Mike Preston: Howard Community College men’s lacrosse enjoying rise to No. 1 with eyes on bigger prize

All week lengthy, Howard Group Faculty males’s lacrosse coach Erik Foust has been coping with crossing the effective line the place actuality turns into euphoria.

Final Saturday, the then-No. 2 Dragons shocked No. 1 Nassau, 21-9, in a sport that was practically over within the third quarter after Howard took a 10-goal lead.

This week, by taking the highest spot within the Nationwide Junior Faculty Athletic Affiliation ballot, Howard grew to become the primary No. 1 ranked workforce on the faculty in any sport because the athletic division opened in 1977.

“This feels nice,” stated midfielder Chase Noah, the workforce’s high participant with 17 targets and 16 assists. “It feels superb, I’m at a loss for works. We got here into that sport considering it was going to be a battle, however we smoked them.”

Foust simply smiles.

In addition to taking part in and visiting No. 2 Harford on Saturday, Foust has to protect in opposition to the “fats head” illness, the place a workforce will get overconfident too early.

In his 10th season, Foust has led the Dragons to 3 Maryland Junior Faculty Athletic Convention titles and two Area 20 championships. His groups have been to the NJCAA Match thrice, together with two appearances within the remaining 4 and a runner-up end in 2017.

However this Howard workforce is perhaps his finest. The Dragons beat No. 5 and constant nationwide energy Onondaga, 13-12, and No. Four Essex, 16-Eight, earlier than crushing Nassau.

But, that’s the reason Foust is attempting to place the brakes on. The Dragons are solely 5-1 and nonetheless have 5 video games remaining within the common season.

Championships aren’t received in early April.

“Really, I’ve been telling them to not play consideration to it [the rankings],” Foust stated. “It’s nice but it surely’s not the top of the yr. I believe they perceive that they’ve achieved so much however there’s much more to perform.”

A part of the rationale Foust is so cautious is that he remembers among the COVID-19 associated points throughout the previous two seasons, significantly final yr when the Dragons couldn’t play out of state and begin apply till the primary week of March.

They completed Four-Three however had 16 gamers returning this yr. They have been additionally ready to usher in a number of new gamers. Earlier than social media, a variety of gamers went to neighborhood schools to enhance their grades earlier than heading to a much bigger faculty.

Now, neighborhood school is an inexpensive choice to the astronomical price of four-year faculties. Howard has gamers on its roster from Michigan, Washington, California, Texas and even Canada.

The situation of the campus in Columbia can also be an attraction.

“The sport is rising like loopy,” Foust stated. “Gamers out west get neglected. A few of them need to proceed taking part in and need to play at a excessive stage, they usually view neighborhood school as a possibility to get into the NCAA.”

This yr, there are 21 former Howard gamers on NCAA rosters.

“I’m not within the scenario the place I can fly out to California to recruit or scout, however the web and social media has made it simpler. We have now excellent lecturers right here and our campus is gorgeous, larger than a variety of Division II and III faculties. Columbia is considered the most secure cities in America and one of many high 10 locations to stay within the nation.”

The Dragons have outscored their opponents 92-62, and they’re huge and athletic on protection. Beginning defenseman Connor Gladstone is 6 toes Four and 180 kilos whereas fellow starter Jackson Loftis is 6-Three, 230. Two different high defensemen are Jimmy Conner and Aaron Rubeling, who’re each at the least 6 toes and 170 kilos.

On offense, attackman Zane Dalpe has 23 targets and 4 assists to workforce with Chase to offer the Dragons an excellent scoring tandem. Brian Zajac has seven targets and two assists and fellow attackman Caleb Tatum has 9 targets and 9 assists.

Possibly probably the most underrated participant among the many starters is goalie Chris Peterson, who has a .617 save share, second finest within the nation.

“I can’t take credit score for all my factors, the blokes I play with are phenomenal, they catch the whole lot I throw to them and we’re taking part in as a unit,” Chase stated. “Our off-ball motion and shot choice has been good and we’re ending effectively. We nonetheless make some errors, all groups do, however general, we’ve been taking part in effectively.”

A key turning level for Howard got here early within the season after they misplaced, 18-7, within the opener in opposition to Military Prep. That harm, and mixed with the fallout from a yr in the past, the Dragons have been feeling a variety of ache.

A loss in opposition to Harford would harm too, particularly after coming off such a excessive.

“Harford has overwhelmed us the final thrice we’ve got performed one another,” Foust stated. “They’re effectively organized on offense and protection they usually have maybe the perfect face-off man within the nation. Final yr we tried to get right into a groove, tried to jell, however we would have liked and wished to play extra, and we have been actually not happy.

“This group really likes competing and hanging round one another. I wasn’t shocked we beat Nassau; I used to be shocked by how a lot, however our youngsters work exhausting, and our assistant coaches are two of the perfect. However I’m not prepared to say we’re there but. We are able to enhance each sport and there’s a lot of room to develop. Let’s see the place we end this season.”

NO. 1 HOWARD@NO. 2 HARFORD

Saturday, midday

Stream: harfordathletics.com