Boys lacrosse set for MCT
By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
The Lawrence High School boys lacrosse team has faced growing pains this year, but the Cardinals have a golden chance to show improvement.
After squaring off with local rival Notre Dame today, the Cardinals open the Mercer County Tournament as the No. 11 seed at sixth-seeded Hightstown on Saturday.
”We went to triple overtime with them a couple weeks ago,” said LHS head coach Anthony Ammirata. “We had a hit post in overtime and they came back the other way and scored. So the game could have gone either way. Hightstown plays with great emotion. That’s what carried them against us. We have to play with that emotion. They have four or five wins. They have momentum on their side.”
Lawrence is trying to build momentum, something that they could do by avenging the earlier loss to the Rams.
”We have some winnable games,” Ammirata said. “They’re all going to be competitive. We have New Egypt, Robbinsville, Rancocas Valley. We have to want to win. I don’t think we know how to win. The games are there. We have to compete. I don’t know if it’ll change, but I’m hoping it will.”
After narrowly missing knocking off Hightstown the first time, the Cardinals had to wait until last Friday to pick up their first win of the season, 14-3, over Hamilton. Hamilton is one of just three teams that the Cardinals have played with a losing record going into Wednesday’s scheduled games.
”We did what we had to do,” Ammirata said of the first win this season. “We didn’t really struggle. We asserted ourselves in the second and third quarter. That was nice to see.”
Collin Anderson had three goals and four assists. Ryan Janoska scored five goals and Dave Koellner had four goals. Koellner had two goals in LHS’ 13-6 loss to Ranney on Tuesday, but has moved within 20 of scoring his 200th career point. Both have shown they can help LHS wherever they play on the field. Janoska started in the midfield but has moved to attack.
”He was feeling his way around last year,” Ammirata said. “We’ve changed our lineup around. We switched Koellner to midfield. Ryan is gifted with great athleticism. He’s full speed on the first step. He could be very good. He’s only a sophomore. He’s still learning the game, like many of them.”
Ammirata had hoped his young players would pick up the game quicker, but so far progress has been slower than expected.
”We just made too many mistakes,” Ammirata said. “That’s our M.O. We can’t put things together. We have so many unforced errors, and most of them turn into goals.”
It’s made it hard for the defense to slow teams’ runs. The defense, though, has the experience to become a stronger unit.
”We have some good kids,” Ammirata said. “Steve Parson is a good kid. Steve Mitchell is a good kid. But they’re playing defense too much. We’re turning the ball over. Our inability to clear the ball from our zone is hurting us. It’s putting us in compromising positions. And our goalies have to improve. They’re letting them score on too many outside shots.”
There are corrections to be made up and down the field. The Cardinals can gain some much needed confidence with a win in their MCT opener.
”We’re trying to mix it up,” Ammirata said. “We’re running out of time. We’re trying to find chemistry that works for us.”

