Crusaders Cruise Through Weekend Home Game
Mike Hasson
Issue date: 10/16/07 Section: Sports
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"It was important for us to come out with intensity from the very beginning," Brandon Washatka, junior captain, said, "This was an important game to get back on track and I think we did that with our performance today."
Indeed, the Crusaders displayed crisp passing and a unified defense against an opponent who demanded respect.
Rose-Hulman entered the game with 9 wins on the season, offering a serious threat to the Crusaders' three-year home-unbeaten streak. "This is the game that we beg for, so let's take care of business," Washatka said to his team before the match.
Playing in front of a large crowd, including a local girls club team, the Crusaders started fast and sustained the pace throughout for a dominating performance.
Leading the way in that department was junior forward, Adam Lunger, who continued his scoring streak, slipping in the first goal of the game off a header from junior center midfielder, Michael McIlhon. When asked to describe the goal, Lunger was effusive in his praise of the whole team.
"The goal itself was a great example of the entire game," he said. "The goal was scored off of a kick from the defense, a header from the midfield, and I, as the forward, did my job and finished the opportunity that the whole team built."
Shortly after, junior midfielder, Gabe Barkley got a foot on a loose ball in front of Rose-Hulman's goal and sent a bullet past the startled, flailing goalkeeper. Late in the contest, senior defender Jared Lee split the opponents' defense with a pass that set up Lunger for a breakaway that he finished into the upper corner of the net.
Lunger finished with two goals in the game, scoring the first and third goals and extending a school record for career goals, to 54.
"The record itself is less of a great individual achievement and more of a demonstration of the hard work that the team puts in as a whole. I'm just glad that I can do my job well and score goals just as the defense does its job to keep goals out," Lunger said.
Saturday, that successful Crusader defense had its work cut out for them, playing against a Rose-Hulman offense that had scored 40 goals thus far in the season, including 18 by a single forward.
The UD defenders were up to the challenge, however. Led by the two-time All-American defender, Lee, the Crusader defense allowed very few chances for Rose-Hulman to get back into the game. Rose-Hulman managed only two shots on goal, both of which were saved by junior goalkeeper, Chris Sumcizk.
All of the Crusader players praised the large, enthusiastic crowd that blanketed the hill to lend their support.
"The fans were great, very vocal in their support and that makes it much easier for us to continue playing with the intensity that wins games," Washatka said.
The Crusaders' record now stands at 9-1-1. They go on the road to St. Louis this upcoming weekend to play two games before returning for their final home game on Tuesday, Oct. 23.
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