Big Mac Lacrosse Team Slays Knoch Knights

By Gary Beam

The Canon-McMillan High School lacrosse team traveled to Saxonburg Monday afternoon in a rematch with the Knoch Knights. The two teams faced each other on April 4 at Canon-McMillan Memorial Stadium, a match the Big Macs dominated by a final score of 17-2.

However, as the brokerage company ads goes; ”Past results to not ensure future outcomes,” so also goes WPIAL high school lacrosse.

All-day rains made the field extremely muddy and slippery but that didn’t seem to affect either team’s offenses. In a game that featured a staggering 86 shots, 50 which found their way on goal, and 26 of those resulting in goals, the Big Macs bested the Knights by a final score of 15-11.

Knoch held leads on three occasions, the latest being past the half-way mark of the third quarter, but Canon-Mac scored eight of the final 11 goals to wrestle away the victory.

Sophomore Ben Ward led the Big Mac attack with five goals and three assists, while this year’s only senior, Richie Leeds, netted an additional four tallies. Connor Niemeyer added two goals and three assists while Nick Carr pitched in with a goal and two assists. The other scorers for Canon-McMillan were Josh Minor, Zach Moore and Evan Crompton.

After missing the prior six games, Crompton returned to show his prowess in taking face-offs by winning 22 of 29 attempts. In addition, he and Ward each gobbled up 17 ground balls, giving the Big Macs both field position and clock possession throughout the game.

The win boosts the Big Macs record to 11-3 overall, with only four games remaining on the 2013 regular season schedule.

Canon-McMillan returns home tonight, Wednesday, May 1—which is Senior Night—against Division 2-Section 2 rival Baldwin in an important contest that may well determine the Big Macs future for this year’s playoffs.