Lacrosse: Boys wallop West Orange 22-7, advance in Essex Tourney

by Andrew Garda

garda@montclairlocal.news

The Montclair High School Boys lacrosse team needed a win badly. Not just to advance past the opening round of the Essex County Boys Lacrosse Tournament, but to get themselves off the skid they'd been on for the past few weeks.

Their 22-7 win over West Orange did just that as the Mounties took control in the second quarter and never really looked back. By the time the fourth rolled around, MHS was looking to kill time more than anything else, and find ways to get out of the match with minimal wear and tear.

It allowed senior goalie Wiley Cates to get into the game - the first action he has seen since he broke his hand in preseason - and senior Miles Lansing score his first goal with an assist from junior Lucas Bellandi (his first assist of the season).

The Mounties also got contributions from the usual suspects like senior Matt Comini and sophomore Will Shiffenhaus.

After the game the team was excited and, as young men will do, running around and wrestling. Coach John Scanlan wanted to be annoyed, but couldn't bring himself to dampen the mood.

"It's been so long since we've won," he said, "I'm glad to see them having fun. It's been tough, but they don't quit."

Montclair's next opponent will be a tough one, as they meet West Essex on the road, Tuesday at 7pm.

"On paper, they might be considered better," Scanlan said about the Knights. "They're probably favored. That just gives us something to prove. If we show up, we can surprise people."

For complete coverage of the West Orange victory and Tuesday's game against West Essex, check out Thursday's edition of the Montclair Local.