The FVHS mens lacrosse team won their home opener game on Friday, Feb. 28, against Swansboro High School, 14-6. The Bengals controlled the pace of the game from the first whistle, showcasing a crazy offensive, strong defensive, and a dominant faceoff circle. Coach Brad Wheeler also made sure to incorporate all 35 players, making sure that everyone got an opportunity for playing time.
“It feels so good to be on the lacrosse team this season. Even when I’m not playing it’s good to watch and learn from my teammates,” said junior Nadeem Elazzy. “I started playing this year because I saw all of my close friends on the team, and I wanted to play with them.”
Senior Connor Castle was unstoppable, leading the Bengals’ scoring efforts with six goals, and two assists, while contributing to eight points. Castle was aggressive in the attack, taking 15 shots in total all game, 10 of which were on goal, finishing with a .400 shot percentage. His ability to find the net consistently no matter the defensive position Swansboro took made him the biggest offensive threat of the night.
Senior Connor Everett also played a major role, netting four goals and adding one assist to finish five points. Everett matched Castle in shot attempts with 15 total, eight of which were on target. Everett showed his ability to create scoring opportunities even under defensive pressure.
Junior Ty Halle had an outstanding game as well, scoring three goals, and assisting on another. Halle was efficient with his opportunities and aggressive in his attack, taking six total shots, three of which were on goal. Halle ended the game with an impressive .500 shooting percentage.
“My parents got me into lacrosse in fifth grade, and I’ve always had fun doing it. So when I moved up from Florida, I continued that here,” said Ty Halle. “Our varsity team is pretty good this season, every player got in on Friday, yet we still won. Which just goes to show that when the seniors leave, yes we’ll be losing a lot of good people, but we will still have some left that will step up and play hard.”
Senior Carson Bilger rounded out the scoring for Fuquay-Varina, netting one goal on his lone shot attempt, then hitting an insane backflip. This made Bilger the most efficient shooter of the night with a perfect 1.000 shooting percentage.
In total the Bengals racked up 14 goals with 49 total shots, 30 of those being on target. Their offensive efficiency showed both their aggressive approach and their ability to break down Swansboro’s defense.
A major factor in the Bengals’ ability to control possession and set the tempo was due to the performance of senior Nicholas Ratnesar at the faceoff. Ratnesar won the vast majority of his faceoffs, allowing the Bengals to dictate play and keep Swansboro on defense for most of the game. His dominance in faceoffs gave the Bengals consistent scoring opportunities and prevented Swansboro from gaining any real momentum.
While our scoring leaders made the most significant impact, other players stepped up to contribute in various ways. Junior Logan Tremblay added an assist, helping facilitate their strong offensive attack. Sophomore Ben Cole and senior Joseph Perez each created pressure with key shot attempts, while sophomore Landon Santora and freshman Chase Halle also found opportunities to challenge Swansboro’s defense.
“It feels good to be a freshman starter, but I’ve been playing since third grade. So I’ve definitely put in the work on the field. I was nervous before my first game, but after playing a few you start to get into a groove, gaining confidence in yourself against others,” said freshman Chase Halle. “However, being matched up against seniors that are going to college for lacrosse, is definitely scary and challenging.”
The Bengals’ dominant performance was a direct result of their hardwork and dedication leading up to the season. The team has spent countless hours refining their skills, improving their chemistry, and preparing for tough competition. Their ability to execute on offense, dominate faceoffs and overpower on defense, proves that they are ready to compete this season.
With a strong season opener under their belt, Fuquay-Varina will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for their next matchup on Thursday, Mar. 6, at home versus Wake Forest High School.
