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Attack trio sends GA past Episcopal

Under cloudy skies and steady rain, Germantown Academy received an offensive explosion from its front three and completed the first half of its Inter-Ac League boys' lacrosse schedule with a 14-8 victory Tuesday at Episcopal Academy.

Episcopal Academy's Samuel Lawlor and Germantown Academy's Nick Zaharchuk go after a loose ball. (Michael S. Wirtz/Staff Photographer)
Episcopal Academy's Samuel Lawlor and Germantown Academy's Nick Zaharchuk go after a loose ball. (Michael S. Wirtz/Staff Photographer)Read more

Under cloudy skies and steady rain, Germantown Academy received an offensive explosion from its front three and completed the first half of its Inter-Ac League boys' lacrosse schedule with a 14-8 victory Tuesday at Episcopal Academy.

The attack trio of senior captain Beau Jones and juniors Reid Weber and Billy Oppenhiemer combined for 10 goals.

Coach David Martin said the three have learned to mesh their different styles to become a unit that isn't concerned with individual goals on a score sheet.

Weber scored four of his game-high six goals in the first half, including a slick transition goal set up by what Weber called an "unbelievable play" by defenseman Sean Robbins.

An errant pass from the Episcopal offensive end rolled toward midfield and was recovered by Jones, who then found an open Robbins. The senior got the defender to slide over, which led to Weber being open to the right of the net.

Weber put the Patriots (9-1 overall, 3-1 league) ahead by 3-0 with 3 minutes, 55 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

"They're tremendous. They really know how to look for each other on the field," Martin said.

The weather didn't hinder the Patriots but instead, Weber said, helped them, as they're used to the rain.

"We like it. It gets us into a zone," Weber said.

The Patriots defense, led by four seniors, played aggressively throughout the game, leading to short-lived Episcopal offensive sets.

Martin said the group is strong and experienced and consistently plays solid defense against the league's top teams.

The defensive intensity complemented the patience the Patriots showed at the other end of the field.

To counteract the Churchmen's zone defense, GA played long offensive sets to "make the zone move," Martin said. The Patriots calmly passed the ball until a shot opened up.

In the fourth quarter, Episcopal (3-6, 0-4) clawed back into the game, scoring four straight goals to get to within 11-7. Shane Morrell scored two of his team-high four goals in that stretch.

Weber then shut the door on the comeback, scoring two goals. He said the situation reminded him of a game earlier this month against Collegiate (Va.), where Germantown Academy watched its seven-goal lead dwindle to just one before holding on to win, 11-10.

After the Patriots built the lead back to seven, Weber's intensity never diminished, as he crashed into the net on a wraparound shot attempt. This caused his finger to split open and later bruise, and Martin removed him from the game.

"I didn't want to let down," Weber said. "We weren't going to let that happen again."

Germantown Academy   3614-14

Episcopal Academy   1115-8

Goals: GA-Beau Jones 2, Billy Oppenhiemer 2, George Robinson 4, Reid Weber 6; EA-Shane Morrell 4, Tyler Odell 3, Ian Strain.

Saves: GA-Jake Adoni 9; EA-Tyler Morrell 13.