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"We're just happy to be playing and we're playing hard," said Trojans coach Brendan Carney. "We're kind of streaky but it's a good run to go on before the playoffs."
Weston dominated every facet of the game, outshooting Notre Dame, 40-16. The Trojans took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on goals by senior co-captain Jeff Ledwick, sophomore Brian Rogers (two goals, one ground ball) and junior Alex Scher (two goals, one assist).
Ledwick, who has been on fire of late, finished the game with four goals on six shots and added two goals in the second quarter to give Weston a 5-1 halftime lead. Junior Marc Miller scored for Notre Dame in the second quarter.
"A lot of off-ball movement, finding the seams in the defense and other people initiating, which freed me up," said Ledwick.
The Trojans were stingy on defense with junior Sam Crowell (six ground balls) leading the way.
"It came from our goalie and playing as a team," said Crowell. "We played a
Weston junior goalie Josh Briskman (14 saves) played like an All-Star, robbing Lancers senior tri-captain Anthony Capelli, Miller and senior Kevin Conniff. He made saves from point blank range.
"The defense did a great job with ground balls and kept Notre Dame away from the cage," said Briskman. "I guess it was just luck of the draw. Coach has been working a lot with me in getting me ready."
Seniors Robbie Glascott (four ground balls), Doug Curtis (two ground balls), Ben Miller (two ground balls) and Matt McMahon (one ground ball), junior Adam Block (excellent checks) and sophomores Tucker Drimal (three ground balls), Andrew Baron (two ground balls) and Will Miller (one ground ball) kept Notre Dame's attack at bay. Their defensive prowess enabled Weston to keep the ball in the attack zone all game. Crowell, Baron and Scher intercepted passes.
However, the Trojans didn't put it away because of Lancers senior tri-captain goalie Joe Banno (26 saves). Banno kept Notre Dame in the game in the first half, making saves on juniors Sean Ledwick (two assists, two ground balls), Peter Smith (one goal, two ground balls) and Jon Figliola (one assist), Jeff Ledwick and sophomore Morgan Faller (two assists, one ground ball).
Although the Trojans led at the break, Carney wasn't pleased with their effort and let them know during the break. His pep talk worked.
"We came out flat but the kids answered in the third quarter," said Carney. "We just had to refocus and realize we're a good team."
Weston senior co-captain Dylan Hannum (one goal, one ground ball), helped with draw controls, winning nine of them. Hannum picked up loose balls all game and opened the second half by running downfield and scoring with 11:19 remaining in the third quarter, making it 6-1.
"We need to get out of the gate faster in order to do well at SWCs and States," said Hannum. "We played good defense and once we got the offense going, we took the shots."
The Trojans added four more goals in the quarter with senior Nick Figliola scoring twice and Jeff Ledwick and Smith garnering the other tallies. Nick Figliola assisted on Smith's goal, Sean Ledwick set up his brother's goal and both Ledwicks set up a Figliola goal.
It was a career night for Nick Figliola, who finished the game with four goals, adding two more in the fourth quarter.
"We were just moving the ball and getting open and I found the open shot," said Nick Figliola. "I got great looks from Jeff, my brother and Peter and all I had to do was finish."
Jeff Ledwick was a playmaker, finishing the night with three assists.
"Nick did a good job of moving to the open slot and it made easy for me to pass it to him," said Jeff Ledwick.
Smith and Scher also scored in the quarter. Weston hopes to remain torrid and all signs are pointing in this direction.
