Hill School breezes past Wyoming Seminary, 17-4
The blue sky was spotless, and so very nearly was the Hill School lacrosse team in the first half on a postcard-perfect Thursday afternoon at Harry Price Turf Field.
Wyoming Seminary traveled 90 miles from the Poconos (Kingston, PA) to find itself out of the game quickly. The Blues played with purpose, passion and precision in going up 13-1 by halftime over the previously unbeaten Knights, and from there it was academic as Hill School romped to a 17-4 victory.
Eight players scored for The Hill (3-3), and five generated multiple-goal games, led by Drexel-scholarship-bound attacker Jake Saenz’s four and three each from midfielders JJ Pickard and Matt Krick. Six Hill School players doled two assists.
It was a big share-the-wealth day for a team with plenty of firepower.
“We moved the ball around well, especially in the first half we did a good job of that,” said midfielder Kurt Neumaier. “It’s the most goals we’ve scored this year and I thought we looked good offensively. We were all on the same page, and that’s always a good feeling.”
The Rams dominated possession time throughout the first half. Saenz scored the first two goals on assists from Aidan Coll and Neumaier. Pickard’s laser from the right box off a pass from Saenz made it 3-zip with 7:36 still to play in the first quarter.
David Nape got the Knights (6-1) on the board about a minute later on a rebound, but the Blues’ excellent defense thwarted two near attacks and, as a group, the Blues just kept pounding the net with a patient yet persistent offensive attack. Coll mentioned that talented Hill goalie Drew Hutchison often “stands on his head” in games, but on this afternoon he didn’t have to.
“We knew they were a talented team and looking to knock us off,” Saenz said. “The big thing was staying disciplined and playing our game, keeping the offense flowing and the defense stout and poised. I think it was a good day for all of us. We really executed our coach’s game plan.”
“Our guys did well, did what they were supposed to do and made good decisions,” said Hill School coach Dave Mullen.
Neumaier scored on an assist from Wes Shaw, and in the last 3:41 of the first quarter starting with Coll’s goal, the Blues lit up the board three more times for a 7-1 lead. Pickard struck just 1:08 into the second quarter on an assist from Kevin Cummings and the floodgates opened under the clear sky.
The Knights got a little more going in the third quarter but each of their goals were answered by Hill School. Now with some huge games coming up, Hill School looks to build consistency on both sides of the field.
Within the next three weeks, the Blues will face three Mid-Atlantic Prep League rivals who each defeated them by one goal last season — Princeton Day School, Lawrenceville and Hun. Plenty of motivation for these measuring-stick games.
“We’ve been up and down but we’re hoping to keep it going,” Coll said. “Our goal is to get a run together.”
“What we’re trying to accomplish is be consistent within ourselves, doing what we’ve got to do and not as much focusing on the other roster,” Mullen said. “We’re trying to get that dialed in.”
