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Laxcats advance with convincing win

After a blowout victory two weeks ago against Loyola-Maramount University, the Arizona Laxcats defeated LMU again Saturday in the first round of the West Coast Lacrosse League playoffs, 22-5.

"There is definitely no question that we are just too strong," UA head coach Mickey-Miles Felton said. "They were not much improved and we were."

The Laxcats came out strong, scoring two quick goals in the first quarter, but played evenly with the Lions in the rest of the first half.

"Once we got the early lead, we kind of got lulled into a daze," junior defenseman Tom Christian said.

After taking 19 shots in the first quarter, the Laxcats were only able to muster eight shots in the second quarter.

With 22 seconds left in the second quarter, junior midfielder Matt Wilkens scored to put the Laxcats up 9-4 heading into the locker room at the half.

"I was not to satisfied with the offensive selection in the first half," Felton said. "At halftime, we went over what we needed to remind people, and we came out fired up."

In the third quarter, the Laxcats exploded for eight goals by seven different players, giving the team a 17-4 lead.

The Laxcat defense out-hustled the Lion offense and did not allow a LMU goal in the third quarter and for the first half of the fourth.

"In the beginning of the game, we wanted to get a shut out," Christian said. "So in the second half, we wanted to see how close we could get."

Arizona outscored the Lions 13-1 in the second half, en route to the 22-5 victory.

"The game was a little similar to last time we played them because we held them to such few shots," Felton said. "The main difference is that I think we played a little better."

Arizona was led by junior midfielder Bryan Moore's five goals.

Other standouts for the Laxcats were Wilkens, who had three goals and four assists, and sophomore attack Blaine Lochridge, who notched two goals and three assists.

One surprise in the game for the Laxcats was that sophomore goalie Greg Parkington got the start in goal in front of freshman Kevin Burgess.

"I wanted to see how he would respond by coming in the beginning of the game because if we would wait till the second half and already built a big lead, it would not be a good indicator on his progress," Felton said.

Parkington, who was the Laxcats' goalie last season, was injured earlier this season with a broken hand.

"It was great to get the start," Parkington said. "It has been a while since I have had a start, and it was really hard to describe. Our defense was very supportive of me."