Just about the only thing that really went wrong for Blue Ridge’s boys lacrosse team Tuesday is that they let first year head coach Nic Bell fill up the gas tank on the bus. Bell fueled up with diesel — the correct fuel for every other bus he’s driven this year — when the bus needed unleaded.
“That’s just a real rookie coaching move right there,” Bell said.
It was the only real rookie move he made all day as the Barons punched their ticket to the Division II state semifinals with a 13-10 victory over Cape Henry Collegiate in Virginia Beach.
As per usual, Matt Delmonico ignited the Barons’ offensive attack, pouring in 7 goals and registering an assist, but, also as per usual, it took the attackman and the Barons’ offense to get going. Cape Henry jumped out to a 2-1 lead as the Barons narrowly missed a couple of goals by hitting the pipe, but Blue Ridge recovered quickly, scratching together an 8-4 lead by the end of the first half.
The third quarter was a nightmare though for the Barons, as they struggled to win faceoffs and allowed Cape Henry to rip off six straight goals to start the frame. Somehow they snapped out of that funk, and evened the score at 10-10 going into the fourth.
Blue Ridge took control from there, with defenseman Kody TeKanawa spearheading the effort on clears and also shut his man down while putting together what Bell called TeKanawa’s biggest performance of the year. TeKanawa also came up with an assist, finding Andrew Pochter on a backbreaking score that gave the Barons a two-goal lead with 4:30 to play.
Zak Folks finished with three assists on the day while Bubba Delaney registered four goals and an assist. Khalif Dandy had a goal and an assist.
And, because of their coach’s fuel choice, the Barons got to celebrate their state semifinal berth in a hotel in Williamsburg rather than on a long bus ride back to St. George. Athletic Director Carl Frye will drive east to rescue the marooned squad Wednesday, and the Barons won’t be done traveling for the week either. They’ve got a rematch with Highland, who beat Blue Ridge 14-11 earlier in the year, Thursday in the state semifinals.
