Hood review
This entry kicks off a series taking a look at each of the seven Division III programs in this state according to their order of finish from last season. The Sun’s lacrosse preview is slated to be published on Thursday, Feb. 17. Today is Hood’s turn.
Overview: The Blazers achieved a plethora of goals, including a school record six wins last spring. But the team is still searching for its first victory in the Capital Athletic Conference, and that task now belongs to Jeremy Mattoon, who succeeds Curt Foxx who resigned in June to take the same position at Hendrix College in Conway, Ark. Mattoon guided Hussoon to a 14-7 record in two seasons. Can he achieve a similar level of success at Hood?
Reason for optimism: The Blazers lost just one starter to graduation, and the returning nine starters have experienced the highs and lows of the program. Mattoon said he will lean on those veterans to set an example for the younger players. “The luxury is we’re going to put guys on the field who know exactly what they’re getting themselves into,” he said. “We are top-heavy. We have seven seniors – six will play a significant amount of time. We’ll play another five or six juniors. We are an experienced team. We are a team that is used to winning, but they aren’t used to playing at a level that we need to win games. … We will be driven by our seniors. Our seniors will lead us. Our seniors will take us where we need to go because they have a tremendous constitution.”
Reason for pessimism: Mattoon is the third different head coach for the senior class, and he acknowledged that his first objective was convincing the players to buy into his philosophy. Indications are that Mattoon will install a fast-paced scheme that will seek to take advantage of the transition game, and Mattoon said the players have bought into the change. “The challenge was to win over 35 players that, if I was a guy on the team, I would have some skepticism about bringing in another guy, another staff, another idea, another game plan,” he said. “And oh by the way, you have to play in the toughest conference in the country. Not only do we have to prepare them for what we’re trying to do, but we also have to get them ready to say, ‘OK, we don’t want to be a doormat anymore.’ We think we can be good if we work hard, so we kind of have to mentally convince them of that. It’s tough.”
Keep an eye on: William Lane made 14 starts in the net last year, but the sophomore is not a lock to begin in the same position when the season opens on Feb. 22. Senior Nicholas O’Brien and sophomore John Martin have turned the preseason into a three-horse race for the spot. “We have three goalies that we think are very good, and they’re all going to get playing time this year,” Mattoon said. “I can’t give you a starter because in all honesty, I haven’t named a starter. I think we have two very good sophomores and a senior who was our only goalie this fall. So he [O’Brien] played every minute in the fall because one of them played soccer and the other one was out for the fall. They’re all back, and I think they’re all playing very well.”
What he said: The attack is in good hands with juniors Corey Roberts (24 goals and 5 assists) and Scott Thompson (24, 5), but Mattoon is high on senior Kris Miner joining that duo. “He’s a captain who’s got a ton of potential,” Mattoon said of Miner. “He’s fought injuries his whole career at Hood. I think he had a broken wrist here last year and missed six or eight games. … Miner’s going to really have to be our guy.”
