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O'Kane Stops 16 Shots as LHS Boys Break Through
Although the Liberty Eagles won their first boys lacrosse game of the season Monday, they showed they still have some things to learn.
Specifically, how to celebrate.
After beating the Culpeper Blue Devils, 9-3, most of the Eagles milled around midfield of Kip Hull Field in Bealeton.
“It’s surreal. We’re just basically in shock,” Liberty goalie Connor O’Kane said. “It’s about time….We’re sick of feeling like losers. It’s a nice change to win.”
Liberty improved its record to 1-7 with the victory over winless Culpeper (0-8), but O’Kane and most of his teammates reacted with little more than smiles. Assistant coach Dan Metzger was the exception.
Once the final buzzer sounded, Metzger ran across the field and jumped into the arms of O’Kane. So at least the Eagles have someone on staff to teach them the basics of celebrating a first win.
O’Kane was certainly an appropriate target for Metzger’s exuberant display. The senior goalie finished with 16 saves on 23 Culpeper shots, leading Liberty to its best defensive performance of the season.
The only other opponent Liberty has held under 10 goals is Kettle Run, in a 7-6 loss to the Cougars on March 25. Even after holding Culpeper to three goals Monday, opponents still average 12 goals per game against Liberty, but that’s a poor indicator of O’Kane’s skills.
“It’s tough for a goalie to make saves when he gets shots from within 10 yards or closer and the defense collapses. No goalie is going to make those saves,” midfielder Lou Chiccehitto said. “He’s one of the top goalies in the [Cedar Run] district, he just faces way too many shots and that’s definitely on us [the rest of the team]. Tonight we helped him out a little bit, and it showed on the scoreboard.”
Liberty hadn't scored more than six goals in a game prior to Monday and had been shut out twice. “It’s hard to win a lacrosse game with below five points,” O’Kane said.
Chiccehitto was one of three Eagles to finish with two goals and an assist against Culpeper. Attackmen Luke Childers and Mike Toms matched that feat, while Daniel Peyton and Zach Angell each added one goal and one assist, and Adam Cooper scored one goal.
“Tonight we actually made cuts toward the ball, had off-the-ball movements. We executed, made the right passes and didn’t force stuff,” Chiccehitto said. “We usually just stand around and wait for something to develop...”
See the Wednesday print edition of the Fauquier Times-Democrat for the complete story.
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