BYU Runs Past Montana GrizzliesBy RMLC on Saturday, March 13th, 2010

BYU Runs Past Montana Grizzlies

PROVO, UT- The BYU Men’s Lacrosse team ran away with a 29-2 victory Saturday night against the Montana Grizzlies at the North University Fields on the Brigham Young University campus.
 
The game will be remembered as one of the snowiest games the Cougar lacrosse team has been apart of. The snow started to fall before the game, and didn’t stop during it, making for an

Sophomore Jacob Houghton dodges in the snowy conditions 

interesting game with some unorthodox play.

With the field freshly plowed, the teams traded possessions to start the game. Both teams struggled to find their footing, and both teams had unforced turnovers as vision was severely impaired by the falling snow. With the conditions making play difficult, the Cougars had to change up their strategy to accommodate for the weather.

“We talked to the guys about understanding the conditions and making the smart play based on those conditions,” said Assistant Coach Jordan Harris. “We knew we wouldn’t be able to get great passing looks with the snow falling the way it was in the first quarter, so Coach Schneck told the guys to beat them with our legs.”

Sophomore Midfielder Kent Mann took the advice to heart, taking a hard dodge from the top of the box followed by a shot that beat the Grizzly goalie low.

The Cougars continued to use the conditions to their advantage on offense with unassisted goals from Sophomore Midfielder Jared Houghton and Sophomore Attackman Core Gunderson to put the Cougars up 3-0 early in the game.

With the snow coming down hard both teams clearing game suffered. Vision was impaired for everyone, and on one Montana clear everyone, including the refs, lost track of a pass that caused confusion for both teams as they hunted for the ball in the snow.

The field getting plowed during halftime 

As the Cougars became more comfortable with the conditions, the ball started to find the back of the net more frequently. BYU would score 13 unanswered goals, with Mann chipping in two more. Sophomore Andrew Harding, Senior Elliot Grow, and Sophomore Tyson Poole each added two goals a piece during the run to help the Cougars jump out to a 13-1 lead going into halftime.

The Cougar’s tenacious ride helped keep the momentum in their favor, forcing Montana into several clearing turnovers.

“We knew that regardless of the conditions we could be smart,” said Harris. “Our riding game is based on variety, positioning and effort. All three of those you can bring regardless of the conditions, which we did tonight.”

With the snow letting up and the fields plowed again at halftime, the conditions became more conducive to traditional lacrosse in the second half.  The Cougars relied on some of their younger talent to lead the way, and the youth responded with a 16 goal run to end the game.

Freshman Midfielder Barrett Johnson continued his hot streak, putting in 4 goals for the Cougars to extend his goal streak to 7 in the past two games.

BYU freshman Barrett Johnson winds up for a shot 

“I had never played in that much snow before,” said Johnson. “The conditions were crazy. I’m glad the starters did their job so guys like me could get in and show that we know how to play. We showed our team’s depth by putting them away in the second half.”

The Freshman attack unit of Calvin Wiley, Michael Harding, Micheal Watterson and Zach Hansen chipped in a combined total of 5 goals for the Cougars. Watterson ended the game for the Cougars with a behind the back shot after losing his balance in the snow to put the final score to 29-2 in favor of the Cougars.

“It was an interesting game for sure,” said Freshman Defenseman Jacob Folkerson. “I like to hit, so the loose footing played well into my game, and as a team we adjusted well and put together a complete game.”

The Cougars will head up to Seattle this Thursday to take on the Washington Huskies in Husky Stadium. On Saturday the Cougars cross the border to take on Canadian rival #13 Simon Fraser.

Keep up with the Cougars this season by visiting the Official website of the BYU Men’s Lacrosse team: www.BYULacrosse.com