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Published Tuesday, February 21, 2012 in Sports

Prep Lacrosse: Indians pick up solid win in debut

By Chris Goltermann

The Newnan Times-Herald

After starting last year 8-2, East Coweta's lacrosse team was forced to play without one of its leaders in Jay DeBole, and ended 2011 by dropping six of its last eight games while still reaching the state playoffs.

Yet the 2012 Indians showed in Monday's season opener at Garland Shoemake Stadium that they've learned to move on.

Six East Coweta players scored goals and sophomore Brian DeBole handled nearly every shot that was fired in his direction behind a veteran defensive unit during a convincing 12-7 victory over Whitewater.

The Wildcats managed just four goals in three periods against the younger DeBole, two of which came in man-up situations.

Despite scoring first, Whitewater's defense was blitzed for four unanswered goals, two from sophomore Bryce Durden on attack, as the Indians took a lead for good.

Ahead 5-3 at the half, East Coweta dominated the third quarter to score five times, including a pair by senior midfielder Bronson Smith.

He opened the second half by winding up for a quick right-handed shot whipped past Whitewater goalie Shane Giunta.

Fellow sophomore Conner McMeen -- the Times-Herald's Newcomer of the Year -- also continued to become a much bigger part of the offense, scoring three times including once on East Coweta's only power play of the night late in the third quarter to go ahead 10-4. He also assisted on both of Smith's tallies.

McMeen, a towering 6-plus foot attackman, equally showcased his end-to-end skills in the midfield. With Whitewater cutting the East Coweta lead to 10-6 on a pair of goals a minute apart, McMeen checked the ball away from a Wildcat player in the Indians defensive zone, scooped it up and ran the length of the field, before dodging a defender and firing a shot to put the Indians back ahead by five goals.

The East Coweta lineup in 2012 remains a mix of seniors and young talent. Six upperclassmen, including starting defenders Dylan Byrum and Kyle Durden, saw substantial play on Monday. The duo are joined by junior standout Jacob Weston on defense, giving the younger DeBole a strong back line in front of him.

Senior Colin Duncan assisted on three goals and junior midfielders Tyler Sandusky and Matthew Schlumper joined McMeen with two assists each. Schlumper, who traded in his role of a long-stick middie for a short stick, also was among East Coweta's six scorers.

Sophomore Lee Steed also had a goal and assist in the season-opening victory.

East Coweta now heads to the annual Woodward Academy tournament this weekend and expect to faceoff in round-robin play.

Indians head coach Ryan Post, however, understands his lineup can't be looking ahead.

"It's a great group," he said. "We still have the tournament this week, so we'll see how that goes. We're just going to take it one week at a time."

Whitewater's girls defeated East Coweta during two varsity and two JV games on Monday.

•••

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

EAST COWETA 12, WHITEWATER 7

Whitewater (7) – Andrew Stoker, Karson Hastings 2, Michael Dobbs, Will Holland, Jack Wilson.

East Coweta (12) – Conner McMeen 3, Bryce Durden 3, Bronson Smith 2, Caleb Dailey, Matthew Schlumper, Lee Stead.

Goalies – Whitewater: Shane Giunta; East Coweta: Brian DeBole, Robert Adams (4th quarter).

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