Rough Second Half Dooms Wootton

For a half, the Wootton lacrosse team was able to go shot for shot with Bullis in an early-season game. However, the Patriots' defense collapsed in the second half, and Wootton fell for the first time this season, 8-5.

The two teams exchanged goals early on. Junior Max Romm scored twice in the first half for Wootton (1-1) and at halftime, the score was knotted at 3.

“In the first half, we were doing very well on transitions,” coach Colin Thomson said after the game. “In the second half, we had a lot of trouble moving the ball from the defensive side to the offensive side. Our offense was much looser in the first half, and it changed the game.”

After exchanging goals early in the third quarter, the game really seemed to change towards the end of the quarter. Bullis (4-3) controlled the ball offensively for nearly four minutes before senior Cary Garfinkel scored just in front of the net. It set the tone for the fourth quarter, where it seemed Bullis controlled the ball for most of the quarter, scoring three more times without a response from Wootton and Garfinkel dominated. Garfinkel scored twice in the fourth quarter, and had four goals in the game.

“We had opportunities to get back on offense,” Thomson said. “We could have gotten some ground balls that we missed, there were some failed clears, and we were just on defense longer than we wanted to be.”

When Wootton did have opportunities in the second half, Bullis goalie Ryan McMahon showed why he is considered to be one of the best in the DC area. He had 10 saves, including some against shots right in front of the net.

“They're a good program, and we're a good program, they just executed a little better today,” Thomson said. “We just have to keep working hard, and do the little things. I've been saying that since day one, but we just have to go back to the drawing board.”

Wotton will try to rebound in their next game on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Churchill.