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Annandale's identity crisis
It's hard to attend a lacrosse game at Annandale High School without realizing where the school's tradition lies, as a face-smacking wall of signage around the football field commemorates the school's six state titles on the gridiron.But instead of fighting the stigma that the Atoms have been in a football frenzy since the school opened its doors in 1954, the boys and girls lacrosse teams have embraced the relationship.
“We want competitors,” said Annandale boys lacrosse coach Bill Maglisceau, who is also the head freshman football coach. “We want guys who are trying to sink the free throw, trying to pin a guy on the mat and trying to go for two when we need it after a touchdown.”
While the Annandale girls lacrosse team won't be sending over any offensive linemen in the fall, coach Cindy Hook's squad has accumulated a 14-2 overall record, giving many red-and-white clad fans something else to get fired up about.
“Football is definitely a fall sport, and Annandale still is very much supportive of its football team,” said Hook, “but we need some excitement in the spring as well.”
The correlation between football and lacrosse was on perfect display during the boys lacrosse team's 9-4 win over West Springfield Monday night in the semifinals of the Patriot District tournament. Senior attack Matt Johnson scored eight goals in the game -- six in the first half -- as Annandale advanced to the tournament final for the second consecutive year.
Johnson, who was the football team's No. 1 wide receiver in the fall, while also playing defensive back and kicker, will play lacrosse at Division III Washington-Lee University in Lexington, Va. next spring.
Johnson was “feeling his shot” on Monday, which meant that he was able to fire the ball on target from both sides of his body. Maglisceau also made his own tactical adjustment after an 8-7 loss to West Springfield on April 9, urging his players to initiate their offense from in front of the cage, rather than from behind it.
“Coach [Dick] Adams may kill me, but I do have to say that I like lacrosse more,” admitted Johnson, while referencing current football coach Dick Adams, who led Annandale to a pair of state football titles in 1993 and 1994. “In football, I don't know when I'm going to get the ball, but during lacrosse, I always want to get the ball and go to the goal.”
The Annandale girls lacrosse team, who posted a perfect 7-0 mark in Patriot District play for the first time since the school adopted the sport in the 1990s, has a roster that includes only three seniors, meaning Hook's already-successful squad is also primed and ready for the future.
Hook's team adopted the mantra of “Teamwork Done Right” prior to the season, saying that it included everything that they'd want to accomplish.
“What's gotten us through this really successful season has really been a complete focus and dedication on all the little things that will lead us to 'Teamwork Done Right,'” added Hook, whose team scores an average of 15.6 goals per game. “It's been really fun to watch the team grow closer together.”
Not only does the saying synopsize all that is necessary to win in any team sport, but it further illustrates the point that eight different Atoms have scored 10 or more goals this season.
“The winning tradition is really an attitude and a way of doing things,” said Hook, whose team will face West Springfield in the district tournament final on Thursday. “When the whole athletic department is committed to excellence and working hard, it makes it that much easier to get your team on board.”
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