Boys lacrosse prepares for battle this season

After an upsetting loss against Wando in the State Championship last year, Nation Ford Lacrosse looks to get their revenge by coming back better than ever this season, starting with their season opener against Catawba Ridge at home Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.

Nation Ford’s Lacrosse team held a 14-0 record during the 2022 regular season led by Head Coach Cory Turner. The team played the Wando Warrior’s in the final game last season, losing the game 21-9. 

As the focus shifts to this season, Coach Turner has a positive outlook.

“We overachieved a lot last year. I don’t think anyone saw it coming,” Coach Turner said.  “This year we are only bigger, stronger, and faster.”

The team isn’t the only thing that is stronger this season, so is their schedule. 

They set off to face Dutch Fork, Oceanside, and Lucy Beckham–the number one ranked lacrosse team in South Carolina. Out of these games, Dutch Fork will be the only game played at home.

The players have high hopes for this season.

“We are staying focused–we want revenge for what happened last year,” midfielder Aiden Witkopf (‘24) said. 

Defensive midfielder Greg Hagerty (‘23) added that going back to the State Championship and winning this year has been pushing them to give it their all this season.

“After watching all the hard work the team put in last season end in a 21-9 loss, how could we not be motivated for this season?” Hagerty said.

Goalkeeper Owen Collette (‘23) , who was one of the players on the field during the game last year, agrees. 

“It was heartbreaking to be put in that position after the blood, sweat, and tears that we put into the season,” he said. “We all wanted it so bad and for us to go down like that killed our spirits.”

A big fan turnout of last year during the playoffs, student athletes are hoping fans continue to come out.“The fans being there made us feel pressure to win,” Collette, who is now team captain, said. “We usually start flat but with the fans, we came out hot.” 

The Nation Ford Lacrosse team is the team to beat this year.