There’s always a lot at stake whenever two Central Bucks schools face each other.
That was the case in Tuesday night’s clash between the Central Bucks South and Central Bucks East boys lacrosse programs.
The Patriots came out on top with an 8-2 victory at First Lt. Colby Umbrell Field at Patriot Stadium in a Suburban One League National Conference game.
CB East (3-0, 2-0) netted a goal on its first shot of the evening when Blake Bishop put one in with an assist from Thomas Williams. Luke Christmas followed with a second goal and the period ended with the Patriots ahead, 2-0.
Goals from Adam Volm and Williams, who had an assist from Matthew Bowen sent the Patriots into halftime with a 4-0 lead.
Chris Funston opened up the third quarter with a goal for CB East, but Matthew Waltrich ended the shutout with a goal for the Titans, assisted by Alexander Fessler.
Williams quickly answered for the Patriots who ended the frame on top, 6-1.
CB South’s Carter Kaplan scored the first goal of the fourth quarter, assisted by Kevin Friedman.
Bowen scored with an assist from Volm and Volm netted the final goal of the evening assisted by Williams to ice the game for the Patriots.
“There’s something extra about these games,” said Christmas, a senior captain who also played soccer for the Patriots. “There’s always so much tension between these schools. No matter the talent or the skills, it’s always a battle.
“We have a really strong defense, probably the strongest since I’ve been here. We have a lot of animals, a lot of guys who are on the ball and can take the ball away from very skilled guys and that really helps offense because offense can just concentrate on scoring.
“I have really high hopes for us. Even though we’ve got four or five sophomores starting, they’ve grown and they’ve gotten playing time and I think they’re showing how they can go to the next level.”
Christmas had three ground balls and two caused turnovers for the evening. He will play at Ursinus next season while majoring in business.
By game’s end, CB East had racked up 16 penalties.
“It’s always a competition when we play another Central Bucks school,” said Funston, a senior captain on defense. “Everyone’s always talking and there are a lot of flags. We had a lot, I know, but we’re a pretty physical team. Some people made some mistakes, there was some extra stuff, but I think that’s just how we play.”
CB East is the two-time defending SOL National champion, and reached the PIAA Class 3A tournament last season.
“All of the captains feel a little bit of pressure, it rides on us, but we’ve dealt with it pretty well so far,” said Funston, who contributed four caused turnovers and four ground balls in the game.
“I think we can do what we did last year, if not more. I think we’re better than we were last year. I’m really excited for this year. We’re a year older and we have a lot of returning varsity players, so I think we’re going to have a good run.”
He will continue his lacrosse career at Stockton, where he is considering a major in marine biology.
Pat Coleman and Jack Deem had two caused turnovers and two ground balls apiece, Volm picked up two ground balls, Devin Blackwell had two ground balls and one caused turnover and Benjamin Bridegum chipped in two ground balls and a caused turnover for the Patriots.
The Patriots are back in action on Thursday, traveling to North Penn for an SOL National game at 3:30 p.m.
It was the first loss of the season for the Titans (1-1, 0-1).
“Every time we play them, we always feel like we can win and feel like we can pull off the upset,” said CB South junior defenseman John Henson, a team captain. “They’re a great team and they work hard and next year we’re coming for them.”
Henson, who is also an outside linebacker on the football team, ended the game with three ground balls and two caused turnovers.
“We’re a good mix of younger and older players and we definitely improved from last year,” he said. “It’s so early in the season and I definitely feel we’re heading in the right direction.
I’d like to see us make the playoffs and stay together as a team for the whole season, and I think we’re capable of that. I’m very excited about how we look and I have a good feeling about us.”
The Titans opened the season with a thrilling 10-9 come-from-behind win over Abington. Reese Levinson netted the winner with 16 seconds left in the game.
“We had a great comeback win and that was a real confidence boost for us,” Henson said. “It was our first of the season and I think we played really well.”
Anthony Depedro won four of six face offs, picked up six ground balls and had two caused turnovers, James Vargason contributed three ground ball and two caused turnovers, Friedman and Matt Crouch each added three ground balls, Liam Goss went 4-for-6 in the faceoff circle and had two ground balls, Colm McCreary had two ground balls and one caused turnover and Dom Varacollo made seven saves in goal for the Titans.
CB South is on the road for a non-league game at Springfield (M) on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
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