Marquette University High School (MUHS) coach Rich Pruszynski preaches to the Hilltoppers boys’ lacrosse team to make sure they “follow the process” that will lead them to success come playoff time. If that includes scoring two goals in a matter of seconds multiple times a game, then that process certainly is worth following.
The Hilltoppers’ stifling second-half defense combined with a rapid-firing offense proved to be too much for Waukesha as MUHS won, 14-7, in a Classic 8 Conference Red Division matchup.
“We want to win, but we want our guys to follow the process,” Pruszynski said. “If our guys do that, the outcome will take care of itself. We try to put our guys in positions that will allow them to be successful.”
That process proved fruitful for MUHS (3-5, 2-1 Classic 8 Red) throughout the third quarter. With a slim 7-5 lead coming out of halftime, the Hilltoppers scored two goals in just 12 seconds.
Attacker Henry Florance scored off a pass from middie William Stegeman before middie Jacob Klenz added another goal seconds later with 10 minutes, 33 seconds to play in the third. Attacker Sean Duffey and Florance pulled off the same feat in just 10 seconds – both off assists from middie Jon Langenfeld – to give MUHS a 12-6 lead through three quarters.
“Every time I fed my teammates, they were just finishing everything, so that helped me a lot,” said Langenfeld, who finished the game with four goals and three assists to lead the Hilltoppers. “They were setting me up to score, and that’s where everything came from.”
On defense, MUHS disrupted Waukesha (3-5, 1-2) long enough to keep the Nighthawks out of sorts. When Waukesha did break through, Hilltoppers’ goalie John Estrada saved eight shots, including four in the second quarter.
Along with the significance in the Classic 8 Red standings – the victory propelled MUHS into a tie for third place with Catholic Memorial – Estrada said the win over Waukesha gives the Hilltoppers a boost after a recent rough skid. Before Tuesday night, MUHS had dropped two out of three in a tournament in Indiana against some of the top teams in the Midwest, preceded by a three-game skid against Arrowhead, Waunakee and Catholic Memorial.
“We had a losing streak against some big rivals, and this is changing the momentum of the season, so we’re going to show it to league,” Estrada said.
MUHS heads to Middleton on Saturday for its next game.
For Waukesha, attacker Tyler Stanfield scored two goals and an assist. Next up for the Nighthawks is a road game against Oak Creek on Thursday night.
