Boys
The Blythewood Bengals (3-4) lacrosse team chalked up a pair of key wins last week. It started with a 6-5 win at Irmo (2-5) last Saturday. The win over the Yellow Jackets was Blythewood’s first road win of the season. The Bengals have played five of their first seven games away from their home stadium. Irmo came into the contest having lost four of their first five games.
At the half the score was all knotted up at 4-4 and after a scoreless third quarter the Bengals were able to edge out Irmo in the final frame 2-1 to go on for the victory. Both goalies, Ricky Potts for Irmo and Tom Timms for Blythewood, faced 18 shots each, but Timms was able to make the one extra save to give his team the win. Seniors Hunter Whitfield and Jake Cooper led the attack for the Bengals with two goals apiece.
On Monday the Bengals continued their winning ways against the Blazers of Ridge View (3-3) with a double overtime victory at home. The Blazers were coming off back-to-back wins over Richland Northeast and Lexington by a combined score of 21-4. However, the Bengals edged out Ridge View by a score of 6-5.
After the game Blythewood head coach Kirk Thurston was still pumped up after the close contest and excited about his team’s effort.
“That was a thriller,” Thurston said. “Our guys played a great game.”
Blythewood led 3-0 at the break but the Blazers responded with four goals in the third quarter and at the end of regulation the score was all tied up at five. Each team went scoreless through the first overtime but the Bengals netted the winning goal in the second overtime to go on to victory.
As a team, Blythewood was strong in the field as they won the battle for ground balls 72-58. Bengals junior Ian Gibbs was a big factor, winning a team high 11 ground balls. Blythewood spread out their six goals from five different players with Whitfield scoring twice on seven shots.
The Bengal attackers peppered Ridge View’s goalie, Nash Via, with 25 shots on goal compared to just 17 shots on Blythewood’s goal. Ridge View senior Joey Powers led his team with a game high two goals scored and 13 ground balls won. With the win the Bengals improved to 2-0 at home this season. Blythewood is back in action this Saturday when they host Fort Mill at 1 p.m.
Girls
The Lady Bengals (6-1) lacrosse team is off to a hot start this season, having won their last five games in a row. Last Friday Blythewood dismantled the Lady Yellow Jackets (1-5) of Irmo 19-0.
The Lady Bengals scored 10 goals in the first half and nine in the second all the while allowing just two shots on goal. Blythewood’s scoring was led by the duo of Brittany Thurston with eight goals on 15 shots and Courtney Hance with eight goals on 14 shots.
Monday, the Lady Bengals defeated the Lady Blazers (2-2) of Ridge View 9-5. Blythewood’s sophomore goalie Taylor Harden saved six of the 11 shots she faced and the defense came away with eight takeaways. The offense was again led by Thurston and Hance, each chipping in six goals apiece.
After a matchup against Fort Mill this past Tuesday the Lady Bengals will close out the season with four straight road games.
