It might not look or feel like Spring but the calendar says it is and that means it’s time once again for the fastest game on two feet, Chelsea Lacrosse. The Bulldogs varsity team will be hosting the Pinckney Pirates on Thursday, the fifth of April under the lights on Jerry Niehaus Field in the Chelsea football stadium. Game time is 7 P.M.
The Bulldogs are a very young team after graduating several skilled players last year including Nate Bero, Mikal Nelson, Nick Whitesall, and goalkeeper Josh Ciaccio. Nelson is lending his skills to the Chelsea Middle School team as one of the teams coaches this season.
But Bulldog Head Coach Joe Koengeter is bringing back several good young players including the high scoring Junior Cam Breining and the speedster Sophomore Riley Sumner. Albeit it is a very young team, with 6 underclassmen on it, Koengeter, along with his coaching staff of assistant coaches Andy Christofferson and Eric Newman, will be able to handle it with ease as they’ve been in this situation before. Koengeter, in his 7th year as Chelsea LAX Head Coach, has always been able to encourage and help his players do more and achieve more than many expect. His positive words towards them from the sidelines always help them give their best.
One big question mark for the Bulldogs in 2018 will be how well the defense steps up and how much the former goalkeeper Ciaccio will be missed. He left quite a mark on the program in many positive ways.
The Bulldogs will look to be stronger this year on the faceoffs as ball control is very essential and Junior Sam Peterson will be the one mostly challenging other teams for that control. Peterson has spent a lot of time in the offseason working on his draws and has spent a lot playing winter lax, along with many of his teammates. The camaraderie between the players should really show as the season goes along.
Leading the way to help guide the younger players are 3 returning seniors in Max Gervais, Spencer Gobba, and Evan Kucera. Riley Watkin is the 4th senior on the team. The coaches will be looking for these players to be leaders on and off the field.
The Bulldogs will be looking to improve on last years performance where they lost many very close games against some tough competitors, many against bigger schools. But the Bulldogs don’t back down from anyone and no matter what will give their best even if it mean battling in freezing cold.