Freeport boys lacrosse aims to build on success

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, April 12, 2018 | 7:45 PM

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Freeport senior Braith Kiser knew the Yellowjackets possessed the talent and tactical awareness to compete with the top boys lacrosse teams in the WPIAL, but their overtime loss to Chartiers Valley in the first round of the Class AA playoffs last year showed him another immeasurable characteristic about his team.

“One of the biggest things I remember about that game was that everyone played with a lot of heart,” said Kiser, a senior captain. “They played for their teammates and not for themselves. We gave them one heck of a game and it was unfortunate how it worked out in overtime, but that game showed that there's a lot of heart in our team. That gives a lot of hope for this year.”

The playoff game was the first for Freeport in its six-year history, and it provided a galvanizing moment for a team that is mostly intact from last year with only four graduates.

The goal for this season is clear: They're eyeing another step forward.

“I want to be a part of the first Freeport lacrosse team to win a playoff game,” said Brennon Riley, a senior attackman. “Last year we were so close, losing in overtime, so we want to win at least one this year.”

Freeport split its first four games, winning both ends of a doubleheader in West Virginia against Morgantown and Fairmont to open the year and dropping consecutive games to Knoch and North Hills last week.

If Freeport wants to achieve its goal of winning in the playoffs, coach Jarvis Lindsay said they'll need a similar performance to the one against Chartiers Valley last year against every opponent they face this season.

“Coaching-wise when you call timeout or have time in between periods you typically focus on what you're doing wrong, but in the Chartiers Valley game when we had timeout it was about what we were doing right,” Lindsay said. “We were like, you're doing this right and we need to tweak this, but everyone was good. They were responsive to that and excited to be in that atmosphere. I was proud of the way they played. It was upsetting to me that we lost, but it was way more upsetting to them.

“We can get there again. There's no reason why we can't do it, but we have to stay focused. I think what they're starting to understand now is that a few little mistakes can cost you, especially in a close game.”

Freeport made some adjustments to its lineup from last year, including moving Kiser and Riley from midfield to attack, where they join Sean Fennell. Fennell had five goals apiece in the two games in West Virginia and scored four more against Knoch.

“It's a little change of scenery for us, but we stick together in practice, and in games we feed of the energy that each one of us produces,” Kiser said. “Sean is a great kid. He brings a lot of enthusiasm, and overall he's a really talented player.”

Riley and Kiser both played baseball growing up but gravitated to lacrosse. When Kiser was in fifth grade, he went to a camp with a friend that Lindsay hosted in Butler and was hooked instantly. Riley's father, Dave, is an assistant coach and one of the founders of the program.

Austin Kemp is a captain with Kiser and a stalwart defender. Kemp was the Valley News Dispatch Defensive Player of the Year for football, and his prowess for defense translates to lacrosse.

“Some big parts of what makes someone successful in lacrosse is speed, quickness and strength, and Austin has all of those,” Riley said. “He's an amazing athlete to be honest. He's the type of athlete that you could put in any sport and he'd succeed.”

Freeport had some injury issues early on. Starting goaltender Nicholas Mattivi went down with an elbow injury in practice, missing the next two games. He's expected to return. In his absence, Gabe Brunc, one of the top midfielders and faceoff takers, filled in. Greg Smith, who has played goalie in the past, did not initially join the team because of commitments to his travel hockey team, but was expected to join the team this week.

Freeport plays in Section 1-AA with two-time defending champion Mars, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Gateway and Indiana.

If the Yellowjackets want to finish in playoff position, Lindsay said his team needs to be strong in the fundamental aspects of the game like getting ground balls up for grabs to help with establishing possession dominance.

“If you have polished fundamentals you're going to win most of your games,” Lindsay said. “Against North Hills we had a tough time with ground balls, and I didn't understand that. We work on that constantly in practice and they seem to do OK with it. It's a tough thing for a kid to gain confidence on getting ground balls. You can't be apprehensive on ground balls. We tell the kids to own them. When they see the ball on the ground they need to get it.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer.

Tags: Freeport