Oakton Boys Lacrosse Looks to Rectify Slow Start

Though they have kicked off the season 0-3, the Oakton High boys lacrosse team holds high expectations for 2012. 

With 12 of 18 seniors having played varsity since their sophomore year, the team expects to push through their slow and injury-laden start to be competitive not only within the Concorde District but also the Northern Region.

"It's hard opening up 0-3, but our weaknesses got exposed early, so I'm glad we played tough teams," three-year head coach Grif Barhight said.

Barhight said he has already noticed marked improvements in the team since , and is confident the boys will continue to gel as the season progresses.

Despite the current winless record, Barhight maintains the goal of winning every game they play moving forward. Lowering expectations because they lost against three strong teams is unnecessary for the experienced Cougar squad.

"We want to get better every day. I feel like if we get better every day and we're peaking come playoff time, hopefully it translates," he said.

The Cougars have improved each season since Barhight took the reins, from a 6-10 first season in which they lost in the Northern Region tournament's first round to a 9-9 record last year in which they reached the second round of regionals.

"Each year they've left knowing how close they were to getting further along in the postseason, so they want to get better and can do it this year," Barhight said.

Against Concorde District opponents last year, the Cougars went 3-3 in the regular season with four of those games decided by one goal. Barhight hopes for a winning record in the district this year, but recognizes each game will be a battle.

"Every game you play in the district is very difficult because all the teams are very, very good. Everybody's returning a lot of good players, so it's going to be a fun April," he said.

So far this season, Sean Schweicker leads the Cougars in both goals (8) and assists (5), while goalkeeper Connor Anderson boasts 22 saves. Both Schweicker and Anderson are co-captains, along with Matt Dunwoody and Eric Goins. 

The Cougars will play two nondistrict games this week against Bishop O'Connell on Wednesday and Washington-Lee on Friday. Concorde District play will begin next month for the Cougars with a game against Centreville on April 13.