Madison Moves to 8-0 With Win Over Columbia

The Madison High School boys lacrosse team improved to 8-0 on Tuesday with a 17-5 route over Columbia High in Maplewood.

As the score showed, the game wasn't at all competitive, and even with most of the Madison starters out for the entire second half (after building an 11-3 lead), Columbia still had no shot of making it competitive.

"They're tough, hard-nosed kids," head coach Mark Sweeney said of the Columbia laxers. "They're just not as polished lacrosse players yet."

But even as the game wasn't close, that didn't stop Madison from pressuring and playing the physical style of defense that Dodger fans have become used to seeing.

So physical in fact, that frustrations seemed to wear on both the Cougar coaches as well as the fans, who repeatedly begged for calls from the officials.

On offense, Madison controlled the ball steadily, seemingly scoring at will.

"Everybody played hard and offensively we moved the ball very well when our guys were in," Sweeney said.

The goals came from a bevy of Dodgers, as eight were able to put the ball in the back of the net.

Starting things off was junior Colin McLinden who scored his first of four goals just a few minutes into the game, giving Madison the 1-0 advantage.

Columbia would score almost immediately, tricking some into believing that the game may be competitive, but Madison answered with four straight goals, to end the first quarter with a 5-1 lead.

The second half would show much of the same, as good ball movement from the Dodgers led to captain Charlie Oldendorp getting on the board for a second time on the day. This one, a wide-open look from just outside the crease gave Madison a 6-1 lead.

Oldendorp had four goals in his one half of play.

Also getting in on the scoring frenzy was fellow captain Austen Lein.

In his one half of play, Lein scored two goals, his second an impressive diving shot that gave Madison an 8-2 advantage in the second quarter.

In the second half, with Madison sporting a very comfortable 14-4 lead and most of the Dodger starters watching from the sideline, sophomore middie Michael Clemente-not wanting to feel left out-tacked on two goals as Madison rolled to the 17-5 win.

"In the end there we had three freshman on the attack and first-year players on defense. It's good for some of the other kids to be able to get some experience," Sweeney added.

Up next, Madison will look to stay undefeated as they go to Kinnelon High on Thursday.