'Stangs learning the ropes
Mustangs easily take down Prairie View 19-1; younger, inexperienced group is improving and learning to play as a team' sophomore Karr scored 4 goals.
As Mullen boys lacrosse attempts to climb to prominence, the little steps seem large.
After getting waxed by Monarch in their opener, the Mustangs have responded with consecutive blowouts of their own. On Wednesday night, they pummeled Prairie View 19-1 in nonleague at Brother Bernard Kinneavy Field at De La Salle Stadium.
Throw in the fact that the Mustangs, now 2-1, are above .500 for the first time since winning their 2018 opener and progress is being made … and it’s welcomed.
“The biggest thing,” Mullen head coach Matt Cawley said, “is we’re coming together as a team and learning to play with each other.”
The Mustangs cruised to a 16-1 halftime lead in deciding things relatively early.
Ethan Karr led the way with four goals and had lots of help. Trevor Price scored three times and Nicky Bond, Ethan Muller, Keegan Quinn and Connor Warren each had two. Adam Archibald, Chris Bougie, Luke Dempsey and Luke Desautels also got into the scoring act.
Cawley cited the scorers as well as Lance Hart on defense, and Bougie, Muller and Adam Archibald as “middies who were sound on defense.” The coach also noted the importance of Max Thomason’s face-off work.
“We have a predominantly new team and we’re doing a phenomenal job,” Cawley added. “I’d like to see us do better throwing and catching, but we’re improving.”
Karr, a sophomore on attack, said “our team moved the ball well. Our cutters were open and we were finding them. We’re getting into the flow.”
Certainly, the Mustangs’ last two opponents (Northridge is the other), who were outscored by a combined 31-2, aren’t of the highest quality in the classification, Karr knows, but “we did what we needed to do.”
That mentality will be needed. Even in the shorter and new Season D, the Mustangs will have an unusually long break before their next match. They won’t play for nine days. A roadie at Smoky Hill is scheduled for Friday, May 21, 5:30 p.m.
“So we’ll use the (idle) time to work,” Cawley said.
MULLEN 19, PRAIRIE VIEW 1
Prairie View 1 0 -- 1
Mullen 16 3 -- 19
Mullen goals – Ethan Karr 4, Trevor Price 3, Nicky Bond 2, Ethan Muller 2, Keegan Quinn 2, Connor Warren 2, Adam Archibald, Chris Bougie, Luke Dempsey, Luke Desautels.
Mullen assists – Nicky Bond 2, Keegan Quinn 2, Chris Bougie, Eoin Canavan.
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