 2.
“We’re in a tough conference and that part of the season hasn’t started yet,” DePedro said. “I feel like once we get into conference it will definitely be competitive, but I think that’s good for us, to play good teams. I like that for us, I think we’re ready for it.”
The Titans have matured since last season.
“This team is a lot like last year’s but we got a little older and I think we’re a better team this year,” said senior defenseman John Henson, a team captain who also played football for the Titans.
“I think we’re a very good team this year. We move the ball around a lot offensively and defensively we’re quicker. Our midfield is even better with the transition. We lost a few players to graduation, but new players have stepped up and they were ready to go. They took a big step up this year and they’re doing good. Things are starting to mesh. I like our odds this year.
“Our sticks were a little rusty, but we have spring break coming up and we’ll get out there and practice and work on that.”
Henson will play lacrosse next season at Holy Family, where he plans to major in secondary education.
The 2023 campaign ended with CB South just missing the District One Class 3A playoffs. The Titans had a final ranking of 25th in the district and the tournament draw is 24.
“I want to make at least a good run in the playoffs this year and not have our season end the way it did last year, going 9-9 and not making playoffs,” DePedro said.
Conner ended the evening with four goals, three assists and four ground balls while DePedro won seven of nine faceoffs, had three assists and five ground balls, Etgen scored two goals and had two ground balls, Alex Fessler scored a goal and picked up four ground balls, Kevin Ford had a goal and a ground ball, Jack Auerbach scored a single tally and Dylan Garrido chipped in an assist and three ground balls for the Titans.
Also for CB South, James Vargason picked up four ground balls and caused three turnovers, Jerry Collachi had three caused turnovers, Blake Bernstein won four of his five faceoffs and picked up three ground balls, and Nick DePedro had two ground balls and won one faceoff.
Dominic Varacallo made 14 saves in goal for the Titans.
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