TJ/South team up to battle formidable foes on difficult road to playoffs.
Boys' Lacrosse season has begun and the TJ/South squad is looking to make their presence felt. photo by Kevin Fleming
The joint team of TJ and South Boys Lacrosse started its season in non-league play versus Overland, Rangeview and Eaglecrest High Schools. Each program has a talented and experienced team, and imposed problems for the Titans.
For a season debut, the boys hopped on the bus and took a trip down to Aurora and had a tough run of it, losing 9-2. Senior Boris Tubic feels the game could have gone better. “It’s simple, we allowed some goals we shouldn’t have and our offense couldn’t make anything happen after the first quarter,” said Tubic. After scoring two in the first, the Titans then allowed eight unanswered goals before the clock hit double zero.
Next up was another road contest against the Rangeview Raiders that resulted in the Titans’ in the first win of the season. The Titans were consistent throughout, playing tough defense when their lead was on the line, and putting it in the net when the Raiders crept close. “All in all we did good; we won and that’s all that matters,” commented Tubic. For the Titans, who have a tough league schedule and play perennial top-five teams East and Kent Denver, getting as many early season wins is critical to their playoff hopes.
For their first home game of the season the Raptors stepped onto All-City field to mix it up with the Titans in a game that could have gone either way. It was a tight one throughout and it was a game that came down to who could play better defense. In the end, the Raptors outscored the Titans in the fourth quarter and snuck out of the All-City parking lot with a win. “We are a good team, but we need to pick it up. Our record is 1-2, today we just could not finish our game the way we needed to,” said Tubic.
The South/TJ Titans returned to action this past week with three more contests, but not all three ended favorably.
The Titans started off with a bang, when they took a short trip down Hampden to take on the Pirates of Englewood. The defense was all over the place, as they were able to secure the clean sheet, their first of the season. The offense was clicking as well, as they scored throughout, enabling the mercy rule with a final score of 17-0. “It was a good win for us. We just need to be more consistent,” said Senior Boris Tubic.
The Titans then caught the bus to Westminster to take on Front Range High School. The game was ugly from the beginning for the Titans, giving up goals almost at will to the Mustangs. With a final score of 12-3, it was hard to find the silver lining. “We played bad, plain and simple. We will lose to anyone when we play that bad,” commented Tubic.
With just one more game heading into the spring break, the Titans headed into their game versus Valor Christian with the mindset of getting a W in order to improve their season record to 3-3. Towards the beginning it was close, with the Titans only trailing by two at half. Yet not being able to score plagued the Titans and doomed them to their second straight loss, and fourth of the season. “When the ball is on our half the entire time, we are not going to score. That’s what happened,” said a Frustrated Tubic.
With their next game not until March 31st, the Titans have plenty of time to regroup, but a quick turn around will be vital to the Titans’ hopes to keeping their chance at the playoffs alive.
