Coming down hard on a fast break, Dan Evans ’08 caught a well-aimed pass and buried the ball in the back of the net for what was to be the final goal in an 8-5 win over Kimball Union Academy last Saturday. The Boys Varsity Lacrosse Team turned around their season substantially this week, going 3-0 and producing great offense while also allowing very few goals. Last Saturday, Andover faced a strong Kimball Union team on home turf in the stadium. Coming into the game, Kimball Union had beaten both Exeter and Holderness, two very strong teams, each only having two losses on their schedule. Andover went into this game coming off a 1-1 week, losing to Loomis under the lights and then winning against Worcester Academy the following game. Both teams knew that they would have to work hard to outplay their respective opponents. Fortunately, the Andover offense, lead by Jack Walker ’09, overpowered K.U.A.’s defense while Andover’s defense calmly shut down Kimball Union’s strong offense. When the final whistle blew, Andover was ahead with a score of 7-4. Coming out of the game, Andover knew it was one of the best games they had played all season. “Our offense looked better than ever, and our defense played very well. The intensity and focus of the team was also much better. Everything seemed to run very smoothly for us,” reflects Co-Captain John Bukawyn ’08. The next task on Andover’s list was facing a Tilton squad. Traditionally not known for their lacrosse, Tilton is still very competitive and always gives Andover a very physical game. Throughout the game, Andover maintained very steady, lengthy possessions, often taking up four or five minutes at a time. Despite the severe advantage Andover had in time of possession, the offense could not seem to find the back of the net as many people missed scoring opportunities on the doorstep. Meanwhile, Andover’s defense shut Tilton out in an impressive fashion, only allowing eight shots while also causing many turn-overs. Overall, Andover played very well and recorded another win with the game ending in a score of 7-0. This past Wednesday, Andover competed against a strong Moses Brown team. Moses Brown came equipped with a good goalie and a very skilled roster, ready to play Andover in what turned out to be a great game. Andover and Moses Brown traded off goals and possessions for most of the first half, with the score being tied at 3-3 going into halftime. Moses Brown’s goalie kept them in the game, recording many doorstop saves. In the third quarter, Andover’s offense scored four unanswered goals to make the score 7-3. The fourth quarter was very uneventful as both teams failed to capitalize on offensive opportunities despite lengthy possessions, and the game ended with a final score of 7-3. Despite winning, Andover has much to improve on, including its penalty control and finishing. This Saturday, Andover will make the long drive down to Connecticut to face a strong Choate squad.
